O’Brien County, Iowa — A special election will be held to choose the successor to Sherri Bootsma, who resigned as O’Brien County Supervisor District 1 earlier this week.
The County Committee comprised of O’Brien County Auditor Barb Rohwer, O’Brien County Recorder Susan Smith and O’Brien County Treasurer Missy Hatterman met Friday morning to discuss filling the vacancy created by Bootsma’s resignation.
According to Rohwer, the options that were presented for consideration were; filling the position by appointment or by special election.
Rohwer notes that this County Supervisor seat was elected in 2020 and therefore has over 3 years left on the term.
If the committee were to have appointed a county supervisor, the person appointed would need to run for election in 2022. Rohwer says no one on the committee has been contacted by any individuals interested in this position. The person who would be elected or appointed is required to have residency in the District 1 area.
If the committee were to hold a special election, the County Party Chairs would be notified of the date for the special election. If the parties choose to have a candidate placed on the ballot, they will need to hold a special convention of their delegates to vote for placing a candidate’s name on the ballot. Persons wishing to be on the ballot as nominated by petition, would need to circulate nomination petitions and gather at least 98 signatures from eligible electors in the County to be placed on the ballot.
Rohwer says the committee unanimously agreed to call for a special election and request that the County Auditor set a time and date for that special election.
Rohwer says she is setting December 7, 2021 as the date for the special election. The County Parties and persons wishing to be placed on the ballot through the nomination by petition process will need to have their papers into the Auditor’s Office by 5:00 pm November 12, 2021.
The O’Brien County Supervisor Districts may be viewed on the map below.
