Sheldon, Iowa — There will be two contested races for Sheldon City Council in the November 5th election.
The deadline for candidates to file nomination papers for both the Sheldon City Council and the Sheldon Community Schools Board of Education was 5:00 pm Thursday, September 19th.
City Manager Sam Kooiker tells KIWA that incumbent 3rd Ward Councilman Brad Hindt will be running unopposed for reelection. Incumbent 1st Ward Councilman Pete Hamill will be challenged by Kerwin Sterler for that seat. The other contested race for Sheldon City Council is for the At-Large seat currently occupied by incumbent councilman Wayne Barahona, who is being challenged by Fred Grein, who is also seeking the At-Large seat.
Barahona has only been on the council since winning a 4-way race in a May 21st special election, which saw him receive more than 50-percent of the vote. Grein faced Greg Geels for the Mayor position in that May special election. Kerwin Sterler, who is seeking the 1st Ward position, was one of the four candidates in the May election seeking the seat now held by Barahona.
As with the city council, the Sheldon Community School Board has three positions expiring this year, but there are no contested races for school board. Two of the three incumbents have filed papers, and will be running unopposed, according to Sheldon Community Schools Superintendent Cory Myer. Incumbent Kecia Hickman will be running unopposed for the District 3 spot, while incumbent Jessica Brink will be unopposed for another term as an At-Large board member. District 2 board member Mark Brown had previously announced that he would not be seeking reelection. Steve Waldstein will be seeking a term as the District 2 board member, and will be running unopposed for that position, according to Myer.
In addition to the City Council and Sheldon School Board representatives, the ballot will also include a referendum for voters in the City of Sheldon. That referendum will allow the voters to decide the future of the proposed electric and natural gas franchise agreements between the City of Sheldon and MidAmerican Energy.
