Montezuma School District Board to hold special election to fill vacancy

     The purpose of this note is to inform you of the process to fill a vacancy on the Montezuma School Board. Vince Johnson announced at the Dec. 18, 2019 school board meeting that he would be resigning his position effective Jan. 2, 2020. The Montezuma School District put a notice in the paper on Dec. 26 stating the process to fill the board vacancy according to Iowa Code 279.6 which states the school board shall fill the vacancy by appointment unless the electors file a petition requiring that the vacancy be filled by a special election. 
    On Wednesday, Jan. 8, the school district received a petition from the Montezuma residents to hold a special election. We delivered the petition to the County Auditor’s office on the same day. According to Iowa Code 279, the election shall be held not sooner than 30 days nor later than 70 days after the vacancy. Also, candidates running for office must have their nomination petitions filed no less than 25 days before the election. 
     The County Auditor has set the special election for the Montezuma School Board to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. All interested candidates must file nomination petitions to Mary Jo Steele-Sheets at the Montezuma School District office by 5 p.m. on Jan.31, 2020. Candidates may pick up the nomination paperwork at the school district office or the courthouse. The nomination petition must have 24 signatures of residents eligible to vote in the Montezuma School District. 
     The newly elected school board member will fill the remainder of Mr. Johnson’s term, which will conclude in November, 2021. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Montezuma School District office and ask for myself or Mary Jo. 

Submitted by Superintendent Dave Hoeger