Candidates Weigh In On Unexpected Run-off Election

Glenwood’s mayoral and city council candidates didn’t learn until last Tuesday that because of a “majority vote” provision in the city’s code of ordinances, a Dec. 1 run-off election will be necessary to elect a new mayor and two council members.

City officials did not become aware of the run-off provision in the code of ordinances until a few days after the Nov. 3 election. Mills County Auditor Carol Robertson said the run-off is necessary because the top vote getters in the races for mayor, at-large city council and Ward 2 city council didn’t receive more than 50 percent of the vote.

Robertson said her office consulted with the Iowa Secretary of State’s office to confirm a run-off election would be required. Brian Tackett and Jessie Lundvall will be on the ballot for mayor; Dan McComb and Ryan Roenfeld are competing for the at-large seat; while Craig  Florian and Laura Kuhl oppose one another for the Ward 2 seat.

Just hours after the run-off election was announced, outgoing Glenwood mayor Kim Clark urged the second-place finishers in the Nov. 3 election - Lundvall, Roenfeld and Kuhl - to concede the race and spare the city the estimated $3,000 cost of a run-off election. Clark said many of the candidates “preached fiscal responsibility” during the campaign and this would be an opportunity to save the city some money.

Speaking during Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Clark directed her comments directly to Lundvall, who currently occupies a seat on the council, and Kuhl, who was seated in the audience. Clark told Lundvall and Kuhl they were using the run-off provision as a “loophole” to get elected.

“Put the egos aside and let the results (from Nov. 3) stand,” Clark said.

Lundvall responded by thanking Clark for her opinion, but added “This isn’t the time or place” to express it.

Interviewed after the meeting, Lundvall said Clark’s comments were unprofessional and inappropriate and an attempt to skew public opinion that would benefit the candidates that have the mayor’s backing.

“I felt like I was being provoked, especially since she pointed out your (reporter) presence in the room,” Lundvall said.

“Of course I believe in fiscal responsibility, but I also believe in the law. Our local ordinance states that we have to have this run-off. That is due process, not only for the candidates, but also for the voters. They’re taxpayers and they have the right to come out and say who they want to be their elected representatives.”

Kuhl said she was caught off guard by the mayor’s statements and called them unfair.

“It’s the law. I spoke to Carol Robertson and the city has to have a run-off,” Kuhl said. “It’s just a matter of having the majority vote heard - whether it would be Craig or me.”

Robertson confirmed in multiple interviews last week that the city must follow its code of ordinances and have the run-off.

Roenfeld also expressed disagreement with the mayor’s statement.

“I don’t really see it as a loophole,” Roenfeld said. “We only had 20 percent voter turnout, which is a very, very small percentage of people casting ballots. Maybe this will actually get people to get out and vote.”

McComb said he supports the citizens’ right to choose their elected officials and will accept the outcome of the Dec. 1 election, but he believes the run-off provision is something that should be eliminated by the next city council.

“I think it’s a waste or taxpayers’ money,” McComb said. “I would think regardless of the outcome of this election, the council would want to get that off their books.”

Florian said he views the run-off election as “another obstacle.”

“I pretty much have been a bottom-line type of guy,” Florian said. “You can rant and rave or hoot and holler and make a big deal out of it or you can just roll with the punches. If you want to be on city council, you have to be able to roll with the punches.

“The bottom line is we have an election Dec. 1 and I’m going to give it my very best.”

NOTE - Tackett was unavailable when contacted for this story.