Democrats, Republicans Nominate State Senate Candidates
It took four ballots, but southwest Iowa Republicans finally came away with a candidate for the 12th District State Senate seat special election on Dec. 30.
State Rep. Mark Costello of Imogene emerged as the Republican nominee from a field of seven candidates during a special convention Thursday night in Clarinda. Costello received 58 percent of the vote in the fourth round of voting, easily outdistancing runner-up Seth Watkins of Clarinda (23 percent) and former Montgomery County Supervisor Margaret Stoldorf of Red Oak (19 percent).
Sixty-seven Republican delegates from Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page, Taylor and Ringgold counties participated in the nomination process. In addition to the top three finishers, Fremont County Supervisor Cara Marker-Morgan, Charla Schmid of Red Oak, Mills County farmer David Sieck and Ringgold County’s Tracee Knapp also sought the nomination.
Each candidate gave a five-minute address before ballots were cast, with the first candidate to receive more than 50 percent of the vote being selected as the nominee.
Costello received 33 percent of the vote after the first round and gradually saw his numbers increase in subsequent rounds as other candidates were dismissed from consideration.
District 12 Democrats needed only one ballot on Saturday to choose their candidate for the special election – Steve Adams of Red Oak.
Adams, employed by Iowa State University, won the nomination over Glenwood city councilman Craig Florian, who entered the race in the final days before the convention.
Earlier this month, the Libertarian Party selected former Mills County Supervisor Don Brantz of rural Glenwood as its candidate.
The District 12 seat is vacant following the resignation of Joni Ernst who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November.
Polls will be open on Dec. 30 from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Voting will take place at normal polling sites with one exception - residents from all three wards within the city limits of Glenwood (including those who normally vote at the American Legion hall) will cast their ballots at the Mills County Courthouse.
Absentee voting starts Tuesday Dec. 23 at the Mills County Auditor’s office Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Absentee ballots may be requested by calling the auditor’s office or going online to www.millscoia.us (go to the election tab and download the absentee ballot request and mail it to Mills County Auditor’s Office, 418 Sharp Street, Glenwood, Iowa 51534).
The auditor’s office will be open Saturday, Dec. 27, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for early voting.
For additional information about the election, contact the auditor’s office at 527-3146 or e-mail auditor Carol Robertson at crobertson@millscoia.us or election assistant Lori Ingoldsby at lingoldsby@millscoia.us.