Don Brantz Seeking 12th District Senate Seat

Rural Glenwood resident Don Brantz, a political activist and former member of the Mills County Board of Supervisors, has announced his candidacy for the District 12 seat in the Iowa State Senate vacated last month by Republican Joni Ernst, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 4 general election.

Brantz was nominated to run for the state senate seat on Thursday by the Iowa Libertarian Party, according to a press release sent Monday.

In addition to Brantz, five Republican candidates have announced their intentions to run for the vacant seat - Fremont County Supervisor Cara Morgan of Hamburg, cattle farmer Seth Watkins of Clarinda, Montgomery County political activist Margaret Stoldorf  of Red Oak, District 23 State Rep. Mark Costello of Imogene and Red Oak businesswoman Charla Schmid.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called for a Dec. 30 special election to fill the District 12 seat, which is comprised of Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page, Taylor and Ringgold counties in southwest Iowa.

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.