A spool of ‘I Voted’ stickers rests on a cart at Clutier City Hall during a past city-school election. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

IOWA – The deadline to file as a candidate for the Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 city-school election came and went last month, and while some local incumbents chose to run for reelection, the ballot this fall will be lacking a significant number of candidates as no one filed for any of the open Reinbeck City Council seats, for the Gladbrook mayor race, and for one director district apiece on the Gladbrook-Reinbeck and GMG school boards.

“There are three Reinbeck council seats up for election in 2025, but absolutely no one filed for those seats. All three winners will be write-ins,” Grundy County Assistant to the Auditor Angela Silvey told the newspaper in an email. “We did have three women who filed for Reinbeck library board.”

Incumbent Reinbeck councilors Corey Dripps, Nathan Ragsdale, and Kyle Rasmussen did not file paperwork to run for reelection, leaving the race wide open.

According to past reporting by the newspaper, if an individual elected by the most write-in votes declines the seat in a city-school election, several steps ensue. The write-in candidate may submit a letter of resignation to the city clerk or school board by 5 p.m. on the 10th day following the official canvass. If that does not happen within 10 days — and the winner fails to take the oath of office by the beginning of the new term — the office is considered vacant.

But if a letter of resignation is submitted within the time frame after the final canvass, the individual who received the next-highest number of write-in votes is notified and allowed to accept the seat.

If this second highest vote-getter declines, however, the city council or school board may appoint someone to the office within 60 days of the vacancy, according to Iowa Code.

The three candidates for the Reinbeck Public Library Board include Holly Fleshner for the rural representative seat, and Marilyn Evans and Brenda Snider for the other seat.

Silvey confirmed there are no public measures on the ballot this fall for the City of Reinbeck.

Gladbrook city election

In the City of Gladbrook election, no one filed to run for the position of mayor. The newspaper reached out to incumbent Mayor Trudi Scott on her decision to stand down but had not heard back in time for publication.

Three seats will be on the ballot for city council but only one individual filed paperwork, incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Roger Luehring.

Garwin city election

In the City of Garwin election, incumbent Matthew Deam was the only candidate to file in the mayor’s race, while newcomer C. Ryan Collins was the sole candidate to fill for the opening on City Council.

The council also has a race to fill a vacancy but no one filed to run. In May 2025, Sarah Mattingly was appointed as the interim council member. Mattingly also serves on the Garwin Public Library Board.

Lincoln city election

In the City of Lincoln election, the entire city council’s five, two-year term seats as well as the two-year office of mayor are on the ballot.

Incumbent H. Trent Wentzien filed to run for reelection in the mayor’s race.

Five candidates filed paperwork for the five council seats including incumbents Dale H. Meyer Jr., Michelle Clark, Gaylen Brandt, and John Eden, as well as newcomer Samuel Cahalan. Incumbent John Eilers did not file.

GMG School District

The GMG Community School District has four seats up for election including District 1, District 2, and two At-Large directors.

Incumbent Kristine Kienzle filed for one of the At-Large seats, while newcomer Blake Douglas Warren of rural Garwin filed for the other.

No candidate filed for District 1.

Two newcomers filed for the District 2 race including Kyle Dean Warren of rural Garwin and Brad Cox of Garwin.

Incumbents David Collins, Justin Hornberg, and Ann Jackson did not file paperwork for reelection.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck School District

The Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District has four seats up for election including three At-Large seats and one seat to fill a vacancy.

Five individuals will be on the ballot for the three At-Large positions including incumbents Douglas Rowe of Gladbrook and Jennifer Wrage of rural Gladbrook. Newcomers Megan Witt of rural Reinbeck, Amanda Babinat of Reinbeck, and Kyle Rasmussen of Reinbeck also filed to run.

Wrage was appointed to the board this past April to fill the director seat left vacant by Jordan Wentzien’s resignation. According to Tama County Elections Administrator Jenna Cremeans, Wrage did not indicate on her Affidavit of Candidacy that she was running for the vacancy position. The vacancy will now be won by write-in vote.

Public Measure TY

The Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District’s $17.3 million bond referendum will also be appearing on the November 2025 ballot. The one-question public measure asks voters to approve the following:

“Shall the Board of Directors of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District in the Counties of Tama, Marshall, Black Hawk, and Grundy, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $17,300,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip a classroom addition to the Junior High / High School building, with related remodeling and improvements, and site improvements?”