Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman says the last day to file nomination papers for city office to appear on the November 2, 2021 city election ballot is September 16, 2021. Nomination forms available from County Auditor, City Clerk or online. City Elections and School Board Elections are held on the same day: November 2, 2021. For the majority of voters, the voting site will be the site used for the “General Election.” There will be separate ballot styles for the city and rural voters since only city voters cast a ballot for city offices. [As changed in 2019: The City of Marne will vote at the Cass County Community Building in Atlantic.]

City Elections will take place on November 2, 2021. NOTE: This year nomination papers for elected city office positions must be filed with the county auditor rather than with the city clerk. Nomination papers may be filed with the county auditor from August 23, 2021 thru September 16, 2021.

Becoming a candidate for elective city office:

• Nominations – Nomination petitions for a city office must be filed with the County Auditor not more than 71 nor
  less than 47 days prior to the regular election. (In 2021, the first day to file papers is August 23.
• The last day to file papers is September 16. The process for filing nomination petitions is as follows:
  • Obtain an original nomination petition and candidate’s guide from the city clerk, county auditor or online from the Iowa Secretary of State ( www.sos.iowa.gov ).
  • Obtain the nomination signatures of the required number of eligible electors of the city or ward, as the case may be. The minimum number of signatures required is 10 for all positions except those positions in Atlantic.
  • Atlantic votes under the Runoff provision and the minimum signature requirement on nomination petitions is determined by number of persons who voted for a specific position/office in the last city election in which that position was on the ballot:
  • Mayor 22 signatures; Council At Large 21 signatures; Council Ward 2 and Ward 5 10 signatures; and Park and Recreation 21 signatures.
  • A person may sign nomination petitions for more than one candidate for the same office/position.
  • Attach a notarized affidavit acknowledging the candidate’s eligibility.
  • File the petition with the County Auditor prior to 5 p.m. on September 16, 2021.

Each candidate who successfully files a completed nomination petition is assured a place on the ballot.

In Cass County, Iowa the following offices will appear on the ballots for the respective cities on November 2, 2021:
Anita: Three at Large Council seats (4 year terms). Incumbents: appointee Simon Jensen, Ben Daughenbaugh and Tim Wheelock; Mayor (remainder 4 year term ending 2023). Incumbent: appointee John Knutson; One at Large Council seat (remainder 4 year term ending 2023). Incumbent: appointee Mark Harris.

Atlantic: MAYOR (4 year term). Incumbent: David Jones; Council Ward 2 (4 year term). Incumbent: Kathy Somers; Council Ward 5 (4 year term). Incumbent: Richard Casady; Council At Large (4 year term). Incumbent: Gerald Brink; One Atlantic Parks & Recreation Board (4 year term – term begins November 16). Incumbent: Stuart Dusenberry.

Cumberland: Mayor (2 year term). Incumbent: Nancy Virginia Coughlin; Three At Large Council (4 year term). Incumbents: Darrin Hardisty, Michael Martin and Mike Hill.

Griswold: Mayor (4 year term). Incumbent: Brad Rhine; Two At Large Council (4 year term). Incumbents: Julianne Adams and Carol Preston.

Lewis: Two At Large Council (4 year term). Incumbents: appointee Mary Neece and Ryan Archibald; One at Large Council seat (remainder 4 year term ending 2023). Incumbent: appointee Teresa Comer.

Marne: Two At Large Council (4 year term). Incumbents: Angela Redler and Aaron Williams.

Massena: Mayor (2 year term). Incumbent: Phil Przychodzin; Two At Large Council (4 year term). Incumbents: Jackson Bissell and Douglas Venteicher.

Wiota: Mayor (2 year term). Incumbent: Ford Lillard; Three At Large Council (4 year term). Incumbents: Jeff Lillard, Charles Bechtold and Lamar Spies.