Long list of candidates look to fill council seat

Eleven people have thrown in their names for the temporary at-large council seat on the Newton City Council. Submissions were due to city hall by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Several familiar names made the list along with a handful of new contenders looking to serve in city government. Among those vying for the seat are former council members Jeff Price, Marvin Morris and Noreen Otto. Also submitting their names are Ben Miller, Russell Terlouw, John Prater, Ryan Starn, Garfield Berndt III, Ronald Bookout, Matthew Holmes and Maurice E. “Bill” Ward.

Holmes previously announced his intentions to run for the open seat in mid-July.

“We have a great group of people on the council already and I believe I would be a great fit to continue working with those members,” Holmes said. “Let’s do what we can to move Newton forward into the future for the next generation of Newton residents.”

After reviewing all submissions, the Newton City Council will appoint a temporary council member during its Aug. 7 meeting. The appointment will last through December, ending when the newly elected council member takes office on January 1.

“Once we get all of the applications in, we will submit a list to the council and then on August 4, at the beginning of the meeting, we will do a vote, probably a blind vote, on who the council would want to appoint for that position,” Newton City Clerk Katrina Davis said. “We will then pass a resolution inserting that persons name, we will swear them in right there at the meeting and they will take their place on the council.”

The seat became vacant with the exit of councilwoman Lin Chapé, who stepped down from the position in July. Chapé sited an upcoming move to the Gatlinburg, Tenn. area for her departure.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com