Three cities elect new mayors

By: 
Robert Maharry

Amidst low voter turnout and a shortage of candidates throughout the area, several new council members and mayors were elected in Grundy County’s nine incorporated communities last Tuesday.
           
Current city councilman and school board member Al Kiewiet will become the mayor of Grundy Center after winning an uncontested race to replace Brian Buhrow, who did not seek re-election. Incumbent council members Dave Stefl (75 votes) and Chad Hamann (74 votes) were re-elected, and the council will now need to hold a special election or appoint a replacement for Kiewiet’s seat.
 
Darrel Shuey was elected to the park board with three write-in votes, and a bizarre situation unfolded in regards to the other vacancy after 12 candidates received one write-in vote each. At Monday morning’s county board of supervisors meeting, Supervisor Barb Smith drew Jim Mutch’s name out of a hat, and it is currently unknown whether or not he has accepted the post.
           
The closest races came in Wellsburg and Stout, where all of the representatives were elected by write-in votes. Wellsburg selected Snittjer Grain Owner Pat Kennedy to replace Cami Nederhoff as mayor with a total of 43 votes, and retired Grundy County Sheriff’s Deputy Ron Tordoff came in a close second with 36. The other write-ins to receive at least five votes were Mark Wiltfang, Larry Bausman and Dale VanHauen. At press time, Kennedy had not responded to a request for comment. 
 
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