MASON CITY – Voter turnout has been weak in Cerro Gordo county in the last three local elections for city government posts. In Mason City since 2007, voter turnout has fallen off from 36.64% that year to about 27% in the 2009 and 2011 elections. So far, no candidates have stepped forward to run for Mayor or City Council in Mason City. Three council seats and the mayor seat is up for election this November. In Clear Lake, four council seats are up for election.
According to information from the county auditor’s office:
2007 Elections
7,181 persons voted in Mason City out of 19,600 registered voters, for a 36.64% turnout. Only 8 candidates filed to run for City Council seats, with one candidate, Jeff Marsters, unopposed.
1,090 persons voted in Clear Lake out of 5,692 registered voters, for a 19.15% turnout.
Only the city of Dougherty had a turnout above 50%
2009 Elections
5,431 persons voted in Mason City out of 20,031 registered voters, for a 27.11% turnout. Only 9 candidates filed to run for City Council seats, and only 2 candidates ran for Mayor.
1,028 persons voted in Clear Lake out of 5,837 registered voters, for a 17.61% turnout.
Again, only the city of Dougherty had a turnout above 50%
2011 Elections
5,331 persons voted in Mason City out of 19,987 registered voters, for a 26.67% turnout. Only 7 candidates filed to run for City Council seats.
291 persons voted in Clear Lake out of 5,902 registered voters, for a 4.93% turnout.
No town in Cerro Gordo county showed a turnout above 50%.
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To become a candidate for a city election in Iowa, a candidate must:
File an affidavit of candidacy: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/affidavit.pdf
File a nomination petition: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/nompetnonpartisan.pdf
Each candidate must file nomination papers with the city clerk. The affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions must be filed together or they will be rejected. The first day to file nomination papers to be a candidate for an elected office on the ballot at the November 5, 2013 Regular City Election is Monday, August 26th. The deadline to file is 5:00 p.m. Thursday, September 19th. All such nomination papers must be filed in the office of the respective city clerk.
Click here to see the seats that are open for every town in Cerro Gordo county and the required number of petition signatures for each seat.
Candidate’s guide: http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/electioninfo/citycndgde.pdf
I believe “The Gang” from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia nailed this issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdCjrlXSL4Y
Give everybody a free cell phone that’ll get ya lots of voters!
C’mon, Matt…why not you? You’d have my vote.
We need some fresh canidates! Anyone that wants to make a difference please step up and run! Don’t have any doubts, the people are tired of what we have and are looking for someone to speak for them. We need someone to choose to vote for that is for the people and want to make a difference for our city! That alone will get people out to vote!!Give us a reason instead of the same old washed up, greedy, lying, weasles!!!
Most everyone has given up and feel it doesn’t matter how they vote. They have effectively killed all initiative in Mason City. It is a sign of a dying city.