Webster County appoints Courtney Balconendi as county recorder; residents may petition for special election

The Webster County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Courtney Balconendi as Webster County recorder at its July 29 regular meeting. The action fills a vacancy in the recorder’s office and follows a county auditor-managed application process. County officials said Balconendi, the current deputy and interim recorder, was the leading candidate from an 18-person applicant pool. The appointment follows notice published July 14 and an application window that closed the prior Friday. The county auditor told the board 18 applicants applied and four were disqualified because they did not reside in Webster County; the auditor said she had called references and determined Balconendi “rose to the top.” Under Iowa law referenced at the meeting, electors may force a special election to fill the vacancy. The auditor explained that a petition must be filed with the county auditor within 14 days after the first publication or within 14 days after the appointment and must contain signatures equal to at least 10% of the votes cast in Webster County for president in the most recent presidential election. The board completed a roll-call vote; Supervisors Cochran, Montgomery and Conrad voted in favor. The board said a swearing-in will be arranged at a later date and the auditor and county attorney would answer any questions from residents about the petition process. No contested action was recorded at the meeting; the board described the appointment process to the public and confirmed the statutory petition rights available to voters. Appointee Courtney Balconendi said little at the meeting; county staff will schedule a formal swearing-in and provide public guidance on the petition process if residents pursue it.