Dickinson Commission calls special election Aug. 18 to fill vacated seat

The Dickinson City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to call a special election for Monday, Aug. 18, to fill the vacancy created by the April resignation of Commissioner John Oderman.

City Administrator Mr. Dossinger told commissioners the public had submitted 304 petition signatures — above the 144 required under North Dakota Century Code to trigger a special election — and recommended the Aug. 18 date after consultation with state timing and publication requirements. "That is the date that we would like the commission to approve," he said.

The move matters because it starts a statutory timeline for candidate petitions, publications and ballot preparation. Dossinger listed the next key dates: May 14 (publication of the election notice); May 16 (candidates may begin circulating petitions); June 15 (petitions due by 4:00 p.m., Mountain Time, at City Hall; City Hall will be open 2–4 p.m. that Sunday to accept late packets); July 9 (absentee ballots available); July 10 (earliest date candidates may file campaign-disclosure statements); and July 18 (campaign-disclosure filing deadline). He said 247 valid signatures are required for a candidate to appear on the ballot.

Commissioners moved and seconded the resolution to call the election; the roll call vote recorded all ayes. City staff will publish a formal schedule and filing instructions on the City of Dickinson website.

The commission did not adopt a separate resolution at the meeting; the body accepted the motion to call the election as sufficient to set the date.