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Board opts to fill Jackson County recorder vacancy by appointment; auditor to publish notice
Summary
Auditor Lisa Smith informed the board of County Recorder Arlene Shoff's resignation and explained Iowa Code requirements. The board voted to fill the upcoming vacancy by appointment, set an intended appointment date and directed the auditor to publish the required notice.
Auditor Lisa Smith told the board on Oct. 28 that County Recorder Arlene Shoff had submitted a resignation and that Iowa law allows the board to fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election subject to petition.
Smith said the code requires publishing a notice of the intention to appoint at least once not less than four nor more than 20 days before the appointment hearing and that electors may petition for a special election within 14 days of publication. The auditor proposed publishing the notice in the county newspapers and said an appointment could be scheduled for Dec. 2 with an effective start date of Jan. 2, 2026.
Board members discussed timing to allow outside applicants to provide notice to current employers and to give the board time to interview candidates. The board voted to proceed by appointment (motion carried), and the auditor said she would publish the notice in the county newspapers on the Nov. 19–20 publication dates so the hearing could occur on Dec. 2 and the appointment be effective Jan. 2, 2026, unless petitioned for a special election.
The auditor will finalize the public notice language with county counsel and accept applications during the published window. If electors file a timely petition, the appointment process would be suspended and a special election scheduled in accordance with Iowa law.
