Board certifies election abstracts and resolves Baldwin mayoral tie by draw

Summary

The board authorized election canvassers to certify the Nov. 4 city and school election abstracts, noted 913 countywide write-in votes, and conducted a required draw after William Rowan and John Wohlgemann tied with nine votes for Baldwin mayor; certification is subject to the candidate's acceptance and any required recounts.

Auditor Lisa Smith presented the results of the Nov. 4 city and school election and asked the board to authorize the board of canvassers to certify and sign the official abstracts and certificates. The board approved that authorization by motion.

Smith and staff reported 913 write-in votes countywide and described an unusually large write-in campaign in Bellevue. In Baldwin, two write-in candidates — William Rowan and John Wohlgemann (transcript contains multiple spellings) — each received nine votes, creating a tie. County procedure requires a draw to determine which write-in will be certified; the board drew a name and declared the drawn candidate the winner pending that person's acceptance under Iowa law.

Smith also briefed the board on a close bond vote in the Eastern Valley school district that was six votes short of the 60% threshold needed for passage; she said Clinton County will perform a separate canvas for its portion of the district and Jackson County will recount ballots cast in Jackson County if the school board requests a recount.