Buena Vista County voters will see competitive races across nearly every city and school board this November, with the exception of Storm Lake’s mayoral seat—which drew no official candidates. That vacancy has since prompted write-in campaigns from Meg McKeon and Charles Hernandez.
In Storm Lake, four candidates are vying for three open city council seats: incumbent Maggie Martinez and challengers Dalton Walker, Don Piercy, Jr., and Richard Riner. Piercy is running for the two-year term vacated by former councilperson Kevin McKinney. Councilperson Matt Ricklefs is not seeking re-election.
Three mayoral races are expected to be contested. In Alta, Jon Hansen and Desi Suter are running to succeed outgoing Mayor Kevin Walsh. Newell Mayor Wayne Westergaard is challenged by former police chief Justin Lyman. And in Sioux Rapids, longtime Mayor Jim Wise faces Michael Katschman.
Alta’s city council race is the most crowded, with seven candidates—including former councilperson Tom Lane—competing for three seats. Lakeside has four candidates vying for three seats, Linn Grove has six running for its council, and Marathon’s four candidates are running unopposed for four openings.
School board contests are also active. In the Alta-Aurelia district, Board President Tom Hinkeldey faces challengers Jayden Van Berkum and Lindsay Brown for two at-large seats. Storm Lake’s school board race includes incumbents Erika Dierking and Steven Mills.
Some races remain underfilled. Newell received only two petitions for three council seats. Sioux Rapids has no candidates for two open council seats, and the Sioux Central School Board received no petitions for its District 5 seat.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.
