Petition circulating on supervisors representation plan

The News Telegraph has not found anyone claiming to be circulating the petition or explain why they would want to change the representation plans.

Cass County Auditor Kathy Somers referred to Iowa Code regarding petitions, which states eligible voters can call for a special election by petition to change representation plans in odd numbered years. The petition would need 532 signatures of eligible voters, and need to be filed with the county auditor by June 1. There would be three plans to choose from, and the first includes having all at-large candidates and all voters in the county would vote for all candidates. There would be no district residence requirements for candidates.

The second plan would have all at-large candidates, and all voters in the county would vote for all candidates. They would have district residence requirements with equal numbers of residents in each district. The third plan is the current plan used in Cass County, in which candidates would reside in their district, and voters in that district would vote for their specific candidate.

The special election would be held Aug. 1, and the plan with the most votes would be used at the general election in 2024. Board members’ terms would end on Jan. 1, 2025 unless they were reelected.