Area town could have problems if no one files for election

HARTINGTON — The Village of Fordyce could soon face an expensive dilemma.

The village needs three people to become write-in candidates to serve on the village board.

None of the incumbents — Doug Stevens, Charles Kramer or Roger Becker — filed for a spot on the village board. No one else has stepped up to file for a seat, either.

Currently, those three spots remain open and no one has volunteered as write-in candidate, said Cedar County Clerk Dave Dowling.

“This can be a real problem for them if nobody files as a write-in because with only two remaining board members, they can’t conduct normal business,” he said.

Write-in candidates have until Friday, Oct. 28, to file an affidavit with the clerk’s office. Only those who file officially will have their write-in votes counted, Dowling said.

In year’s past, all write-ins, regardless if a person had filed as a write-in, or not, had been counted, Dowling said. The write-in winner was then contacted to see if they were willing to serve. That rule has since been changed by the state, however, Dowling said.

He said if no write-in candidates come forward, it will cost the village more money to resolve the situation down the road as the Secretary of State’s Office would order a special election to fill the board at the village expense.

Dowling said on Oct. 19 he mailed ballots — 5,717 in all — to all of Cedar County’s registered voters.