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LAUREL — Incumbents have not been rushing to place their names on the ballot ahead of this year’s local elections.
Laurel voters will decide races this fall for both the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School Board and the Laurel City Council.
On the City Council, incumbents June Koester and Jeff Erwin have not yet filed for re-election.
Four seats are open on the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School Board.
Board President Jay Hall and board member Bryan Pippitt are the only incumbents who have filed to retain their seats so far.
Scott Taylor, who was up for re-election, resigned from the board in January due to health issues. Grant Settje is also up for re-election but has not announced his intentions.
Political newcomer Paul Garcia has filed for one of the open school board seats.
Garcia said he has considered running for quite some time.
“After a couple conversations, I felt like there’s no time like the present,” he said.
Garcia, who has three children in school here, said he feels he would be a good board member.
“My work experience has taught me how to interact and communicate with people,” he said. “Life has taught me that one of the greatest things we can do is give others our time.”
Several other office holders around the county have still not made their intentions known.
Incumbents have until 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17, to file for office. Non-incumbents have until 5 p.m., Monday, March 2, to file in order to appear on the May 12 primary election ballot.
The 2026 general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Cedar County Clerk Jessica Schmit said an incumbent is considered to be anyone serving in an elective office, even if it is not the office for which they are filing.
Most of Randolph’s incumbents for school board and city council have decided to seek another term in office.
Randolph School Board members Lucas Miller and Sandy Owens have both filed paperwork with the Cedar County Clerk to seek another term in office. Long time board member Paul Schmit has indicated he does not plan to seek another term on the board, however.
Two of the three Randolph City Council incumbents up for election this year have also filed to seek another four years in office.
Mayor Dwayne Schutt filed paperwork Jan. 27 to seek another term in office. Aaron Neilsen also filed to retain his City Council seat. Incumbent Daniel Korth has not yet indicated if he plans to seek another term or not. Janelle Bierenbaum filed paperwork Jan. 27 to run for a seat on the council.
In Magnet, Chris Albrecht has filed for another term on that board. Miriam Albrecht has not yet filed, however.
People seeking village board seats will not appear on the primary election ballot, and thus have a later filing deadline.
For village offices, incumbents have until Monday, July 15, to file for re-election. New candidates have until Thursday, Aug. 1, to file.
Belden Village Board members up for election this year are: Janice Wobbenhorst, Chris Aldrich and Robert Patefield.
Two people have filed to replace Dave McGregor as Cedar County commissioner.
McGregor, who represents the central district, announced earlier this year that this will be his final year on the board.
Current Cedar County Road Department employee Kelly Hammer and former Hartington City Council member Tim Burbach have both filed for the seat.
Hammer, of Coleridge, has worked for the Cedar County Road Department since 2019.
