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Rob Dump Randolph Times
RANDOLPH — With the filing deadline drawing near, time is getting short for incumbents to throw their hat in the ring to seek another term in office.
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. Burbach joined the Hartington City Council in 2000 and served on it until resigning in July 2013.
Both men have previously challenged McGregor for the job.
Hammer ran against Mc-Gregor in the 2022 primary. Burbach and Scott Keiter ran unsuccessfully against McGregor in the 2018 Primary.
McGregor is the only one of the county’s elected officials whose seats are on the ballot this year to not file for another term in office.
