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Over 2,600 Clayton County ballots cast in city/school election
No change on Clayton Ridge school board, Guttenberg Council comes down to one vote
Voting
At the polls Clayton County voters went to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4, to choose candidates for municipal and school elections. Above, voters cast ballots at the Guttenberg Municipal Building polling site. (Press photo by Austin Greve)

By Audrey Posten

Just over 2,600 ballots were cast in Clayton County for the Nov. 4 Iowa city/school election, representing a 22.44 percent turnout among registered voters in the county. This was an increase from the 2023 city/school election, when 2,449 ballots were cast and turnout was 20.14 percent.

The Clayton Ridge School Board will not see a shake-up, as incumbents Jessica Bittner, Michael W. Finnegan and Ellen Johnson were re-elected to three available positions. Bittner led a field of seven candidates with 358 votes, Finnegan received 319 and Johnson 286, beating out challengers Melissa Wilker (225 votes), Michelle Mertens-Dodgen (220), Jason Bittner (168) and Korey Wilker (151).

One of the tightest races was Guttenberg City Council, where three seats were up for grabs. Unofficial results put newcomer Brian Lee Rodenberg as the top vote-getter, at 223, followed by incumbent Stephan Balls at 211. Michelle Geuder edged Mandy Ludovissy by one vote, 181 to 180, to fill the final spot. Both currently serve on the council.

Fred Schaub, who was running unopposed, was re-elected as Guttenberg mayor after receiving 254 votes.

In Guttenberg’s hospital trustee race, Ryan Royer and Susan A. Osterhaus sought to fill two seats. Osterhaus picked up 257 votes and Royer 204.

Three candidates—Rachel J. Wolter, Lance Kuehl and Holly Webb—were on the ballot for three Garnavillo City Council positions. Wolter led the field with 101 votes, while Kuehl received 97 and Webb 93.

Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns was re-elected mayor of Clayton. Nineteen votes were cast in her favor.

In a crowded Clayton City Council race that had nine individuals vying for five seats, Rod Drexler earned 24 votes and Nichole Michels 19, followed by David C. Hart and Tim Brandel with 18 votes apiece and Cathy Staake 15. Those five have been elected, beating out Danelle Kuehl’s 14 votes, 11 each for Kim Hildebrand and Toni J. Schultz and seven votes for Kimberly S. Kuehl. The Clayton City Council was currently made up of Thomas Brandel, Dixie Connell, Kimberly Kuehl, Nichole Michels and Toni Schultz. 

In the cities of Elkport, Garber, North Buena Vista and Osterdock, no candidates filed to be on the ballot for mayor or city council, meaning write-in votes determined the officials.

Roger Bolsinger was re-elected as Elkport mayor with four write-in votes, and incumbents Diane Bolsinger, Jeff Hansel and Susie Steve all received four write-in votes for the council.

Ten write-in votes put Nioka Schroeder in another term as mayor of Garber. Daniel Vorwald picked up 13 votes for one spot on the council, then Alicia VanLennep, Ed VanLennep, Leroy Dugan and R. Lyle Schroeder all received 11 votes for the other four seats. They were all incumbents.

Alan Breitbach will continue to serve as North Buena Vista’s mayor, after earning 26 write-in votes. The five individuals who will serve on the city council are Pam Breitbach with 24 votes, Diane Ludovissy at 23, James Gordon 21, Robert Ludovissy 21 and Lacey Ludovissy 17.

Osterdock will also see no change in mayor, with Brad Miller picking up five write-in votes for re-election. Bob Petsche, Cliff Judkins, Dennis Sargent and Pat Cherne, who all currently serve on the city council, will continue thanks to five write-in votes apiece. Stacey Aulwes landed the fifth council seat with four votes.

All city/school election results are unofficial until the canvass is completed. Find full results and other election information at elections.claytoncountyia.gov/.