Iowa voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, to vote in this year’s primary election. In Tama County, the offices of county auditor, county sheriff, and county supervisor will be on the ballot. TAMA-GRUNDY PUBLISHING FILE PHOTO

TOLEDO – Last week Friday at 5 p.m. the county filing deadline passed for the June 4 primary election. The offices of county auditor and county sheriff, as well as five seats on the county board of supervisors, will all be on the Tama County primary ballot this June.

Tama County Auditor

Only one candidate filed nomination papers to run for the office of Tama County Auditor – Republican Karen Rohrs of Toledo, who currently works as both an assistant auditor and the Tama County Elections Administrator under Auditor Laura Kopsa.

While Kopsa has not officially announced her retirement, when contacted by the newspaper she indicated she will not be running again.

The office of county auditor is a four-year term in Iowa.

Tama County Sheriff

Three Republican candidates have filed the necessary paperwork to run for the office of Tama County Sheriff including Lucas Dvorak of Gladbrook, Casey Schmidt of Dysart, and Trevor J. Killian of Toledo. All three currently work for the Tama County Sheriff’s Office.

No candidate filed for the Democratic primary race.

While Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera, a Republican, has yet to officially announce his retirement, he did address the decision during the Tama County Republican Convention held on Feb. 17, thanking local party members for their support during his 24-year tenure.

Dvorak, a detective and Tama County native, first announced his intentions to run for county sheriff back on June 11, 2023. He wrote (in part) on Facebook, “I believe I am the right candidate for the job because of my leadership qualities. I have helped lead and organize multiple agency projects and case investigations. I often work with many outside county, state and federal agencies.”

Schmidt, a deputy with the Tama County K-9 Unit who has lived in Tama County for more than a decade, announced his run for county sheriff on July 3, 2023. As part of his announcement he wrote on Facebook, “As a Father, Husband, and Law Enforcement Officer, I take my role in the community seriously. It is my deep passion and desire to build off of the strong foundation built by the leadership of the current Sheriff to provide a healthy and safe home for all Tama County residents.”

Killian, a detective and longtime Tama County resident, announced his run for county sheriff on June 16, 2023, writing (in part) on Facebook, “My vision for the Sheriff’s Office is based on trust, respect, and collaboration. By working together, we can create a safer and more secure environment for all our residents. I am dedicated to providing the highest quality of service to our community and upholding the values that make our county a great place to live and work.”

The office of county sheriff is a four-year term in Iowa.

Tama County Board of Supervisors

During the November 2022 midterm election, Tama County voters overwhelmingly passed a public measure to move from three supervisors to five – a form of government the county has not used since 1934. The previous July, members of the coalition Tama County Against Turbines (TCAT) launched a successful petition drive to place the public measure on the Nov. 8 ballot.

This past January, the final version of the redrawn supervisor districts map was adopted by the county.

DISTRICT 1

District 1 includes the entire top tier of townships (Lincoln, Grant, Buckingham, and Geneseo) as well as Clark, Carroll, Oneida, and parts of far northern York. The district encompasses the communities of Dysart, Clutier, Lincoln, and Buckingham.

Three candidates filed to run for the Republican nomination including incumbent Supervisor Curt Hilmer of Dysart, Brian L. Wrage of Gladbrook, and Randie Brodigan of Dysart. Hilmer is only in his second year as a county supervisor, while Brodigan previously ran for county supervisor in 2022 on the Democratic ticket.

No candidates filed for the Democratic primary race.

The office of Tama County Supervisors District 1 is a four-year term.

DISTRICT 2

District 2 includes all of Otter Creek Township and most of Tama Township including the city of Tama.

The only candidate to file in District 2 was David W. Turner of Tama who filed for the Republican primary. Tama County Supervisor Dan Anderson, the Democratic incumbent in the district, elected not to run again.

The office of Tama County Supervisors District 2 is a two-year term.

DISTRICT 3

District 3 includes the townships of Spring Creek, Crystal, and Perry, and parts of far northern Carlton (excluding Garwin) and Howard. The district encompasses the communities of Gladbrook and Traer.

Three candidates – all Republicans – filed to run in District 3 including Heather Knebel of Traer, Robert V. Vokoun of Gladbrook, and Eli Hoskey of Toledo.

No candidates filed for the Democratic primary race.

The office of Tama County Supervisors District 3 is a two-year term.

DISTRICT 4

District 4 includes a portion of Carlton Township, most of the southern half of Howard Township, and Toledo Township. The district encompasses the communities of Garwin and Toledo.

Two candidates filed to run for the Republican nomination including incumbent Supervisor William Faircloth and Mark E. Doland, both of Toledo. Doland is currently the chair of the Tama County Republican Central Committee and previously served as a county supervisor in Mahaska County.

One candidate filed in District 4 for the Democratic primary race, Berleen Wobeter of Toledo.

The office of Tama County Supervisors District 4 is a four-year term.

DISTRICT 5

District 5 is a large, mostly rural district covering the southern portion of the county including the townships of Indian Village, Highland, Columbia, Richland, Salt Creek, and most of York. The district includes the Meskwaki Settlement, Montour, Chelsea, Vining, and Elberon.

One candidate filed to run for the Democratic nomination, Bruce Lenhart of Tama.

Three candidates filed to run for the Republican nomination including Lonika Utterback, Curt Kupka, and Steve Van De Walle – all of Chelsea.

The office of Tama County Supervisors District 5 is a four-year term.

June 4 primary election

Iowa’s 2024 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Polls will be open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Voters in Iowa’s primary elections must be registered with the political party whose primary they wish to participate in. Voters may change party affiliation at the polls, but may only participate in one party’s primary election.

Other important dates:

-Wednesday, May 15, 2024, is the first day voters may vote absentee in their county auditor’s office.

-The last day to request an absentee ballot be mailed is Monday, May 20.

-In addition to regular office hours, all county auditors’ offices in Iowa will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, June 1, 2024, for at least eight hours.

-Monday, June 3, 2024, is the last day to cast an absentee ballot in person at the county auditor’s office.