Special election possible for council seat

  If Clarksville residents eligible to vote (electors) would like to petition for a special election at cost to the city to fill the vacancy created when Katie Cummings resigned her post effective Nov. 3, they may do so.
   A petition may be filed up to 14 days after the date of legal publication, which is to be Thursday, Nov. 19. The petition will require the signatures of 46 electors, which signifies 15 percent of those who voted on Nov. 3.
  The council, in fulfillment of its legal duty, will appoint a person to the position.
  If such a petition is received, the appointment will be only temporary and the city will call an election. The county commissioner of elections will then set the election date.
  Cost of a special election, if so petitioned, will fall to the city.
  The 2013 City Election, the latest election cost data available for Clarksville, cost $1,843, Auditor's Office Elections Deputy Mary Brouwer said. She said a special election would likely cost more than that because of additional setup costs, which in this case would not be divided among the other polling places.
  Petitions are available online at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/auditors/forms/nompapers.html.
  Appears in the Nov. 12 Clarksville Star as a news item.