Next Tuesday, voters will go to the polls to decide who the best candidates are for their respective communities.
?In Burns, there are three open council positions,? said Tina Spencer, county clerk and election officer. ?Hillsboro has two council positions open in Wards I and II and in Marion, it?s the mayor and two council positions open.?
Marion is the only community with contested races for mayor and city council.
In addition, the spring election will only impact three towns in Marion County: Hillsboro, Burns and Marion.
Marion City Administrator Roger Holter said he received three filings for the mayor?s position: incumbent Mary Olson and challengers Todd Heitschmidt and Steve Unruh.
In the city council race, incumbent Jerry Kline is running for one of the two open seats, along with challengers Duane McCarty, Melissa Mermis, Chad Adkins and David Mayfield.
Incumbent Chris Meierhoff chose not to seek another term on the council.
In Hillsboro, the two incumbents are Shelby Dirks in Ward I and Byron McCarty in Ward II. No challengers have filed.
In Burns, three council positions are open, including seats held by incumbents Jim Scott and Ryan Johnson. The third candidate is challenger Tim Rogers, filling the vacant seat left by Angie Brenzikofer.
This election is non-partisan, Spencer said.
?Early voting is available at the courthouse until noon March 31,? she added.
No special questions, school positions or other races or candidates will be decided this election.
Voters can go to the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Burns Community Center, 301 N. Washington Ave., and cast their ballot for three of the three people seeking a council seat.
In Hillsboro, voters will go to the Hillsboro City Building, 118 E. Grand Ave.
Voters in Marion will vote in the ballroom at the Marion Community Center, 203 N. Third St.
For more information about the election, call the Marion County Clerk?s office at 620-382-2185 or stop by 200 S. Third St., Suite 104, Marion.
