Lang
5/9/21
Johnson County Republicans have chosen their candidate for an open seat on the Board of Supervisors.
Former Iowa City School Board member Phil Hemmingway had initially said he didn’t want to be nominated to run for the seat vacated by supervisor Janelle Rettig last month. But 11 of 19 delegates named Hemmingway as their candidate during a special meeting Saturday at the Miller Learning Center on Keokuk Street in Iowa City. Hemmingway will go on to face at least one Democratic challenger for the open seat, which has 20 months remaining on the term.
Hemmingway beat out former Marine Michah Broekemeier, who garnered the other eight votes, and licensed hemp grower Clay Warren, who received no votes.
Hemmingway has two previous, failed campaigns for a seat on the board. He retired from the Iowa City school board in 2019 to spend more time with his family and at his auto repair shop.
Democrats will meet at the Johnson County Fairgrounds on Tuesday to choose their candidate. The Democratic field includes Coralville City Councilor Meghann Foster, former deputy Johnson County treasurer Scott Finlayson, and former Lone Tree mayor Jonathan Green.
The special election is set for June 8th.