Hunter
02/08/24
A piece of legislation advanced out of subcommittee earlier this week would have candidates for city and school board elections appear on the ballot with party affiliations.
The Gazette reports that supporters of the bill say increased attention and money from local political parties and statewide partisan organizations in these elections have changed the reality of the races, which have traditionally been nonpartisan.
Groups like One Iowa, Moms for Liberty and the Family Leader got involved in school board races last year over issues like school curriculum, LGBTQ issues and COVID-19 measures. Liberal candidates won most of those races over conservatives.
The bill would have candidates for city and school board offices nominated by primary election exclusively the first Tuesday in October before the November election.
Opponents of the bill say it would cost cities and municipalities too much money and pointed out that many of those races are run uncontested.
The Gazette also says lobbyists representing city and school board groups told lawmakers that smaller districts often have enough difficulty recruiting candidates to run for office. Requiring cities and school districts to conduct and pay for a separate primary election would add to those difficulties.