News : Pettengill to have no opposition on November ballot

Iowa House District 39 Representative Dawn Pettengill took one small step toward another term in office last Friday, Aug. 13. That was the deadline for parties to nominate candidates for state and federal offices.

There was no Democratic candidate for the District 39 House seat on the primary ballot. Two years ago, when facing a similar situation, the Democrats held a convention after the primary to nominate Terry Hertle to run against Pettengill. But this year, no such convention took place.

A similar deadline for county offices approaches Aug. 25.

So far, the only contested race for a full-time public office is for Benton County Supervisor, where once again Republican Jason Sanders (the incumbent) will be on the ballot against Democrat Ed Sass. Sanders defeated Sass in 2002, taking the seat from him. Sass ran again in 2006, this time as an independent.

Sanders had originally planned to leave office after this term, and did no file papers for re-election. But after no other Republicans filed papers for the office, Sanders began a write-in campaign a few weeks befor the primary election.

The other county officials on the ballot -- County Attorney Dave Thomson, ( a Democrat), and County Treasurer Kelly Geater and County Recorder Lexa Spiedel (both Republicans) -- have no opposition for the November election.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2.