Six candidates for four city offices met with voters Tuesday night at the library in order to share ideas and opinions about Perry and its prospects.
The candidates are standing for the offices of city mayor and city council members from all three wards in Perry.
Seeking to fill the office now held by Perry Mayor John Andorf were Sir A. W. Adams II and Dirk Cavanaugh.
Running unopposed for the first-ward seat on the Perry City Council was Joseph Shelly.
Jeremy Mahler seeks election to the second-ward seat, an office he has held since his appointment in 2022.
Challenger Keith Nichols and 10-year incumbent Barb Wolling seek the third-ward seat on the city council.
At-large council member Charles Schott was unable to attend the event. He is also running unopposed.
About 30 people attended the 90-minute forum, moderated by ThePerryNews.com, and the discussion ranged widely, from the city’s faltering system of rental property inspections to recent controversial actions by the city council regarding fireworks and open burning of leaves.
“Ninety minutes wasn’t long enough to do much more than scratch the surface of their opinions,” said one forum goer, “but at least it gave us a good look at the candidates as people and gave us a sense of what their leadership style would be in office.”
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. The candidates will attend other public events prior to the election. Their contact information follows:
Office: Mayor (2-year term)
- Sir A. W. Adams II, 1627 Willis Ave., Perry, 515-726-0847, sirawadams@gmail.com
- Dirk Cavanaugh, 2223 Fourth St., Perry, 515-333-1361, dirkcavanaugh@aol.com
Office: 1 At-Large City Council Member (4-year term)
- Charles Schott, 1920 16th St., Perry, 515-465-3809, con1st@aol.com
Office: 1 City Council Member Ward 1 (4-year term)
- Ervin Joseph Shelly, 1915 Pine St., Perry, 702-219-2484, josephs171999@yahoo.com
Office: 1 City Council Member Ward 2 (to fill vacancy)
- Jeremy Mahler, 1215 Second St., Perry, 515-447-0686, jeremymahler@me.com
Office: 1 City Council Member Ward 3 (4-year term)
- Barb Wolling, 2115 Second St., Perry, 515-423-2618, barb.wolling@gmail.com
- Keith Nichols, 1902 Fourth St., Perry – 515-465-8006, keithnichols286@yahoo.com
Absentee voting period begins Wednesday, Oct. 18. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Monday, Oct. 23. Absentee ballot request forms are available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov.
ThePerryNews.com will host a forum for candidates seeking Perry School Board seats on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Perry Perk coffeehouse at 1201 Warford St. in downtown Perry.
