Prepare for the polls

With Union County’s city/school election less than a month away, voters have an upcoming opportunity to hear from the people on the ballot.

The Creston News Advertiser, Creston Chamber of Commerce and KSIB will be hosting a candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the SWCC Allied Health Building auditorium.

KSIB will have a livestream available to watch on PantherTV for those unable to attend.

At the forum, candidates will be given the opportunity to make an opening statement. This will be followed by Chamber Director Olivia Cheers asking a series of predetermined questions. There will be no audience questions.

Candidates will then have time to make a closing statement. The school board candidates will start at 6:30 with the council candidates to follow.

School Board

The school board for the Creston Community School District has three spots up for election this year. With longtime board member Sharon Snodgrass retiring from the position, two incumbents and three new faces will be vying for the three spots.

Galen Zumbach is running for reelection, having served on the school board since 2011 after retiring from teaching at Creston High School.

The other incumbent is Dr. Amanda Mohr who is finishing up her first term on the board after being elected in 2021. Mohr serves as the chief nursing officer at Greater Regional Health.

Newcomers include MaKenzi Vonk, Susan Weight and Kathy Thorne Ralston.

Vonk has previously served on the Creston City Council and owns two local businesses -— Reflections Beauty and Top Notch Fireworks.

Weight was named Creston’s Volunteer of the Year in 2023. She is a part of the Creston Lion’s Club and the Friends of the Library.

Thorn Ralston has been an active parent in the school district and an advocate for special education services.

Mohr, Vonk, Weight and Thorn Ralston will be attending the forum. Zumbach will not be there.

City Council

Four positions are up for reelection in November, an at-large spot and wards 1, 3 and 5. Two of the positions will go to someone new as incumbents bow out.

Richard Madison has held the at-large seat since 2021, previously serving Ward 2. Running for his spot are Toby Henry and Brandon Cozad.

Henry works at Hometown Insurance and has experience in law enforcement. Cozad is a U.S. Army veteran and a driver at Concrete Supply.

Ward 1 incumbent Jocelyn Blazek was appointed in 2019 to fill a vacancy left by Ron Higgins when he moved out of the ward. In 2021, she ran unopposed, receiving 143 votes. Blazek is contracted by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to provide coordination services of the Child Welfare Decategorization Projects and CPPC initiatives.

Korey Sanchez, a firefighter and EMT with GRH, will be challenging Blazek for the Ward 1 position.

In Ward 3, incumbent Jen Worisek is running unopposed. She was appointed to her position in June 2024 to fill a vacancy left by Matt Levine. Worisek ran against Levine for the spot in 2021, but Levine received 127 votes, while Worisek received 103. She is a paramedic at GRH.

The final race, Ward 5, will see a new council member as Steve Wintermute will not be running for reelection. Wintermute has served Ward 5 since 2021, previously serving as mayor and as an at-large councilman.

Local landlord Jason Cook is running for the position after being a vocal community member at numerous council meetings.

The other candidate is Karen Drake, owner of Karen’s Crafty Corner and 2024 Volunteer of the Year.

All newcomers will be at the candidate forum. Blazek will not be in attendance and Worisek is unsure if she will be able to attend.

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