Petitions available for Pana and Nokomis city offices

PANA/NOKOMIS — Petitions are now available for those wishing to run for office in the cities of Pana and Nokomis.

In Pana, according to city clerk Terry Klein, the offices of mayor, clerk and treasurer will be elective offices. Additionally, one seat from each ward, plus a special election for a two-year unexpired term in Ward 2, will be up for election. Klein is retiring, but it is currently not known whether mayor Don Kroski or treasurer Pete Scherzer are running for re-election. The same is also true for the aldermanic races.

In Nokomis, there will be a special election for two-year unexpired terms for mayor and one commissioner seat. Mayor Russ Foster submitted his resignation in June over public pressure surrounding a Facebook post citing a 30-year-old felony charge. Commissioner Michael Holliday is serving as interim mayor. Louis Stauder is the commissioner appointee. As of press time, it is not known whether Holliday or Stauder are seeking those respective offices in 2021.

Petitions first became available on Tuesday, Aug. 25 for the 2021 consolidated election cycle. However, interested candidates have until the week of November 16-23 to file their petitions.

Consolidated primaries not common, but an option

While a consolidated primary election is not commonplace, it is an option if more than four people file to run for any one position. A primary would take place in late February should that happen.

Under primary rules, the top four vote receivers would advance to the general election in April.

Full terms for most of Pana’s races until 2025; 2023 for Nokomis races and one Pana aldermanic race

In Pana, the terms for these races would run through 2025, with the exception of the aldermanic seat in Ward 2. That term ends in 2023.

The terms for the Nokomis races will end in 2023.

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