CRESTON, Iowa — Creston residents are currently collecting signatures to hold a special election for mayor, but the city council wants to appoint the position.

This comes after former Mayor Waylon Clayton resigned in September. He announced his family is moving to Florida during a city council meeting on September 16th. He was just two years into his four-year term.

As a result, the city council held a Special Meeting on September 23rd to discuss how the next mayor should be chosen. They were originally going to appoint within the council, but instead decided to appoint a community member.

Creston has previously appointed mayors on at least two other occasions, one in the 1960s when Mayor Frank Boortz died, and in 2019 when Mayor Gary Lybarger also resigned to move out of state.

Mayor Pro Tem and Chair of the Special Meeting, Richard Madison, sent WHO 13 News this statement explaining the council’s decision:

“Last Tuesday, September 23rd, the Creston City Council meet in a Special Meeting after the resignation of then Mayor Waylon Clayton. During discussion both options were considered, whether to appoint a new Mayor or hold a Special Election for a new Mayor. I can’t speak for the rest of the Council, but my reasoning was that an appointment would save the cost (approximately $11,500.00) to hold a Special Election. Both options are allowable under Iowa Code and Creston has previously filled Mayor vacancies on at least 2 other occasions by appointment, once in late ’60’s when Mayor Frank Boortz passed away and in 2019 when then Mayor Gary Lybarger resigned to move out of state. As the Chair of this Special Meeting, I shared both options and informed the Council and those in attendance that if the Public should disagree, they can raise a petition.”

Richard Madison, Creston Mayor Pro Tem

In his statement, Madison said the decision for him was based on saving money, as a special election would cost $11,500.

Many residents are taking to social media to voice their disagreement with the decision. Over the weekend, Dillon Daughenbaugh started a petition to hold a special election instead.

“There’s two years left. Many cities in Iowa have two-year terms for mayor,” he said. “If it was just a few months, I would be on board with an appointment,” he said.

As far as the reported price of the election, Daughenbaugh said, “I think that is a small price to pay for the comfort of knowing the people of Creston chose our mayor for the next two years.”

Council member Jen Worisek of the third ward voiced this perspective during the special meeting, saying several residents reached out to her in favor of a special election.

She provided this statement to WHO 13 News on her opinion:

“The original thought process was to appoint within council. After discussion at the meeting, it changed to appoint within the community. I had numerous people reach out to me prior to the meeting and stated they would like to see a special election. I voiced this at the meeting. 

Personally I would like to see a special election, people voiced their opinion and I stand by that. I’ve heard that there’s a petition signing starting this weekend.

On the flip side, people also need to go out and vote. Social media has a lot of voices but when the time comes to vote, those voices go silent. So I encourage the people of Creston to stand by their opinion of a special election and vote when the time comes, for their own justice and Creston’s. Don’t forgot to vote in the general election in November as well. Let’s make a change.”

Jen Worisek, Creston City Council Ward 3

During the 2023 mayoral election when Creston residents voted for Mayor Clayton, only 1,605 ballots were cast of the 8,231 registered voters. This means there was a 19.5% voter turnout in what was a close election that was decided by just 15 votes.

182 signatures will need to be collected from city residents in order for a special election to take place.

If the petition is unsuccessful, the council is collecting letters from community members who are interested in being mayor by October 9th, and a new mayor will be appointed on October 21st.