A referendum before voters in Keokuk asks if the number of members on the city council should be downsized.
The proposal calls for reducing the number of wards from seven to five, reducing the number of city council representatives by two. The council’s two at-large representatives would remain.
City Administrator Cole O’Donnell said the city struggled to find new members when two members resigned earlier this year. He said cutting the number of legislative districts could help solve the problem.
“The idea behind it is being able to have a bigger area in which to find people to serve on the City Council,” O’Donnell said. “It's hard to find, you know, even if we drop to five (wards), it still might be hard to find people. But it might be a little easier because the areas are a little bigger.”
If this referendum passes, the council would be cut from nine to seven members by the next general election in November 2025. By then, the city’s ward lines would be redrawn and reduced to five.
“We would have the new wards drawn and then, at that time, we would know which council members may have to run against other council members,” O’Donnell said. “All the seats would be open at that time.”
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 7 Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Also on the ballot in Keokuk next week are races for mayor and the two at-large council seats.
Mayor Kathie Mahoney faces challenger Xai Coffman. Incumbent Shelley Oltmans is running unopposed in the first at-large seat, while Devon Dade and Christopher Dailey are vying for the other.
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