Mixed results for two mayors

A southwest Iowa fire chief defeated an incumbent mayor as a write-in candidate Tuesday.

Avoca Fire Chief Scott Pigsley successfully challenged Mayor James Johnson, defeating him by 46 votes.

Pigsley wasn't available for comment. He was in Des Moines preparing for a veterans honor flight this morning.

Three newcomers won seats on the Avoca City Council, including David Hoffman, who was mentioned in a recent audit of the Avoca Fire and Rescue and Avoca Community Fire and Rescue Association.

Auditors cited unsubstantiated disbursements and double reimbursements connected to Hoffman and his wife, Amy, who serve as department president and association treasurer, respectively. The Hoffmans have declined to comment on the issue.

Hoffman came in second to John Butcher. Jerry Espeseth also won a seat, defeating Tim Gubbels and pushing out incumbents Robert McCarthy, Carol E. Kyle, and David McCain.

In Carter Lake, incumbent Mayor Russ Kramer beat Fritz Dahlheimer in a close race. Dahlheimer received 474 votes, but was edged out by Kramer, who received 485 votes.

Kramer said he has felt a lot of support over the past four years.

“People like the track the city has been on,” Kramer said.

However, he noted that the close race shows not everyone is in concurrence.

“I'm disappointed, of course,” Dahlheimer said at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse, where he watched the results with his two sons.

One of Dahlheimer's goals was to have a full-time, paid position on the all-volunteer Carter Lake Fire Department.

Kramer said it was time to move forward.

“My goal has always been to make Carter Lake a great place to work and play,” he said.

In the Carter Lake City Council race, four candidates competed for two seats. Incumbent Tim Parker secured his seat with 363 votes, and newcomer Barbara Melonis won with 805 votes.

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