List of All Elected Offices Serving Johnson County

Click on links for information on current office holders.

President and Vice President of the United States

Partisan office, elected at General Election, leap years
Term: 4 years, limit 2 terms. (No other offices on this list are affected by term limits.)
Qualifications for Office: U.S. Citizen Since Birth, 14 Years residence in U.S., age 35

To qualify for ballot, official party (Democratic and Republican Parties):

Nominated by national convention.

• More on nomination process and 2008 Iowa Caucuses

To qualify for ballot, nomination by petition:
1,500 signatures from at least 10 counties. File with Secretary of State.

Vice President of the United States:

Elected as a ticket with President
The qualifications for the Vice President are the same as those for the President, except there is no term limit on the Vice President.

United States Senator

Partisan office, elected at General Election.
Term: 6 Years. Each state has 2 Senators, for a total of 100 U.S. Senators.  Terms are staggered, so that 1/3 of Senators are elected every two years.

Seat currently held by Tom Harkin: 2008
Seat currently held by Chuck Grassley: 2010

Qualifications: U.S. Citizen 9 Years, Iowa Resident, age 30
File with Secretary of State

To Qualify for Ballot

Party Primary: (Democratic and Republican Parties)
1. Signatures equaling 1/2 of 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party in the last general election.
2. 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party in each of at least ten counties.

Nomination by petition:
1,500 signatures from at least 10 counties.

U.S. Representative

Partisan office, elected at General Election.  Term: 2 Years

One Representative per district, total 435 Representatives.  Iowa has five districts.  Johnson County is in the 2nd Congressional District.

Qualifications: US Citizen 7 Years, age 25. Iowa Resident.
(You do not need to live in a congressional district to run for that seat.)
File with Secretary of State.

To qualify for ballot:

Party primary: (Democratic and Republican Parties)
1. Signatures equaling 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party in the last general election.
2. Signatures equaling 2% of the total vote for the candidate's party in the last general election in at least half of the counties in the district.

Nomination by petition: 300 signatures from congressional district.

Governor

Partisan office, elected at General Election , Non-Presidential Year
Term: 4 Years
Qualifications: U.S. citizen and Iowa resident 2 Years, age 30
File with Secretary of State

To Qualify for Ballot:

Party Primary: (Democratic and Republican Parties)
1. Signatures equaling 1/2 of 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party in the last general election.
2. 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party in each of at least ten counties.

Nomination by petition:
1,500 signatures from at least 10 counties.

Lieutenant Governor
Elected as a ticket with Governor
Nominated by state party convention
Same qualifications as Governor

Partisan offices, elected at General Election, Non-Presidential year
Term: 4 Years
File with Secretary of State

To qualify for ballot:

Party primary: (Democratic and Republican Parties)

1. 1,000 signatures.
2. At least 50 signatures in each of at least ten counties.

Nomination by petition:

1,500 signatures from at least 10 counties.

State Senator

Partisan office, elected at General Election.
One Senator per district for a total of 50 State Senators
Johnson County includes all of one Senate district and parts of three other districts.

Term: 4 Years. Half the seats are elected every two years.  Even numbered seats are elected in presidential years and odd-numbered seats are elected in non-presidential years.

Qualifications:
US Citizen, 1 Year Residence In State, 60 Days Residence In District, age 25

File with Secretary of State
To qualify for ballot, party primary or nomination by petition: 100 signatures.

State Representative

Partisan office, elected at General Election
Term: 2 Years

One Representative per district for a total of 100 State Representatives 
Johnson County includes all of three House districts and parts of three other districts.

Qualifications:
US Citizen, 1 Year Residence In State, 60 Days Residence In District, age 21

File with Secretary of State
To qualify for ballot, party primary or nomination by petition: 50 signatures.

County Supervisor

Term: 4 Years.
Partisan office, elected at General Election.
Five Supervisors elected at large. Three Supervisors are elected in Presidential years and two Supervisors are elected in non-presidential years.
File with County Auditor

To qualify for ballot:

Party primary: (Democratic and Republican Parties)
2 percent of the votes cast for president or governor in the last general election or 100 signatures, whichever is less.  (Johnson County, 2008: 100 signatures for Democrats and Republicans)

Nomination by petition: 250 signatures.

Partisan office, elected at General Election. Term: 4 Years.

Presidential year: Auditor, Sheriff
Non-Presidential Year: Attorney, Recorder, Treasurer

File with County Auditor

To qualify for ballot:

Party primary: (Democratic and Republican Parties)
2 percent of the votes cast for president or governor in the last general election or 100 signatures, whichever is less.   (Johnson County, 2008: 100 signatures for Democrats and Republicans)

Nomination by petition: 250 signatures

One Clerk and three Trustees.  Term: 4 Years
Non-partisan office, elected at General Election.  (Changed from partisan office beginning with 2006 general election.)  The clerk and one trustee are elected in non-presidential years, and two trustees are elected in Presidential years.  If a position is filled by appointment, the seat must appear on the next general election ballot for a two year term.

File with County Auditor.  To qualify for ballot: affidavit of candidacy.

School Board Members

7 Directors (Iowa City, Clear Creek Amana), 5 Directors (Lone Tree, Solon).
Non-partisan office elected at School Election (September).
Term: 3 Years.  Terms are staggered so that roughly 1/3 of Directors are elected every year.

Qualifications: US Citizen, eligible elector, age 18
File with Secretary Of Board Of Education
To qualify for ballot: 1% of the registered voters (as of May 1 of election year) or 50 signatures, whichever is less.  Iowa City School District: 50 signatures.  Voter Registration Statistics by School District

Area Education Agency Board of Directors

9 directors elected by district.  Johnson County includes part or all of 4 districts
Non-partisan office elected at school election.
Term: 3 years. Terms are staggered so that 1/3 of directors are elected every year.

File with Area Education Agency Board Secretary
To qualify for ballot: 50 signatures.

Mayor (all Johnson County cities except Iowa City)

Non-partisan office elected at City Election (November, odd-numbered years)
Term: 2 or 4 Years (varies by city).

File with City Clerk
To qualify for ballot: 2% of the number of voters in the last regular city election, but not less than 10.

Mayor (Iowa City)

The Mayor of Iowa City is elected by the City Council from among its members in January of even-numbered years. The term is two years.  The Mayor chairs meetings and continues to vote and serve as a Council Member.

7 Council Members (Iowa City), 5 Council Members (other cities).
Non-partisan office elected at City Election
Term: 2 or 4 Years (varies by city)

File with City Clerk
To qualify for ballot: 2% of the number of voters in the last regular city election, but not less than 10.

9 council members elected by entire county.
Non-partisan office elected at General Election.
Term: 4 years.  Terms are staggered so that four or five members are elected every two years.

File with County Auditor
To qualify for ballot: 25 signatures.

5 Members elected by entire county.
Non-partisan office elected at General Election.
Term: 4 years; Terms are staggered.

Qualifications: No more than one Commissioner per township.
File with County Auditor.
To qualify for ballot: 25 signatures.