Voters to decide state, local races

The race for the White House isn't the only thing on today's general election ballot.

Locally, voters will pick a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and several members of the Iowa House of Representatives.

In Webster County, a sheriff and three members of the Board of Supervisors will be chosen.

Also, voters will pass judgment on a 1-cent local option sales tax.

The 4th Congressional District race pits Democrat Becky Greenwald, of Perry, against U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ames. Latham is seeking his eighth term. That congressional district includes Webster County and all its surrounding counties.

Four members of the Iowa House of Representatives serve Webster County and all four of those seats will be filled by voters today.

In the 8th House District, Rep. Dolores Mertz, D-Ottosen, faces a challenge from Republican Stephen Richards, of Algona. That district includes northwestern Webster County, Humboldt and Pocahontas counties plus southern Kossuth County.

The 9th House District race features Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, and Republican Jamie Johnson, of Stratford. Bailey is seeking his second term. The district includes southeastern Webster County, plus Hamilton and Wright counties.

The 49th House District includes Fort Dodge and northeastern Webster County. The race there is between Republican Mike Littzen and Democratic incumbent Helen Miller, who's seeking her fourth term. Both candidates are from Fort Dodge.

The 50th House District encompasses southern Webster County and all of Calhoun and Greene counties. There, Democrat Lynne Gentry, of Rockwell City, is challenging Rep. David Tjepkes, R-Gowrie. He is seeking his fourth term.

In a three-way race in Webster County Supervisor District 2, Republican Jacob Johnson, Democrat Eddie Peterson and independent Doug Johnson will face each other for a four-year term. District 2 encompasses southern Webster County.

In Supervisor District 5, incumbent Democrat Phil Condon faces independent Eugene Melvin Newsome. The district contains Fort Dodge precincts 5 and 6, as well as Johnson, Douglas and Elkhorn townships.

Democrat Bob Singer is running unopposed in Supervisor District 3, which is comprised of Fort Dodge precincts 8, 9, 10 and 12.

Democrat Carol Messerly is seeking her fourth term as Webster County auditor. She is also running unopposed.

A contentious race for Webster County sheriff pits incumbent Republican Brian Mickelson against Democratic challenger Curt Ruby.

The local option sales tax question is on the back of the ballot, near the bottom of the page. Voters will decide if a 1-cent levy should be implemented on July 1, 2009. If it's approved, the levy would replace the current half-cent version.

In Fort Dodge, all of the sales tax revenue would be spent on streets, plus sewer, water and storm sewer work done in conjunction with street work.

In Webster County, half the revenue would be spent on roads and bridges, with the other half being invested in maintaining, constructing and equipping county-owned property.

The tax must be approved by a simple majority.