The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-20
MUNICIPAL ELECTION !,
The Usual Spring Election to be Held
This Year but a Decided
Change Next Year.

jlpal election in Leon this spring. at
which time mayor, one councilman
from each ward, treasurer and an
assessor will be elected. This is in
accordance with an Interpretation Of
the new law as handed down in re-
cent decision by Assistant Attorney
General Cosson.
There are several points in the new
law governing municipalities, enacted
by the last legislature, which are sus-
ceptible of more than one construction,
and the attorney general was beseiged
with requests from all over Iowa for an
Interpretation of the law. We give the
following summary Of the decisions:
In cities Of the second class where
mayor is elected in odd numbered years
there WILDE no election in March, 1908,
the terms Of those councilmen and off,
GERS expiring in 1908 being extended.
one year. In 1909 in cities of the
second class that elect mayor in odd
numbered years an election will be held,
and mayor, two councilmen at large
and one councilmen from each ward
will be elected.
In cities of the second class that elect
a mayor in even numbered years, the
usual number of counciimen shall be
elected at the March, 1908, election ac-
cording to the provisions of paragraph,
2, section 646 of the code. In 1909 how
ever no.election will be held in such
cities, the terms of those councilmen
and officers expiring in 1909 being ex-
tended one year. In 1910 such cities
shall elect two councilmen at large and
one councilmen from each ward.
In towns in which a mayor is elected
in even numbered years, the usual num-
ber Of councilmen shall be elected at
the March, 1908, election, the term of
office being fixed at two years. In 1909
there shall be no election in such towns
the term of coundilmen and officers Of
such towns whose terms expire in 1909
being extended one year. In 1910 the
number of the members of the council
in such towns shall be reduced to five.
In towns in which mayor is elected
in odd numbered years, the usual num-
Der of councilmen shall be elected at
the March, 1908, election, the term of
Office of such councilmen and officers so
elected at the March, 1908 election is
fixed at three years. In such towns an
election shall be held in 1909 and the
usual number of councilmen and officers
shall be elected at said time for period
of two years. There shall, however, be
no election in such towns in the year
1910, the term of councilmen and Of.
ffcers whose terms expire in 1910 being
extended one year. In 1911 the num-
ber of the members of the council in
such towns shall be reduced to five.
All town officers elected in 1910 in towns
which elect a mayor in even numbered
years shall be elected for the term Of
two years. All town officers elected in
1911 in towns which elect mayor in
odd numbered years shall be elected for
the term of two years.
In all cities and towns where the
term of the clerk now serving expires
in March, 1908, the council at it's first
meeting after the March, 1908, election
shall appoint clerk for the term of
two years. What is said with ref
erence to the appointment Of clerk is
also applicable to the appointment of
solicitor in cities having population
of four thousand or less.
Leon is a city of the second class
which elects mayor in even number
ed years. Under the new law we must
this year elect mayor and one council
man from each ward, but next year
there will be no election. The terms Of
Y. M. Axes in the first ward, Add
Ausman in the second ward, and Morris
Gardner in the third ward expire this
year, and successors must be chosen to
fill their places. There is also mayor
to elect. Next year, however, there
will be no municipal election, the terms
of E. /. Jenkins in the first ward, e. e.
Bell in the second ward, and DR.. o.
w. Foxworthy in the third ward, being
extended one year. At the 1910 cleo
tion the new law goes into effect in it's
entirety, and the council will be COM
posed of one alderman from each of the
three wards and two at large instead of
the present two counc linen from each
ward. The new law provides that the
newly organized council this year
shall appoint solicitor, as Leon has a
population Of less than 1000. Hereto
fore this Office has been an elective one
AS before, the office of city clerk is an
ap pointive one. Both offices will be
vaca Mt this year, and both must be ap-
pointed under the new law.
In Rlnqgold County.
4 L.. l.