Your Ames Vote! Special Election Edition

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

October 28, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Today, we present to you our October surprise — a special election edition newsletter for the Ames community. Here, you'll find profiles and what you need to know about the local candidates running for mayor, city council, school board and the hospital trustees.

You'll also be able to find information about your polling location, ballot and voter registration (you can still register on Election Day!). We hope this newsletter will help you stay informed as a community member and voter.

Thanks for reading our newsletter!


Co-Editors: Anthony Capps & Amber Mohmand
[email protected]

Get Out and Vote!

Election Day is approaching. Next Tuesday, Nov. 4, voters go to the polls to elect their city and school officials.

Everything you need to know about Election Day

 

Registration status

If you’re not sure about your voter status, check your registration on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. If you aren’t registered, you may still vote on election day. You will need to prove both who you are and where you live. The Secretary of State’s website has more information about acceptable documentation.

Early Voting

If you don’t want to wait to vote on election day, you still have options.
Early voting began on Oct. 15 and continues through Monday, Nov. 3, at the Story County Auditor's Office in Nevada. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Satellite voting will be available on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Ames Public Library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Election Day voting

On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Polling Locations

Ames has 24 polling locations. To find your specific polling location, follow this link (from the Story County Auditor) and enter your address.

Ballots

If you want to know what your ballot will look like, the Story County Auditor has sample ballots.

City Elections

Ames

Mayor & City Council

In this election, both the mayoral and city council incumbents are running uncontested.

Ames

City Hospital Trustees

The race for the hospital’s board of trustees is the city’s only contested election. Incumbents Mary Kitchell and Beth Swenson are joined by challenger Paul Hudson.

Ames

Public Measure B

Besides the local and school offices, Ames residents have a public measure to consider. The city is requesting approval of a $10.5 million bond to build a new fire station for West Ames.

Gilbert

We asked the Gilbert mayoral, city council candidates questions and they answered

In Gilbert, voters have choices for both the mayor and the city council.

Kelley

In Kelley, three city offices are on the ballot, and all are uncontested.

Community rundown

Nevada: The election for mayor and two seats on the city council — Ward 4 and at-large — are contested with two candidates each. Read more about the candidates at the Ames Tribune.
Huxley: The races for mayor and city council seats are uncontested, with four incumbents all running for reelection. Read more about the candidates at the Ames Tribune.
Boone: Four candidates are running for Boone mayor. And there are four city council positions opening, with two contested — Ward 1 and at-large. Read more about the mayor and council candidates at the Ames Tribune.
Story City: The three candidates running are unopposed for seats in the city government. Read more about the candidates at the Ames Tribune. There is also a public measure to revise the term lengths and qualifications for serving on the public library’s board of trustees.

School Elections

Ames Community School District

Like Ames’ mayoral and city council election, the school district is uncontested. The four names include two newcomers — Arthur Baumgartner and Jennifer Tipton. And, since he was appointed to his seat, this is the first time Aaron Rodriguez appears on an election ballot.

Gilbert Community School District

The two spots on the Gilbert School Board have four candidates, including one incumbent and three newcomers.

Public Measure

Gilbert Schools residents will also need to flip their ballot over to vote on a public measure to reauthorize the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy. The current tax rate of $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value would continue.

Nevada Community School District

The two spots on the Gilbert School Board have four candidates, and every one of them would be a new face on the board.

 

Public Measure

Nevada Schools residents will also need to flip their ballot over to vote on a public measure to reauthorize the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy. The current tax rate of $0.67 per $1,000 of assessed property value would continue.

United Community School District

Two of the three races for a seat on the United School Board are contested, and all the names are newcomers.

Ballard Community School District

The two seats up on the Ballard School Board are uncontested, but both candidates are newcomers.