City Council Elections

NOTE: For information about the November 7, 2023 city election, please visit this post.

Thank you for your interest in serving as a public official for the City of Indianola! 

Offices on the ballot for the 2023 election are First Ward, Third Ward, and one At-Large council seats. Candidates for office must file an affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions with the City Clerk between August 28, 2023 at 8:00 AM and September 21, 2023 at 5:00 PM. 

Affidavit of Candidacy

Nomination Petition

Candidates running for ward seats can only collect signatures from within the ward. Candidates running for an at-large seat may collect signatures from anywhere in the city. All petition signers must be eligible electors of the city and ward (where applicable). 

The election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM. 

We realize that pursuing public office is not an easy decision and one that can seem a bit overwhelming.  Accordingly, the City wanted to provide resources that you may find informative and helpful as you consider this office.  These resources include:

Indianola University

Indianola University is an eight-week course designed to give you an insider's look at city government while providing you with the tools and knowledge you need to increase your civic involvement. To learn more and to apply, click here. 

Mayor and Council Roles

The Iowa Municipal Policy Leaders’ Handbook is a resource guide published by the Iowa League of Cities for elected officials. The complete handbook may be viewed by contacting the City Clerk’s Office.

The Iowa League of Cities' guide provides more information on city government, legal issues, and resources. 

City Code of Ordinances

A searchable version of the City Code of Ordinances may be viewed at:

Chapter 17 of the City Code of Ordinances

Chapter 17 of the City Code provides the legal authority for the position of the City Council. This chapter is based upon Iowa Code Chapter 364. 

City Policies

A complete listing of current City policies may be found at:

Comprehensive Master Plan

A Comprehensive Plan is one of the most important documents for a community.  It is a long-range policy guide to decisions about the physical development of a community.  This document was adopted in May 2020, and may be found at:

Strategic Plan

In 2022, the City Council adopted its updated Strategic Plan.  This document sets forth the City’s main priorities for the upcoming years and may be found at:

Budget

The City’s budget is the spending plan for the fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30 annually.  The City’s current and past financial information can be viewed on the Clerk/Finance page at the link below.