The City of Nevada is gearing up for a contested mayoral race on Nov. 4, along with multiple races for city council seats.
Nevada Mayor Ryan Condon is running to keep his seat after triumphing in a special election in March. Former Nevada City Council member Barbara Mittman is challenging him.
There are two contested Nevada City Council races; Ward 4, where incumbent Dane Nealson is being challenged by Charles Good; and an at-large seat, where former Ward 2 Rep. Melissa Muschick is running against Andy Kelly.
Luke Spence, who secured the Ward 2 seat in March’s special election, is running unopposed.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Early voting begins Oct. 15 and lasts through Nov. 3. The last day to submit a request for a mailed ballot is Oct. 20.
Story County voters can find their voting precincts and candidate information on Story County’s website.
The Ames Tribune sent out questionnaires to each of the local candidates. Here are their responses:
Ryan Condon (incumbent mayor)
Name: Ryan Condon
Age: 48
Office I am seeking: Mayor of Nevada
Hometown: Military, so I have lived all over the world
Current town of residence: Nevada
Education: Bachelor’s from ISU in Psychology
Occupation: Benefits Eligibility Specialist
Political experience and civic activities: Current Mayor of Nevada; I previously served on the Nevada Planning and Zoning Commission and previously ran for House District 51 Representative. I volunteer for our local Food at First program, and I am the Troop Leader for Nevada Scout Troop 128 and Commander of the American Legion Post #48.
Why are you running for this seat? Why are you the ideal candidate for the job?
I ran in the special election in March to give people a choice for a new direction, and the people chose me to pursue real, tangible change. I have been doing that and will continue to do so if reelected.
What are the top priorities of your campaign?
Complete a dog park for the City of Nevada, continue to expand the participation of regular citizens into the workings of Nevada’s various boards and commissions and complete a comprehensive infrastructure plan for the future.
What are the main concerns you have for your city and how would you like to address them?
Ensuring that the new wastewater treatment facility is completed and functioning as intended. We need to increase citizen participation in our government and increase transparency in all of the city functions. I want to help ensure that the City of Nevada works for all of its citizens.
Barbara Mittman
Name: Barbara K. Mittman (Barb)
Age: 66
Office I am seeking: Mayor, City of Nevada
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Current town of residence: Nevada, Iowa
Education: BA – University of Northern Iowa; MA – Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Occupation: Community Meal Coordinator, Nevada Food at First
Political experience and civic activities: I was elected to Nevada City Council (Ward 1) in 2015. I served two consecutive terms and as Mayor Pro-Tem (2016-2023). Civic activities include my volunteer role with Nevada Food at First, two terms of service as an AmeriCorps Reading Corps member, Nevada Community Resource Center (NCRC) board member, and as a volunteer musician with Nevada Schools and Nevada First United Methodist Church.
Why are you running for this seat? Why are you the ideal candidate for the job?
My experience on the Nevada Council has offered me the opportunity to develop significant relationships with public, private, and corporate leaders, engage in meaningful partnerships, leverage resources, and make decisions that contribute to the quality of life in Nevada. My long personal record of community service also gives me the background, expertise, judgment, and collaboration skills to guide Nevada into its next chapter. I want to put my leadership experience to work and serve as mayor of Nevada.
What are the top priorities of your campaign?
As mayor, I will focus on economic development that invests in our infrastructure and helps reduce the property tax burden on residents. I pledge to use my prior council experience to work with city leaders and staff to find ways to deliver quality city services more efficiently and meet the diverse needs of our residents. Directed by Nevada’s Vision 2040 plan, I will support efforts to accomplish the goals and strategies of the plan’s eight priority areas with community partners, organizations, and neighbors.
What are the main concerns you have for your city and how would you like to address them?
Two issues are growth and diversity. Nevada needs to be positioned to manage current and future growth. Moving forward as a thriving community may cause change, create new needs, and influence what already exists. The second issue involves claiming Nevada’s diversity. Our community is not homogeneous, we are not of one mind, and the needs of our neighbors differ. But our leaders are called to provide quality public services to help meet needs of residents. When Nevada is at our best, trusted city leaders keep the vision and everyone shares responsibility for meeting challenges and achieving our goals.
Luke Spence (incumbent)
Name: Luke Spence
Age: 44
Office I am seeking: Nevada City Council, Ward 2
Hometown: Bettendorf
Current town of residence: Nevada
Education: Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and Flight Operations from University of Dubuque
Occupation: Pilot with United Airlines
Political experience and civic activities: I served on the City Council from 2018-21 and was reelected in the special election in March; I am the president and founder of the Nevada Community Garden providing fresh produce to local food banks and free meal organizations; I created and have organized the Coffee with the Candidate series in Nevada; I’ve served on both the Nevada Public Library Board and Historical Preservation Commission; seven-year member and past president of the Nevada Kiwanis Club.
Why are you running for this seat? Why are you the ideal candidate for the job?
I’m running because we need advocates for the people and services that make this town work. We are a middle-class blue-collar community. We need to shift our focus to providing the elements needed to attract and keep families in our community.
I feel I bring a lot of experience for this position. As an airline pilot for 20 years I have interpersonal and communication skills in working with people from many backgrounds and perspectives in both a safety and customer service setting. As a former Nevada council member from 2018-21 I have a good working knowledge of our city and its needs and can jump in on day one ready to go. As a leader in multiple service organizations in town I have a working knowledge and experience of the needs and desires of the people who live in our community.
What are the top priorities of your campaign?
Some of my priorities when I ran in the special election in March have already been met including improving and expanding council and city communication to the public and improving and expanding access for the public to the council. Some other specific goals are a sidewalk repair and expansion program, improving the city trail system, a yard waste disposal program, downtown beautification, increasing funding to our human services fund and increasing cost monitoring of major construction projects.
What are the main concerns you have for your city and how would you like to address them?
Our city leadership needs to be more willing to listen to diverse opinions and perspectives and go out of their way to seek out those different ideals. We need to embrace diversity in all forms and understand that governing, when done right, can be messy and take time but that’s the process that creates the best results for the town as a whole.
Dane Nealson (incumbent)
Name: Dane Nealson
Age: 39
Office I am seeking: Nevada City Council, Ward 4
Hometown: West Liberty, Iowa
Current town of residence: Nevada, Iowa
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University, 2010
Occupation: Pharmacy Technician at NuCara Pharmacy and Owner/DJ at Beetus Entertainment
Political experience and civic activities: Nevada City Council (2018-present); entertainment chair for Pizza Pie Looza (2021-present); co-founder, former president, and current board member of Runners United Nevada (2017-present); counselor at Camp Hertko Hollow for kids with diabetes (2004-present); also a member of Nevada Lions.
Why are you running for this seat? Why are you the ideal candidate for the job?
I’m proud of all Nevada has accomplished in the past eight years. Since 2017, Nevada has seen hundreds of new, good paying jobs created; we joined the Main Street Iowa program, received numerous grants to improve and renovate aging buildings, and we tackled the replacement of infrastructure and beautification in our downtown district; we saw the completion of the Nevada Field House and have multiple new housing developments underway to provide a variety of housing options for residents. While any single member of city council claiming credit for these things would be silly, having been part of the collaboration has been an honor.
What are the top priorities of your campaign?
Continue to grow Nevada’s tax base via economic development, provide a diverse range of housing options and continue to address aging infrastructure in our community.
What are the main concerns you have for your city and how would you like to address them?
Nevada’s school district just saw its largest dip in enrollment in recent history, and our roads (and the infrastructure underneath them) are aging. As I mentioned in my top priorities, we must continue to pursue opportunities for job creation, as well as housing for new families to invest in our community. We must also continue to prioritize infrastructure improvements in areas they are most needed.
Charles Good
Name: Charles Good
Age: 67
Office I am seeking: Nevada City Council, Ward 4
Hometown: Zearing
Current town of residence: Nevada
Education: Nesco High School Grad 1977
Occupation: Former business owner, Good & Quick, Nevada
Political experience and civic activities: Fuel Iowa, Retail Advisory Board; American Coalition for Ethanol, advocate; 13 years to Washington, D.C. meetings.
Why are you running for this seat? Why are you the ideal candidate for the job?
Fiscal responsibility for the city. I’ve been a business owner and in retail business for 47 years.
What are the top priorities of your campaign?
Streets, infrastructure.
What are the main concerns you have for your city and how would you like to address them?
Out of control spending. Be fiscally responsible and listen to the public.
Melissa Muschick
Name: Melissa Muschick
Age: 40
Office I am seeking: Nevada City Council At Large Seat
Hometown: Nevada, Iowa
Current town of residence: Nevada, Iowa
Education: Associate’s in accounting
Occupation: Director of Partner & Community Engagement
Political experience and civic activities:
Why are you running for this seat? Why are you the ideal candidate for the job?
I’m running for this seat because I care about our community and want to make a positive impact. I’m not coming in with an agenda or an ax to grind, I simply want to help our town continue to grow and succeed.
That means being willing to listen, even when I don’t agree, and finding ways to compromise so we can move forward. These are our neighbors and friends, and we all want what is best for our community. I genuinely enjoy talking with people and learning their stories, and I think that kind of open, positive and respectful leadership is what our city needs.
What are the top priorities of your campaign?
My top priorities are focused on keeping Nevada a great place to live, raise a family, and run a business. That means making smart decisions about growth, supporting families, and strengthening partnerships between the city, schools, and local organizations. I also want to make sure people feel their voices are heard and that our city leaders are approachable and transparent.
What are the main concerns you have for your city and how would you like to address them?
Like many communities, Nevada is facing challenges with housing, childcare and making sure families see this as the place they want to call home. Family housing needs to remain a top priority, and we should continue supporting efforts that bring both people and jobs to our community.
We also need to support the businesses that are here and those looking to invest, giving them the best chance to succeed. Our city council should be their strongest supporter and spend tax dollars in ways that grow our community and expand our tax base. By listening to residents, encouraging collaboration and investing wisely, we can move forward together and build the future we want for Nevada.
Andrew Kelly
Name: Andrew Kelly
Age: 50
Office I am seeking: Nevada City Council – At Large
Hometown: Charles City, Iowa
Current town of residence: Nevada
Education: Associate Degree
Occupation: Master Plumber
Political experience and civic activities: 12 years Nevada City Council with six months as acting mayor. I have attended council meetings for 24 years and helped with various activities in Nevada.
Why are you running for this seat? Why are you the ideal candidate for the job?
I have noticed in recent years that the current council has valued expediency over listening to the citizens. I had recently been trying to help a property owner resolve an issue that occurred during a city construction project. I had reached out to several council members to talk about what I thought should be done to help settle the matter. Several council members followed up but one council member refused to discuss the issue with me. I concluded things weren’t going to get better without getting more directly involved. Hopefully my experience and my availability will serve the city well if I’m elected.
What are the top priorities of your campaign?
My top priorities are to attract manufacturing jobs and improve city infrastructure. My hometown lost their main manufacturer when I was in high school and to this day has never fully recovered from it. I feel that manufacturing is what provides opportunities for all of the other aspects of the city economy.
What are the main concerns you have for your city and how would you like to address them?
My main concerns for the city are to make sure that the wastewater rates are finalized, that we start more aggressively to repair aging infrastructure, and that we do more to make sure that our existing businesses are healthy.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: We asked the Nevada mayoral, city council candidates questions and they answered
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
