Wade wins Ward 4

Vicki Wade has been voted in to fill the vacant Ward 4 seat on the Newton City Council, according to unofficial results from the county auditor’s office.

A total of 350 write-in votes were cast in the race. Wade secured 204 votes, or roughly 58.28 percent, while Lin Chapé garnered 110 votes, or 31.42 percent. The auditor’s office categorized 46 votes as “scattered” votes. Results were not released until a day after the election so a special precinct board could count all the write-in votes of every race.

“I am honored to serve Ward 4 on the Newton City Council,” Wade told Newton News. “This is the seat of the Ward residents, and I am here to share your voice, your concerns and your successes with key city decision makers. I invite your comments to vickiwadecouncil@gmail.com. Thank you, Ward 4 and the many others, for supporting my write-in candidacy.”

The race for Ward 4 is unique in that no candidates formally applied to fill the vacant seat currently held by council member Steve Mullan, which meant citizens would need to vote for a write-in candidate. Newton News learned of a few interested candidates, but the clear frontrunners were Chapé and Wade.

Chapé was the first to announce her run. In addition to being a former member of the Newton City Council, Chapé had experience filling in an empty seat. In July 2018, Chapé was appointed council member at-large after Miranda Kulis resigned her position. Eventually, council member Randy Ervin took over her position.

As a member of the city council, Chapé said she would focus on being available to residents and receiving their feedback, city infrastructure, collaboration with organizations, public safety, crime and filling empty business buildings and former hotel real estate, among other things.

Shortly after, Wade formally acknowledged her write-in campaign for the Ward 4 seat. Wade is the owner of Olive ‘et Boutique, a local retail store southwest of the Newton town square, and is president of Destination Downtown Newton Alliance, a group devoted to promoting downtown businesses.

Campaign information posted by Wade said she would focus on enhancing the city’s character through new developments and community values, maintain Newton’s appeal by making it a business-friendly environment and improving infrastructure, prioritize community development and being fiscally responsible.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com