IowaNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Iowa Mayor & Town Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 11 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 6 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

Find your match: 6-question quizSee who is on your ballot

No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone.

Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Deadline to request an absentee ballot (Oct 30): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

All Iowa voters choose the mayor and the at-large District E member; District A and B voters choose their own member. Districts C and D each had a single candidate and are not on the ballot.

Deadline to request an absentee ballot · Oct 30

Take your ballot with you

Candidates, positions and key dates in one email, sent now.

Your cheat-sheet comes right away. You'll also get a reminder before Election Day, the results, then what your council decides next. Unsubscribe anytime. No ads, never sold.

Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

U.S. House: all candidates run on one ballot. If no one gets more than half the vote, the top two meet in a runoff on Dec 12.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Mobile home rules4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council passed a 90-day moratorium on mobile home permits in January 2026; it has ended, and a proposed 115-day moratorium was tabled in May 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to rewrite the mobile home ordinance and how to rule on variance requests.

02Carbon capture near the town3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn December 2025 the council adopted a resolution opposing carbon capture and sequestration in the Town of Iowa.

What's on the tableThe next council speaks for the town on any carbon capture, pipeline or other large industrial proposals nearby.

03The 1% sales tax3 sourced facts

Where it standsVoters renewed the town's 1% sales and use tax on May 16, 2026, and in September 2026 the council adopted the ordinance continuing it in perpetuity from July 1, 2027.

What's on the tableThe next council budgets the tax money for streets, sewers and general town needs.

04Water and sewer rates3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council set new utility rates, effective Nov. 1, 2026, including new in-town residential sewer rates.

What's on the tableThe next council sets water and sewer rates and pays for repairs to the water and sewer systems.

05Police pay, benefits and the town budget3 sourced facts

Where it standsPolice is the largest item in the town's general fund budget for July 2026 to June 2027, and police pay and benefits are a campaign issue.

What's on the tableThe next council adopts budgets and decides on raises and benefits for town and police employees.

06Annexation and growth4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council has annexed land in 2026, rescinded one annexation in August 2026, and hired a law firm for a lawsuit by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury against the town.

What's on the tableThe next council votes on further annexation petitions and how the town grows.

7 notes on these statements

Four candidates filed for mayor: Paul "Hounddog" Hesse, Jordan Manela, Brian "Shakey" Schexnayder and Neal Watkins Jr. Louisiana Secretary of State Candidate Inquiry: Calcasieu Parish, Nov. 3, 2026 election · Aug 7, 2026

Neal Watkins Jr. is the incumbent mayor; Paul "Hounddog" Hesse is a former mayor. KPLC · Oct 12, 2026

Weber Fontenot withdrew from the District D race, leaving Christine Broussard-Doucet unopposed. Louisiana Secretary of State Candidate Inquiry: Calcasieu Parish, Nov. 3, 2026 election · Aug 7, 2026

Vernessa Guillory is unopposed for District C, and Daniel Hennigan is not seeking re-election. American Press · Aug 11, 2026

Keegan Leonard lives in District A but will appear on the District B ballot after using an outdated district map on the town's website, KPLC reported; the registrar said he is still legitimately on the ballot. KPLC · Sep 22, 2026

All four mayoral candidates took part in a Sept. 15, 2026 debate sponsored by Republican groups. KPLC · Sep 15, 2026

Julie P. Fontenot, "Joe" Becnel, Keegan Leonard and Gerald Guidry did not respond to KPLC's candidate questions. KPLC · Oct 15, 2026

No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should the town pause new mobile home permits while it rewrites its rules?

  2. 2. Should the town oppose carbon capture projects in and near Iowa?

  3. 3. Should the town keep its 1% sales tax for streets, sewers and general needs?

  4. 4. Should the town lower residents' water and sewer bills?

  5. 5. Should the town spend more on police pay and benefits?

  6. 6. Should the town annex land when property owners ask to join?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted9 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Christine Broussard-Doucet, Vernessa Guillory3 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.