August 13, 2026, Seward Folly

Seward’s upcoming city council election has taken an unusual turn: with the application window closing this coming Monday at noon on August 17, 2026, not a single candidate has stepped forward to run for the two available seats. The positions currently held by Bob Barnwell and Julie Crites will be vacant unless new candidates emerge in the coming days.

To qualify, hopefuls must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens, registered voters, and residents of Seward for at least one year. The city emphasizes that candidates must be registered voters within city limits at the time of application. The term comes with a monthly stipend of $400 and reimbursement for official travel, with regular council meetings scheduled for the second and fourth Mondays each month.

Serving on the council is a time commitment, as vice-mayor John Osenga and council member Mike Calhoon note. Calhoon explained, “There’s a lot that goes into preparing for meetings, and it depends on the agenda and issues. It is a continuous activity before and after the meetings.”

Calhoon continued, “Public service is very satisfying, but it is not easy and should be something you really want to do. It can be frustrating as well as fulfilling.”

Spouses of city employees are eligible, and those serving on city boards like PACAB must resign their board position upon election to the council. If not elected, board members may simply continue their service.

The city clerk’s office is available to assist with the application process, including providing notary services. All financial disclosures submitted by candidates become public record upon request.

Potential candidates may be motivated by a variety of reasons: a desire to bring their expertise to the council, previous experience serving the community, a passion for the city’s future, or even frustration with the status quo. Others might see an opportunity to fill a missing perspective or increase transparency in local government.

Mayor McClure encouraged residents to consider what the council needs. “What always makes a good city council member is somebody that doesn’t have a personal agenda, but wants to do the best they can for the people of Seward by listening to both sides of everything and making the best decisions they can. I’m really adamant about not having an opinion.” 

Kris Peck, the City of Seward Clerk, explained that even if no one applies for the open position, the City will still order ballots, which will include only a write-in option. City Code 4.01.068 requires write-in candidates to file a Letter of Intent with the city clerk sometime between the first business day after the filing period ends and 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election. When submitting the Letter of Intent, write-in candidates must also provide a City of Seward Public Official Financial Disclosure Statement.

With the deadline, August 17 at noon, fast approaching, Seward’s city council still has two empty seats. The municipal election will be held October 6, 2026.