DES MOINES — The two candidates running for the open seat in Northwest Iowa's House District 13 will remain on the ballot.Â
Tuesday, the Iowa State Objection Panel rejected challenges to the candidacies of Le Mars resident Travis Sitzmann and Sioux City resident Noah Wieseler who are both running in the GOP primary for the seat being vacated by Ken Carlson of Onawa.Â
The challenge put before the panel, which includes Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, involved a question of residency, according to the auditor's office. District 13 encompasses all of Monona County, most of central and northern Woodbury County, southern and eastern Plymouth County and portions of western Cherokee County. Addresses for Sitzman and Wieseler on the Iowa Secretary of State's primary election candidate list place both men outside the district.Â
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"The Code of Iowa does not require a legislative candidate to live in the district until 60 days prior to the election," the auditor's office said. The Iowa Secretary of State's website states that the residency requirement is "one year in Iowa. 60 days in the district at the time of the election."
"I’ve lived in the district for 26 years. I was born and raised in the district. (My) intent is to move within the district once the primary is over," Sitzmann told The Journal Tuesday. "Part of the reason why I got into the race is to be a better voice for the district." Wieseler was reached for comment as well and did not respond as of 4:50 p.m., Tuesday.
"The Iowa State Objection Panel unanimously reached the correct decision," Wieseler wrote in an email to The Journal. "The challenges to my candidacy were unfounded because the Iowa Constitution is clear on the requirements for state representatives. I meet those requirements."
Wieseler works in construction and property maintenance and has said he's running because "Iowa at its core is rooted in conservatism and limited government."
Sitzmann, a risk control technical consultant for Travelers Insurance and a former reserve deputy for Plymouth County, has said he's running because he wants to "bring common sense back to politics."