A petition was filed contesting the results of the Highland School District bond measure and now a three-person court will make a determination on the matter. The trial is to be held within 30 days.

The issue is contested as it came to light that some voters at the Ainsworth precinct were given the incorrect ballots on election day. Voters at that precinct do not all reside within the Highland School District. The $15 million bond issuance was shown as passing with 61% of the ballots cast in favor of the measure.

According to a statement from Washington County Attorney Nathan Repp, the petition was filed with the Washington County Auditor’s Office through its role as the Commissioner of Elections for the county. As outlined in Iowa Code, the next step is for a three-person court to oversee the trial of the matter. Ron Greiner has been selected as the designee representing the petitioners contesting the election and Dan Ruth is the designee representing the interests adverse to those of the petitioners. Per code, Greiner and Ruth will meet to jointly choose the third person. If they are unable to mutually agree on a third person, then the chief judge of the judicial district shall appoint someone to serve on the contest court.

Once set, the three-person contest court shall have the powers of the district court necessary for determination on the matter which may include compelling the attendance of witnesses, swearing them in, and directing their examination.