Roberts withdraws from Gibbon Council race

Name will still appear on ballot, but he won't accept if he wins

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

GIBBON -- Although his name will still be appearing on the ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 7, Cal Roberts has announced he is not a candidate for Gibbon City Council.

The ballots have Roberts listed as an official candidate and some absentee ballots have been returned already, according to Mayor Jory Isakson.

Roberts, who serves as Sibley County Assessor and Gibbon City Assessor, will have his name on the official ballot, but will not accept the position if he is elected, he said.

Although he had expressed his desire to run for one of two open seats on the Gibbon Council, he was declared ineligible by a 1958 opinion of the Minnesota Attorney General.

The Attorney general opinion states that the position of city council member and county assessor are incompatible, because they are considered a conflict of interest.

The official deadline to announce an intent to withdraw a name from the ballot was Friday, Oct. 13, or 25 days prior to the general election, which is Nov. 7. Roberts did not officially withdraw until Wednesday, Oct. 18.

City Council Member Steve Seeboth provided Roberts with a copy of the Attorney General's Feb. 25, 1958 ruling regarding the position of county assessor, which prompted Roberts to withdraw.

In a letter to the editor submitted to the Gibbon Gazette, Roberts clearly states that he is an official candidate, but will not accept the position if he is elected.

There are two open seats on the Gibbon Council, as well as the position of mayor, with no incumbents running. Those running for the mayor position currently held by Jory Isakson are Dennis Nau and Floyd Kent. Those running for the council seats currently held by Steve Seeboth and Carroll Woods are Claus Sieh, Greg Olson, Joe Habeck, and Doug Stark. Roberts' name still appears on the official ballots released by Sibley County.