Hastings man successfully petitions to qualify for City Council ballot

HASTINGS, Neb. – Hastings residents in Ward 2 now have another candidate option to vote for during the November General Election.

On Tuesday, the Adams County Election Commission Office certified enough petition signatures to put Rick Klamm on the ballot for the Hastings City Council Ward 2 race. 

"I believe that eight years on the Lexington City Council before I moved to Hastings 17 years ago and 16 years on the Hastings Community Redevelopment Authority board give me the knowledge and experience to serve," said Klamm in a post on his social media campaign Facebook page. "Hastings is my home. I believe in the future of Hastings and want to be a part of shaping that future."

According to his Facebook page, Klamm began petitioning on July 29, about a week after City Council Ward 2 Incumbent Butch Eley announced he would not seek re-election.

Klamm said he didn't initially run because he didn't want to enter a race with already three other candidates running. 

He was required to gather 237 valid signatures from Hastings residents living in Ward 2, which is primarily located on the west side of Hastings. 

The 237 number was 10% of registered voters in Ward 2 who voted in the Governor's election in 2022.

According to Adams County Election Commissioner Ramona Thomas, the office verified 110%, or 261 of Klamm's signatures to confirm his addition to the ballot.

With Klamm's addition, he will oppose fellow City Council Ward 2 candidate Larry Consbruck, who received just under 56% of the vote in the May Primary Election. 

2024 National Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.