Incumbent Robert Cervantes won the 1st Ward primary for the Silvis City Council on Tuesday and newcomer Todd Malmstrom prevailed in the 4th Ward.

The two winners of Tuesday's Democratic primaries now advance unopposed to the April 9 general election. There are no Republican candidates for city council in Silvis.

Mr. Cervantes, a member of the council for 12 years, won by just three votes over Mike Johnson in the 1st Ward.

"The voters have spoken," Mr. Johnson said. "That's the way it works."

Mr. Cervantes joked that his "heart stopped" several times as he watched the results trickle in until he finally won by the narrowest of margins. He said this would likely be the last time he runs for city council.

In the 4th Ward, Mr. Malmstrom beat Joseph Johnson by 32 to 9.

"I want to say thank you to my opponent and I'm honored for the support I got," Mr. Malmstrom said.

But he added he was "very disappointed" so few votes were cast in the primary. He said the low turnout was a sign more needed to be done to make the public aware of local elections.

Incumbent 4th Ward Ald. Tom Conrad, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election. Instead, he is running unopposed for mayor in Silvis on the April 9 ballot.

There also are unopposed Democrats running for clerk, treasurer and alderman in the city's 2nd and 3rd wards in the April 9 elections.





Silvis City Council Primary

Ward 1:
Robert Cervantes - 54
Mike Johnson - 51

Ward 4:
Todd Malmstrom - 32
Joseph Johnson - 9 votes