No Candidates on Ballot in Taopi

Driving down highway 56, its not hard to miss the small town of Taopi.

"There's nothing here," said resident Jill Eischen.

With a population of only 58, there's not a big rush to run for city offices. Which would explain why the ballot this year is empty.  

"It's tough to find people who want to hold government office in these little towns," said City Clerk Jim Kiefer, who got the position by being written in.

With no candidates running for clerk, mayor, or city council; it looks like it will be the same this year.

"We've been doing it, me and my sister one of us has been mayor or city clerk for the last 35 years," said Kiefer.

The Post Office was the last business open in town. It closed about a year ago. But even with no businesses, and a small population; residents here say they would still like to see people step up and take a on a leadership role.

"We have the same problems a bigger town has; less of them, but the same problems. Sewer problems, water problems," said Kiefer.

There are even problems to a lesser degree.

"My daughter's ten. And just like the park, there's not a whole lot of stuff at the park. So her and her friends went around and collected money," said Shayna Boe.

That same attitude in town are hoping someone else would display.

"I think it would be nice if somebody different stepped up and came in," said Eischen.

Residents say they can't remember a time where there were two names on the ballot for a single race.