Filing for the April 2, 2024, Municipal Election in Pettis County opened Tuesday, Dec. 5, and there were a handful of incumbents and contenders ready to battle for important seats at the table.
“Dec. 5 through Dec. 26, you can file for local elections such as school districts, the ambulance districts,” Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada said Wednesday, Dec. 6. “The two (Pettis County Ambulance District) sub-districts that are up for reelection, subdistrict 3 and 6, you can file with our office.”
PCAD board members Mike Brown (District 3) and Steve Davis (District 6) are both up for reelection in April. So far, only James Sneed has filed for District 3.
Those candidates hoping to get on the ballot for Pettis County school districts, the Pettis County Fire Protection District, water districts, nursing home districts, State Fair Community College, or any local municipality have a different way to enter those races.
“For any of those in particular entities, you have to go to their entity to file,” La Strada said. “Filing is already opened, and it closes on Dec. 26. We highly encourage people to call the entities with any questions because some entities are different.”
In the race for Sedalia City Council, of the four seats up for reelection, incumbents Jack Robinson Ward 1, Tina Boggess Ward 2, Bob Hiller Ward 3, and Rhiannon Foster Ward 4 have already filed for reelection.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, the idea of adopting an ordinance to change Sedalia City Council terms from two to four years was discussed and will be looked into again at the next meeting.
For the Sedalia Board of Education, Vice President Sam Kempton’s term is expiring, as is director Cara Barth-Fagan’s. Both have already filed to be on the April ballot.
La Strada noted the window to file is considerably shorter than in years past and urged awareness for potential candidates.
“The filing dates changed about two years ago,” La Strada said. “It used to be from the beginning of December and then it would fall into the next year. This filing window is a very tight window, so just make sure that you know you're contacting that particular entity.”
President Patty Wood has filed for reelection for the State Fair Community College Board of Trustees, though trustee Thomas Oldham has yet to announce whether he will run for the board again.
In Smithton, Mayor Damain Lemens, East Ward Alderman Edward Saltsgaver and West Ward Alderman Brenda Byrd are all up for reelection in April; the city could not be reached by press time for a filing update. As for the Smithton Board of Education, terms are expiring for President Brendan Bass and Vice President Curt Tagtmeyer; the district did not respond by press time with a filing update.
In La Monte elections, terms are expiring for Mayor Ronnie McNeive, Ward 1 Alderman Fred Armstrong, and Ward 2 Alderman David Wessel. Wessel and McNeive have filed for reelection. On the La Monte Board of Education, Treasurer Caleb Whitworth and member Barak Knoernschild are up for reelection.
The City of Green Ridge reports no one has officially filed to run for the expiring seats of Mayor James Dove, Alderman Tony Turner Sr., and Alderman Justin Tucker; the mayor and one alderman have collected the forms to file.
Vice President Baily McCollester and Treasurer Tim Dove have terms expiring on the Green Ridge Board of Education; the district did not respond by press time with a filing update.
There are two seats whose terms expire on the Pettis County R-XII (Dresden) Board of Education: President Lesa Wyatt and Vice President Linda Harris. On Wednesday, Cheryl Elsea was the only candidate to file.
In the Village of Hughesville, terms are expiring for Chairman Mike Geml and Vice Chairman Rose Thompson; no one has filed as of Wednesday.
The City of Houstonia could not be reached by press time for an update, but Mayor Courtney March, Alderman Wally Hall and Alderman Brenda Cramer are all up for reelection.
For the Pettis County R-V (Northwest) Board of Education, terms are expiring for President Michael Arnett and member Grant Newton. Newton and Arnett, along with newcomers Crystal Narron and Troy Gorrell, have filed for candidacy for the board.
PCFPD Board President Keith Rowland’s term expires in April.
La Strada urges anyone with questions about filing their candidacy or general questions about local elections to call his office at 660-826-5000 ext. 918.
