April 7 election nears, multiple races contested
April 1, 2015
Charlea Mills
As the April 7 General Election nears, multiple races have been garnering local attention, including the Cassville R-IV School Board seats, the Cassville City Council seats and the proposed South Barry County Ambulance District Sales Tax initiative. However, other races will also be decided on Tuesday’s election.
Voters in the South Barry County Ambulance District, which consists of all of Barry County except Purdy and Monett, will be voting on a 1/2-cent sales tax increase for the operation of the district. It will replace a smaller general tax levy and is expected to produce between $560,000 and $615,000 annually.
Cassville School Board incumbents John Sullivan and Carolyn Bowen are facing opponents Wade Hermansen and Dale Phelps. Each of the two seats open are for three-year terms.
The Purdy School Board has a challenger for one of the opening seats. Currently, incumbents Ken Terry and Randy Rex Henderson are serving on the board. Newcomer Carla Schad is also vying for one of the seats. Each of the two seats have three-year terms.
Mayoral races are primarily uncontested this year. Bill Shively, Cassville, James “Rusty” Reed, Exeter, Steve J. Roden, Purdy, John Tiedeman, Washburn, and David Shockley, Wheaton, are all running unopposed for mayor of their respective cities on Tuesday.
Three different road districts have commissioners up for election. In the Ash Special Road District, incumbent David Dalton is facing opponent Gary Hendrix. In the Flat Creek Special Road District, incumbent Carroll Craig is facing challenger Kenny Tucker. Finally, in the Purdy Special Road District, Ernest Head and Rick Scott are facing off as newcomers.
The City of Butterfield has two alderman positions open this year. For the east ward, Mark Thomas is running unopposed. For the west ward seat, there will be a write-in only option as no one filed for the seat.
Both of Cassville’s City Council open seats are contested races. North ward alderwoman Ann Hennigan is facing opponent Jon Horner. In the south ward, incumbent Jan Anthony is facing challenger Cindy Carr for the seat.
Exeter’s City Council seats are both unopposed. Rhonda Scott is running for south ward alderwoman, and Jimmie L. Morse is running for north ward alderman. Exeter voters will also have a vote as to whether the city will forego annual elections if the number of candidates who have filed for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in the office to be filled.
Purdy has two seats opening for city council, however, both are running unopposed. Bo J. Prock filed for the ward I alderman seat as a newcomer, and Wayne Rupp filed for the ward II seat as the incumbent.
The Chain O Lakes Village has three two-year trustee seats up for election. Candidates Carol Nelson, Roger Thomas, Barbara Wolfe, Brenda Pierce and Mike Strother are running for those positions.
Washburn’s City Council has three seats opening. In the one alderman at large race, Jeremy Johnston and Mary Roller are running as incumbents unopposed. In the other alderman at large seat, no one filed, and it is write-in only.
Wheaton also has two city council seats with no opposition. For the east ward alderman seat, Gary Bates is running. For the west ward seat, Naomi Young is unopposed.
The mayoral position and three city council seats are up for election in the city of Seligman. In the mayoral race, incumbent Jerry Montgomery is facing opponents Belva Stepp and Joe Foster. For a two-year west alderman position, Robert (Bob) Hughes is running unopposed. For the one-year west alderman position, Michael Avers is running unopposed. For a two-year east alderman position, Ralph E. Marshall is running against incumbent Ron Corn.
Finally, the Washburn Fire Protection District has five seats open for their board of directors. Five people filed for the position: Charles Cutberth, Ken West, Billie Brown, Rusty Griffis and Brenda Treadwell. Also affiliated with the fire protection district, there is an issue asking voters whether the Washburn Fire Protection District can collect a levy of up to 30 cents per $100 assessed valuation to fund the district. This would do away with membership dues for the district.
The complete sample ballot is printed on the facing page.
Charlea Mills
As the April 7 General Election nears, multiple races have been garnering local attention, including the Cassville R-IV School Board seats, the Cassville City Council seats and the proposed South Barry County Ambulance District Sales Tax initiative. However, other races will also be decided on Tuesday’s election.
Voters in the South Barry County Ambulance District, which consists of all of Barry County except Purdy and Monett, will be voting on a 1/2-cent sales tax increase for the operation of the district. It will replace a smaller general tax levy and is expected to produce between $560,000 and $615,000 annually.
Cassville School Board incumbents John Sullivan and Carolyn Bowen are facing opponents Wade Hermansen and Dale Phelps. Each of the two seats open are for three-year terms.
The Purdy School Board has a challenger for one of the opening seats. Currently, incumbents Ken Terry and Randy Rex Henderson are serving on the board. Newcomer Carla Schad is also vying for one of the seats. Each of the two seats have three-year terms.
Mayoral races are primarily uncontested this year. Bill Shively, Cassville, James “Rusty” Reed, Exeter, Steve J. Roden, Purdy, John Tiedeman, Washburn, and David Shockley, Wheaton, are all running unopposed for mayor of their respective cities on Tuesday.
Three different road districts have commissioners up for election. In the Ash Special Road District, incumbent David Dalton is facing opponent Gary Hendrix. In the Flat Creek Special Road District, incumbent Carroll Craig is facing challenger Kenny Tucker. Finally, in the Purdy Special Road District, Ernest Head and Rick Scott are facing off as newcomers.
The City of Butterfield has two alderman positions open this year. For the east ward, Mark Thomas is running unopposed. For the west ward seat, there will be a write-in only option as no one filed for the seat.
Both of Cassville’s City Council open seats are contested races. North ward alderwoman Ann Hennigan is facing opponent Jon Horner. In the south ward, incumbent Jan Anthony is facing challenger Cindy Carr for the seat.
Exeter’s City Council seats are both unopposed. Rhonda Scott is running for south ward alderwoman, and Jimmie L. Morse is running for north ward alderman. Exeter voters will also have a vote as to whether the city will forego annual elections if the number of candidates who have filed for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in the office to be filled.
Purdy has two seats opening for city council, however, both are running unopposed. Bo J. Prock filed for the ward I alderman seat as a newcomer, and Wayne Rupp filed for the ward II seat as the incumbent.
The Chain O Lakes Village has three two-year trustee seats up for election. Candidates Carol Nelson, Roger Thomas, Barbara Wolfe, Brenda Pierce and Mike Strother are running for those positions.
Washburn’s City Council has three seats opening. In the one alderman at large race, Jeremy Johnston and Mary Roller are running as incumbents unopposed. In the other alderman at large seat, no one filed, and it is write-in only.
Wheaton also has two city council seats with no opposition. For the east ward alderman seat, Gary Bates is running. For the west ward seat, Naomi Young is unopposed.
The mayoral position and three city council seats are up for election in the city of Seligman. In the mayoral race, incumbent Jerry Montgomery is facing opponents Belva Stepp and Joe Foster. For a two-year west alderman position, Robert (Bob) Hughes is running unopposed. For the one-year west alderman position, Michael Avers is running unopposed. For a two-year east alderman position, Ralph E. Marshall is running against incumbent Ron Corn.
Finally, the Washburn Fire Protection District has five seats open for their board of directors. Five people filed for the position: Charles Cutberth, Ken West, Billie Brown, Rusty Griffis and Brenda Treadwell. Also affiliated with the fire protection district, there is an issue asking voters whether the Washburn Fire Protection District can collect a levy of up to 30 cents per $100 assessed valuation to fund the district. This would do away with membership dues for the district.
The complete sample ballot is printed on the facing page.
