Filing opens Dec. 16 for April 7 General Election
December 3, 2014
Charlea Mills
On Tuesday, December 16, candidate filing will open for Barry County residents who want to file for a slot in their local districts and city government races for the April 7 General Election. According to Barry County Clerk Gary Youngblood, the filing period for candidates will open Tuesday, December 16, and close January 20.
Local governments and school boards have to post the open positions before December 16, and many school boards and city governments have already listed their openings in local newspapers. Open positions will be for schools, road districts, ambulance districts, hospital districts and political subdivisions.
This year, the school boards in all Barry County schools have openings. In Cassville, two vacancies are open on the school board, and each position is a three-year term. Southwest, Wheaton, Shell Knob and Purdy also each have two vacancies for three-year terms in their respective districts. The school districts require that candidates file at the individual central offices during regular business hours.
Local city governments also have positions available for filing in the April 7 General Election. Cassville’s south and north wards, as well as the mayoral position, will have seats available for filers. Currently, Jan Anthony holds the south ward seat, Ann Hennigan holds the north ward seat, and Bill Shiveley is the mayor. Each of the slots open for filing are two-year terms.
In Exeter, the south ward, currently held by Rhonda Scott, the north ward, currently held by Jimmie Morse, and the mayor’s position, currently held by Rusty Reed, are open for filing. The terms in Exeter are for two years, as well.
In Purdy, the mayor’s seat and wards one and two will be open for two-year terms. The current mayor of Purdy is Steve Roden, and Robert Moser and Wayne Rupp hold the first and second ward seats.
Washburn’s Council has four positions open for filing, including mayor, and three alderman seats. Washburn’s mayor is John Tiedeman. The two-year alderman seats are occupied by Mary Roller and Jeremy Johnston. The one-year alderman position is currently vacant.
In Wheaton, the mayoral, east and west wards all will be open for filing. Wheaton’s mayor is currently David Shockley. The west ward alderman is Naomi Young, and the east ward alderman is Gary Bates.
The City of Butterfield was not available for comment regarding their open positions at the time of press.
In each of the local elections, the school board and local government entity are required to make sure that the candidates meet all requirements when filing.
According to Youngblood, political subdivision has the option of using random drawings for ballot placement of the candidates who file on the first day, but published notices must include how candidates will be listed on the official ballots. Most local notices plan to list candidates on the ballot in the order in which they file, so the earliest filer will be listed at the top.
However, according to Missouri State law, there is the possibility that some districts may opt to not put their openings on the ballot if certain conditions are met. If the number of positions open and the number of candidates who file are equal, it is not required that it be placed on the General Election ballot. In order to accept the candidates without a general election vote, the board, district or council members would need to vote to accept the filings as is.
Charlea Mills
On Tuesday, December 16, candidate filing will open for Barry County residents who want to file for a slot in their local districts and city government races for the April 7 General Election. According to Barry County Clerk Gary Youngblood, the filing period for candidates will open Tuesday, December 16, and close January 20.
Local governments and school boards have to post the open positions before December 16, and many school boards and city governments have already listed their openings in local newspapers. Open positions will be for schools, road districts, ambulance districts, hospital districts and political subdivisions.
This year, the school boards in all Barry County schools have openings. In Cassville, two vacancies are open on the school board, and each position is a three-year term. Southwest, Wheaton, Shell Knob and Purdy also each have two vacancies for three-year terms in their respective districts. The school districts require that candidates file at the individual central offices during regular business hours.
Local city governments also have positions available for filing in the April 7 General Election. Cassville’s south and north wards, as well as the mayoral position, will have seats available for filers. Currently, Jan Anthony holds the south ward seat, Ann Hennigan holds the north ward seat, and Bill Shiveley is the mayor. Each of the slots open for filing are two-year terms.
In Exeter, the south ward, currently held by Rhonda Scott, the north ward, currently held by Jimmie Morse, and the mayor’s position, currently held by Rusty Reed, are open for filing. The terms in Exeter are for two years, as well.
In Purdy, the mayor’s seat and wards one and two will be open for two-year terms. The current mayor of Purdy is Steve Roden, and Robert Moser and Wayne Rupp hold the first and second ward seats.
Washburn’s Council has four positions open for filing, including mayor, and three alderman seats. Washburn’s mayor is John Tiedeman. The two-year alderman seats are occupied by Mary Roller and Jeremy Johnston. The one-year alderman position is currently vacant.
In Wheaton, the mayoral, east and west wards all will be open for filing. Wheaton’s mayor is currently David Shockley. The west ward alderman is Naomi Young, and the east ward alderman is Gary Bates.
The City of Butterfield was not available for comment regarding their open positions at the time of press.
In each of the local elections, the school board and local government entity are required to make sure that the candidates meet all requirements when filing.
According to Youngblood, political subdivision has the option of using random drawings for ballot placement of the candidates who file on the first day, but published notices must include how candidates will be listed on the official ballots. Most local notices plan to list candidates on the ballot in the order in which they file, so the earliest filer will be listed at the top.
However, according to Missouri State law, there is the possibility that some districts may opt to not put their openings on the ballot if certain conditions are met. If the number of positions open and the number of candidates who file are equal, it is not required that it be placed on the General Election ballot. In order to accept the candidates without a general election vote, the board, district or council members would need to vote to accept the filings as is.
