Governor decides Fitzpatrick's empty House seat to be filled in special Nov. 5 election
May 1, 2019
Charlea Estes-Jones
Missouri Governor Michael Parson announced last week the special election to replace State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick's House of Representatives seat will be held on November 5.
Gov. Parson announced the decision on April 22. Both the House of Representatives 158th District seat that Fitzpatrick held prior to being appointed State Treasurer and a seat in the 99th District in St. Louis County will be filled in the November 5 election.
Fitzpatrick's currently vacant seat will be determined through a vote of the people in Barry, Lawrence and Stone Counties. Fitzpatrick's seat has been vacant since he was sworn in as treasurer on January 14.
In a press release by the governor's office, He stated, "It’s important that we work quickly to fill vacancies in the people’s house to ensure that Missourians have representation here in Jefferson City. We appreciate the dedication and hard work of our local election authorities, especially when preparing for and conducting a special election. I am confident that Secretary Ashcroft will continue focusing our election process in a free and fair manner.”
The Writ of Election signed by Gov. Parson states the candidates running for office must be selected and filed for the office no later than May 13 by 5 p.m.
The nomination process for candidates for a seat vacated by a resignation or appointment to different government position is different than a normal election.
Instead of a Primary Election which had voters determine the candidate to vote on in the special election, central political party committees select and nominate their candidate for the election.
Conceivably, central committees for the Republican, Democratic, Independent, Green and Libertarian parties could each nominate a candidate to be placed on the ballot in November even though Barry County only has two active political parties: Republican and Democratic.
Regardless of whether multiple parties select a candidate, an election will be held in Barry, Stone and Lawrence Counties with the local county footing the bill. Barry County clerk Jill LeCompte said the election will cost the county approximately $15,000.
The Secretary of State's office confirmed an election will be held even if only one candidate is on the ballot to give voters the opportunity to elect a write in candidate if there is support.
The Barry County Republicans will hold a meeting to discuss their candidate nominees on Tuesday, May 7, at the courthouse at 6:30 p.m.
The Barry County Democrats will hold a meeting to discuss their candidate nominees on Monday, May 6, at the Cassville Library. Refreshments are at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m.
The election for the House of Representatives District 158 seat will be determined in a special election held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Voters will cast ballots at their normal polling places as with any other typical election.
The elected candidate will fill the seat until its normal reelection term in November 2020. House of Representative seats are a two-year term with a maximum tenure of eight years.
Charlea Estes-Jones
Missouri Governor Michael Parson announced last week the special election to replace State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick's House of Representatives seat will be held on November 5.
Gov. Parson announced the decision on April 22. Both the House of Representatives 158th District seat that Fitzpatrick held prior to being appointed State Treasurer and a seat in the 99th District in St. Louis County will be filled in the November 5 election.
Fitzpatrick's currently vacant seat will be determined through a vote of the people in Barry, Lawrence and Stone Counties. Fitzpatrick's seat has been vacant since he was sworn in as treasurer on January 14.
In a press release by the governor's office, He stated, "It’s important that we work quickly to fill vacancies in the people’s house to ensure that Missourians have representation here in Jefferson City. We appreciate the dedication and hard work of our local election authorities, especially when preparing for and conducting a special election. I am confident that Secretary Ashcroft will continue focusing our election process in a free and fair manner.”
The Writ of Election signed by Gov. Parson states the candidates running for office must be selected and filed for the office no later than May 13 by 5 p.m.
The nomination process for candidates for a seat vacated by a resignation or appointment to different government position is different than a normal election.
Instead of a Primary Election which had voters determine the candidate to vote on in the special election, central political party committees select and nominate their candidate for the election.
Conceivably, central committees for the Republican, Democratic, Independent, Green and Libertarian parties could each nominate a candidate to be placed on the ballot in November even though Barry County only has two active political parties: Republican and Democratic.
Regardless of whether multiple parties select a candidate, an election will be held in Barry, Stone and Lawrence Counties with the local county footing the bill. Barry County clerk Jill LeCompte said the election will cost the county approximately $15,000.
The Secretary of State's office confirmed an election will be held even if only one candidate is on the ballot to give voters the opportunity to elect a write in candidate if there is support.
The Barry County Republicans will hold a meeting to discuss their candidate nominees on Tuesday, May 7, at the courthouse at 6:30 p.m.
The Barry County Democrats will hold a meeting to discuss their candidate nominees on Monday, May 6, at the Cassville Library. Refreshments are at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m.
The election for the House of Representatives District 158 seat will be determined in a special election held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Voters will cast ballots at their normal polling places as with any other typical election.
The elected candidate will fill the seat until its normal reelection term in November 2020. House of Representative seats are a two-year term with a maximum tenure of eight years.
