CANDIDATES FILE IN SCOTT COUNTY

CHAFFEE -- Candidates filing for office in Scott County have kept city clerks and board secretaries busy the past few days.

Six people have filed for three seats on the Chaffee Board of Education. Each seat is for a three-year term on the board.

The majority of candidates are newcomers to an elected post. They include Alvin Vandeven, Bill McFerron, Candi Witcher, Kelley Stafford-Petitt and Kathy Kinsey and Randy Dooley, an incumbent. Dooley has served on the board since 1993.

"There are still some projects that I'd like to be involved in," said Dooley.

Although he was unsuccessful in his last bid for office, it didn't deter Vandeven from filing again. He currently serves as president of the St. Ambrose Catholic School Home and School Association.

"I like to keep up with the education of my own children," he said, adding that two of his children attend Chaffee High School. "And I'd like to see a few changes with the sports program."

Stafford-Petitt is a native of Chaffee and attended school here. She decided to run for office because it was time to make some changes that would benefit her children.

"It's my chance to maybe make a difference," she said. "The best way to be informed is to be in there helping."

Stafford-Petitt, 30, has four children, but only three of them are school age.

Kinsey decided to run for office because her children were active in school clubs and organizations.

"I can't encourage them to be active if I'm not," she said. "So I got motivated."

None of the other candidates could be reached Monday for comments.

In other election races in the city, incumbent Councilman Jerry Wolsey filed for office in Ward 1, while John Hampton filed for a one-year term and Ron Askew filed for a two-year term in Ward 3.

In Oran, there will be at least two contested races in the April election. Incumbent James Eftink and Walter Madigan both filed for a seat in Ward 4. Other alderman candidates include Jim Tyler and Jean Neal.

Incumbent Louie Hirschowitz and Bob Dennis will face off in the mayoral race again. Hirschowitz defeated Dennis for the post in 1994.

Marcia Roslen filed for city collector.

In Scott City, there is one seat open in each of the city's four wards, but no candidates have filed for the Ward 1 seat.

Other candidates are John Rogers Jr., Jerome Gulley and Marsha Zimmerman.

Jerry Cummins is the only candidate to file for mayor.