Few candidates file for April elections

April's municipal elections are shaping up as uncontested races for seats on several local boards.

No challengers have come forward to face Jackson's incumbent mayor, Barbara Lohr, who is seeking a third term, nor incumbent aldermen Tom Kimbel, Wanda Young, David Hitt and Mark Dambach. Filing for municipal elections closes at 5 p.m. Jan. 15.

Wayne Bowen, chairman of the history department at Southeast Missouri State University and a Southeast Missourian columnist, remains the only candidate for a Ward 6 city council seat in Cape Girardeau. Kathy Swan, who currently serves Ward 6, will soon leave the council to become a state representative. Filing for the special election closes at 4:30 p.m. Friday. To be on the ballot, candidates are required to obtain petition signatures of at least 50 registered voters in Ward 6.

Bowen said Tuesday he has raised $800 in campaign contributions.

Cities without any contested races still will have to hold elections as required by state statute. The situation is different for boards that govern school, road, fire protection and water districts.

"For certain districts, if the same number of candidates that file is the same number of seats open, then an election will not be held," said Joey Keys, election supervisor for Cape Girardeau County.

That may happen in the Cape Girardeau School District if no more candidates file between now and the end of the day Jan. 15. Only incumbent Phil Moore has filed. Incumbent Paul Nenninger, who holds a seat with a term set to expire, has decided not to file for re-election.

Jackson and Scott City school districts have competition for seats. In Jackson, Brad Noel and Alaina Hinze are challenging incumbents Gerald Adams and Dan Stover for two seats with three-year terms. In school board elections, the two candidates with the highest number of votes win seats.

Lisa Schaefer, an incumbent, Bobby Underwood and Gary Elders have filed for seats on the Scott City school board, which has two seats available.

There is a race in Ward 2 of Perryville's board of aldermen, where incumbent Randy Leible will face Douglas Martin. Incumbents Larry Riney, who represents Ward 1, and Gary Schumer, who represents Ward 3, have filed for re-election.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

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