Filing for local elections begins soon

The filing period for Scott City's April 8 election doesn't start for more than a week, but Mayor Tim Porch already knows his name will be among those that find their way on the ballot.

"I'm going to try to hang in there another four years," Porch joked, but he's serious about his reasons for running for a third term. The city is currently in the middle of different phases of two big road projects -- the Ramsey Creek Bridge, which is already funded, and a new interchange on Interstate 55.

"I don't want to walk away from those MoDOT projects until we're done with them," Porch said Friday.

In April voters in cities around Southeast Missouri will vote for mayors, city council members, school board members, board members of road and ambulance districts and decide on any ballot measures their governments want to put before the public. Filing for the ballot in most area cities begins Dec. 18 and continues through Dec. 22.

In addition to mayor, Scott City voters will select one city council member from each of the city's four wards.

Voters in Oran will also select a mayor for the next two years. In 2006 Oran Mayor Tom Urhahn fended off two challengers for re-election. Urhahn said he hasn't decided whether to run in 2008.

Oran voters will also select a city collector and an alderman from each of the city's four wards.

Marble Hill voters will also select a mayor for the next two years. Rick Jones currently holds that seat in his first term.

In Chaffee one city council member from each of the city's four wards will be selected, but the mayor's seat won't be up for election.

Other races include one for a seat on the board of directors of the Illmo Special Road District. A measure to dissolve that road district in 2005 made it to the ballot following dissatisfaction among some district voters but failed.

Two directors of the Scott County Public Water Supply District No. 4 will also be selected. The district was formed in 2005 to provide water to rural residents of Scott County not served by any public water supply.

msanders@semissourian.com

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