Incumbents file for city offices in Perryville, Scott City

A flurry of incumbents rushed to file Tuesday to retain their council seats in Scott City, including Mayor Tim Porch. Others who filed Tuesday -- the first day of the filing period -- included Bill Schwartz of Ward 1, Pat Brazel of Ward 2, Walter Peetz of Ward 2 and Kirk Lewis of Ward 3, according to city clerk Cindy Uhrhan.

Norman Brant of Ward 4 has opted not to run again, Uhrhan said. No one filed for the Ward 4 seat on the first day, but the filing deadline is Jan. 17. No challengers to the incumbents filed Tuesday.

The mayor's term is four years, and all council seats are two years, except for one of the seats in Ward 2. Brazel was appointed to fill the seat vacated when Joe Hudson resigned this year, and voters will decide who will fulfill the remaining one year of the term. Porch has said he intends to run for office "one last time." If re-elected, Porch will have served 16 years as mayor.

In Perryville, five incumbents filed for re-election, including the town's mayor, Deborah Gahan; the city collector, Lori Carrol; and three aldermen. Gahan and Carrol are both seeking second terms, serving the city since 2008.

Tom Guth has filed for re-election to the Perryville Board of Aldermen's Ward 1 seat. Guth was elected this April to fill the vacancy left by Alderman Al Oliver, who passed away in November of 2010.

Paul R. "Butch" Flentge, who has served as Ward 3 alderman since 1990, has also filed for another term as well as Curt Buerck who filed for his second term as Ward 2 alderman. No one had filed to challenge any of these incumbents as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.