SCHOOL BOARD RACES DEVELOP

School board races have developed in a number of districts in advance of today's filing deadline for the April 1 election.

Chaffee heads the list with six candidates on the ballot. Four are running for two regular terms on the school board and two are vying to fill a two-year, unexpired term.

Danny Finley, Kathy Kinsey, Debbie Patterson and Alvin Vandeven are running for the full terms.

Candace Witcher and Linda Wessel are running for the unexpired term that opened up Dec. 1 when Wayne Pressley moved out of the district.

"We have a lot of interest in the Board of Education at this time," said Chaffee Supt. Ernie Lawson.

"We had seven candidates run last year for three spots," he said.

This year, neither incumbent had filed for re-election as of late Monday afternoon.

In the other districts, two seats will be filled on each board.

Voters in the Cape Girardeau School District are assured of election contests with four candidates on the ballot.

Dr. Robert Fox is seeking re-election to a three-year term. The other candidates are Bill Benefield, David Goncher and Steve Brazil.

Only a week ago, Fox was the only candidate on the ballot. Incumbent Harry Rediger isn't seeking re-election.

"At least, they have a choice now," said Steve DelVecchio, the school district's business manager.

In Jackson, Thomas Ludwig, Wendy Hayes and incumbent Jack Knowlan have filed.

In Meadow Heights, incumbents Phyllis Bollinger and Roy Allen are seeking re-election. They face challenges from Terry Propst and Gregory Ellis.

In Nell Holcomb, incumbent Dwayne Kirchhoff and Darrin Pruitt have filed.

Incumbents Steve Schonhoff and Richard Baer are seeking re-election in the Oak Ridge School District.

In Delta, Roger Seabaugh and John Livingston are on the ballot.

Tim McIntyre and Kenneth Rodgers are on the Scott County Central ballot.

Scott Sanders and Tom Beardslee are running for the Kelly Board of Education seats.

Oran has three candidates: Tom Urhahn, Rosalia Friga and Tony Wagoner.

In the Zalma School District, Richard Kline, Steve Dickinson, Bruce Huffman and incumbent Dale Fish are running.

As of late Monday afternoon, four school districts each had only one candidate on the ballot.

They are Nancy Caldwell in Scott City. Doug Lindley in the Woodland School District, Gary Vandeven in Leopold and Robin Burger in the Kelso School District.