STATE CERTIFIES INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR APRIL 1 VOTE

Secretary of State Bekki Cook has certified a Caruthersville man as an independent candidate for state representative of the 162nd District.

The move means voters will have a choice in the special election, set for April 1.

Independent candidate Denny J. Merideth III of Caruthersville Route 1 will face Democrat Shirley Kay Davis of Caruthersville.

Davis was chosen by the Democratic Party's district committee. The Republican Party didn't name a candidate.

Tuesday was the deadline for party committees to select candidates for the special election, said Jim Grebing, communications director for the secretary of state.

The winner of the April election will fill the seat vacated by Don Prost of Caruthersville, who resigned to take a state government staff job. The district includes all of Pemiscot and parts of Dunklin and New Madrid counties.

Merideth collected 243 signatures of registered voters to qualify as an independent candidate, Grebing said.