Thursday, January 4, 2007

Filing deadline looms for city, school election

by Clarke Davis

Anyone interested in serving in an elected office at city hall or on a school board has fewer than 20 days to file.

The filing deadline for the spring election is noon Jan. 23, reports Lucy Patterson, elections clerk.

There are four school board positions up for election in each of the six school districts in Jefferson County—one in each member district and one at large position.

Elections will also be held in the county’s eight cities. The mayors in four cities are up for election and the number of council seats vary.

Terms in both the cities and school districts are for four years.

Candidates can pay a $5 filing fee or file by petition. Where more than two have filed for a position, a primary election will be held Feb. 27. The general election is April 3.

Candidates for city office should file at city hall in their respective cities, although they can file at the courthouse. School board candidates and candidates for other elective offices must file at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office.

The newly formed Meadowlark Extension District will be included in the spring election, selecting two from Jefferson County to serve on the three-county board. Those now serving whose terms are up for election are Catherine Smelser and Susan Voelker. The filing deadline for the Meadowlark District is noon Feb. 28; there will not be a primary.

The three members on each of the six drainage district boards are also up for election. There is no filing fee for these positions and the filing deadline is not until noon Feb. 28. Eligible voters are either residents or nonresident landowners, Patterson said.

School board candidates filing by petition must have the names of 50 qualified electors within the member district or 10 percent of the voters in the district. City council members are required to have 25 qualified voters or 10 percent of the total who cast ballots in the last general election.

Following are the school board members whose terms expire June 30 in the county’s six unified districts:

USD 338, Valley Falls—1. Beryl Darrah, 2. Paul Brown, 3. Mike Miller, 7. Tracy Streeter.

USD 339, Jefferson County North—1. Ron Langston, 2. Tony Domann, 3. Raymond Riley (appointed following the resignation of Clifford Burk in November), 7. Lois Niemann.

USD 340, Jefferson West—1. Blaine Moore, 2. Vacancy (Carol Meneley resigned in September), 3. Jeff Van Petten, 7. Bill Bradford.

USD 341, Oskaloosa—1. Ronda Schuler, 2. Frances Snell (appointed following the resignation of David Tenpenny), 3. Daryl Chess, 7. Gary Willits.

USD 342, McLouth—1. Julie Zule, 2. Andy Sullivan (appointed following the resignation of Ernie Folsom), 3. Dan Evans, 7. James DePriest. USD 343, Perry-Lecompton—1. Scott McPherson, 2. Greg Howard, 3. Tom Holroyd, 7. Travis Daniels.

The number of council positions and mayoral terms vary in the eight cities. Following are those up for election in April:

Meriden: Mayor Andy Surritt (2-year term); council members Colleen McGeeney, Dana Boyer, Marilyn Johnson, and Sherri Hittle (4-year terms).

Valley Falls: Council members Susan Grey, Terry Sullivan, and James Clulo.

Perry: Mayor Mike Lang (appointed); council members, Dean Sage and J.R. Porter (appointed).

Nortonville: Council members Norman Belveal, Ray Brown, and Matt Smith (appointed to replace Randy Schneider).

Winchester: Mayor Jim Clark; council members Marvin Ledbetter and Marie Riley.

Ozawkie: Council members Marlin Youngquist and Elke Lassiter (both appointed) and Terry Marsh.

Oskaloosa: Mayor Judy Miller; council members James Malsbury (appointed) and Kelly Hattemer.

McLouth: Council members Bob Ryan, Sharon Johnson, and Kim Hochard.