Ambulance District to put tax issue on April ballot

The St. Francois County Ambulance District plans to certify a tax issue for the April General Municipal Election.

The issue will roll back property taxes and impose a sales tax instead. Ambulance district officials were not immediately available to comment prior to press time today about the issue.

Today was the opening day of filings for elected positions in the county’s cities, school districts and its special districts.

Candidates have until Jan. 18 to file for the April election and political districts have until Jan. 25 to certify issues for the ballot.

The county is taking filings for the health board and the ambulance district. Candidates should file in their respective city or school district office for their respective special district, city or school board positions. Here’s a look at the filings as of Tuesday morning.

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Three people have filed for two seats on the ambulance district board. Jim Snavely, the incumbent, has filed for Ward IV and is so far unopposed. A race has developed in Ward I, however, between incumbent Al Sullivan, Jr. and Bobby Johnson.

No filings were made as of press time for the seats open on the Health Board.

North County

The North County Board of Education has three positions on the board opening up in April. Those seats belong to Keith Bannister, Gary Boyer and Steve Martin. As of 9 a.m., only one person, Allen Baranovic, has filed for a position on the board.

Bonne Terre

The Bonne Terre City Council has one seat opening up on the council. Kathy Stegall is up for re-election. As of 9 a.m., there were no filings.

The Mineral Area College Board of Trustees has two openings on the board. Both Dr. Jim Hart and Dr. Don VanHerck are up for re-election. As of 9 a.m., no one had filed.

Bismarck

There are three seats available on the Bismarck Board of Education. Each seat is for a three-year term. As of 9 a.m., Keith Colwell and David Moore filed for positions on the board.

The City of Bismarck has an alderman seat available in each Ward I and Ward II. As of 9 a.m., no one had filed for the positions.

West County

The West County Board of Education has three seats available with each carrying a three-year term. As of 9 a.m., Clyde Briley Jr., Lynn Frago and John French had filed for the positions.

Leadwood

The City of Leadwood has the mayor’s position along with an alderman seat in Ward I and one in Ward II available in the upcoming election. As of 9 a.m., Jim Stahlman had filed for the position of mayor and Dale Whelehon had filed for the Ward II Alderman seat.

Leadington

The City of Leadington has the mayor’s position along with an alderman seat in Ward I and one in Ward II available in the upcoming election. As of 9 a.m., no one had filed for any of the positions.

Central

The Central School Board of Education had three seats available with each one carrying a three-year term. As of 10 a.m., Ken Douglas, Bryan “Barney” Manion and Ronnie Calvird were the only people who filed for the positions.

Desloge

The City of Desloge has the mayor’s position along with an alderman seat in each Ward I, Ward II and Ward III available. As of 9 a.m., Scott Bockenkamp and David Kater had filed for the mayor’s position.

Farmington

As of 9:00 a.m., two candidates had filed for office in Farmington. The city has one opening on the council for each of four wards. The mayoral seat also is up for election.

Russell “Rusty” Straughan filed for the council seat in Ward 2, and incumbent mayor Charles Rorex filed for the mayoral seat.

Two incumbents filed for office in Farmington School District R-7. Larry Sebastian and Randy Rains each filed for one of the three open seats. Each seat carries a three-year term.

Park Hills

In Park Hills, there is one open council seat in each of the city’s four wards, and a one-year unexpired term open in Ward 2. The mayoral seat also is on the ballot.

Only one candidate had filed for office as of 9:00 a.m. Ward 3 incumbent councilman Tom Reed filed for re-election.

Council seats have two-year terms and the mayoral term is four years.