Primary election filing begins
Candidate filing for the Aug. 7 primary election reportedly had a successful start Tuesday, both statewide and in St. Francois County.
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced Wednesday that a total of 433 candidates visited his office, the most to show up for the first day of candidate filing since at least 2012.
Ashcroft said, of the 433 candidates filing, the breakdown by party affiliation was 257 Republican, 164 Democratic, 10 Libertarian, one Green and one Constitution. The bulk of candidate filing was for state representatives, with 291 filing. State auditor was the office with the least number of candidates with only four filing.
Among those filing were (I = Incumbent)
U.S. Senator – (Republican) Tony Monetti, Warrensburg; Austin Petersen, Peculiar; Josh Hawley, Columbia; Fred Ryman, Jefferson City; Christina Smith, Jefferson City; Kristi Nichols, Independence; Bradley Krembs, St. Charles; and Ken Patterson, Eureka; (Democratic) Carla (Coffee) Wright, St. Louis; Angelica Earl, St. Louis; Leonard Joseph Steinman II, Jefferson City; John Hogan, St. Charles; and Travis Gonzalez, Maryville;
State Auditor – (Republican) Kevin M. Roach, Chesterfield; David Wasinger, St. Louis; and Paul Curtman, Washington; (Democratic) Nicole Galloway, Columbia (I);
U.S. Representative: District 8 – (Democratic) Kathy Ellis, Festus; (Libertarian) Jonathan L. Shell, Fredericktown
State Representative: District 144 – Chris Dinkins, Annapolis (I); (Republican) Scotty Schrum, Potosi; and Beau McCoy Gooch, Piedmont
State Representative: District 115 – (Republican) Elaine Freeman Gannon (I)
State Representative: District 116 – (Republican) Dale L. Wright, Farmington
State Representative: District 117 – (Republican) Mike Henderson, Bonne Terre (I)
Circuit Judge: Circuit 24 Division 2 – (Democratic) Wendy Wexler Horn, Farmington (I)
Circuit Judge: Circuit 24 Division 1 – (Republican) Jerel Lee Poor II, Ste. Genevieve; (Democratic) Sandy Martinez, Fredericktown (I)
Locally, St. Francois County Clerk Mark Hedrick reported that the first day of filing at his office went smoothly. Of the candidates filing at the courthouse annex, six were affiliated with the Democratic Party and four with the Republican Party.
Candidates filing with the St. Francois County Clerk were:
Recorder of Deeds – (Democratic) Steve Grider (I)
Circuit Clerk – (Democratic) Vickie Weible (I)
Auditor – (Republican) Louis Seiberlich (I)
Collector – (Democratic) Pamela Williams (I)
Presiding Commissioner – (Republican) Harold Gallaher (I)
Prosecuting Attorney – (Democratic) Jerrod Mahurin (I); (Republican) Melissa Gilliam
Associate Circuit Judge – (Democratic) Joe Goff Jr. (I)
Probate & Associate Circuit Judge: Division 4 – (Democratic) Shawn McCarver (I); (Republican) Patrick King
Candidate filing for the Aug. 7 primary election continues through March 27.
Candidate filing for the Aug. 7 primary election began Tuesday and continues through March 27. Things reportedly went without a glitch at both the St. Francois County Clerk and Missouri Secretary of State offices.
Kevin Jenkins is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3614 or kjenkins@dailyjournalonline.com
