SIKESTON - Let the campaigning begin.
Candidates for city offices in most Bootheel communities had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to put their names on the list. Now they are gearing up for the April 2 municipal elections with some races featuring as many as four candidates.
In East Prairie five people had signaled their intentions to seek the job of city marshal, however, now the number is at four. Danny Lafferty, who was appointed to the office following the resignation of Richard Gregory, along with Bill Aycock, John Gifford and Teddy Sisk will have their names on the ballot. Gregory briefly indicated his intention to run for the two-year unexpired term but later withdrew his name, according to city officials.
In other races in East Prairie, Gene Ditto, mayor pro tem, is unopposed in his bid to fill an unexpired term for the job.
In Ward 1, Billy R. Hatton Jr. and James W. "Woody" Parson are seeking Ditto's old post while in Ward 3, the candidates are incumbent Robert "Bobby" McTigue and Todd Johnston with Harold Lemmons, unopposed in his bid for re-election as Ward 2 Councilman.
Sikeston and Charleston operate with city managers and their filings closed in December. In Charleston Jack Feezor is the sole candidate for the office of councilman-at-large while in Sikeston, voters will choose from among Sue Rogers and incumbents Phil Boyer and Bill Mitchell to fill two vacancies on the city council.
Three of four races will be opposed in the city of Miner. Frank Tatum, incumbent, is being challenged for mayor by alderman Tom Brock and Travis Smith.
Mitch Thompson, Ward 1 alderman, is seeking re-election but he will have to compete with Tommy Wilson. Betty Barnes is unopposed in her bid for the Ward 2 alderman seat, formerly held by her late husband, Harry.
The mayoral and alderman races are for two-year terms.
Roger Moore and Wayne Smith have filed for the three-year unexpired term as police chief.
Neither board candidates are opposed in Benton. In Ward 1 Geri Hennemann has filed for re-election and in Ward 2, incumbent James Arteme also is seeking another two-year term.
Two races developed for the five openings on the Chaffee Board of Aldermen. In Ward 1, Darryl Strohmeyer is opposing incumbent Doug Dirnberger for the two-year term. In Ward 4, Jesse Nordin, who currently serves on the board, will be on the ballot with Gene Cummin. Filing without opposition for two-years terms are Ward 2 alderman Robert "Bob" Sullivan and Mitchell Dooley in Ward 3 while no one filed to fill a one-year unexpired term in Ward 3.
Almost all of the elections in Oran are contested including the job of mayor which will have incumbent Tom Urhahn facing Herman Joe Ressel. In Ward 1, the candidates are Helen Neal-Gifford and incumbent Ronald Diebold; Ward 2, Bob Ressel and incumbent A.J. Madigan and in Ward 3, incumbent Jean Neal and Bill Anderson. Only Collector Marsha Roslen is not opposed in her bid for re-election.
There is a race for the job of Bertrand Ward 2 aldermen with Stephen R. McConkey and Billy Joe Wilkerson throwing their hats into the ring. In Ward 1, Eva Darlene Hurley has filed for the two-year term.
Wyatt residents will decide among three people on who will fill the two-year term as mayor. The candidates are incumbent Donald Williams, Joey Cross and Riley Fitzgerald. While Ward 1 Alderman Robert Harris is unopposed in his bid for re-election, Ward 2 Alderman Robert Dugan Sr. is being challenged by Dan Laster
Gideon's mayor, Louise Shock, has filed for re-election and will be opposed by Lawrence Jordan. Running without opposition will be Gideon Chief of Police James Pickard, South Ward Alderman Cleo Payne and in the North Ward, Kevin Keown has filed. The mayor and board posts are for two-year terms while the job of police chief is a four-term in Gideon.
There is a four-way race already for the office of Lilbourn city marshal and the offices of mayor and Ward 2 alderman are contested as well.
Candidates for the office of city marshal to fill a four-year term are incumbent Alvin Bobo, Donald Hanner, Raymond Creasy and Timothy (T.C.) Collins. A two-year term as mayor is sought by Larry Joe Hamilton, who currently fills the job, and Frank Ash. In Ward 2, Larry Joe Holtzhouser is opposed in his bid for re-election as alderman by Danny Ruark and Barry Ash. Incumbent Robert Taylor and Ronald G. Ivie have filed in Ward 1 for alderman. Unopposed are collector Yvonne Morgan and Richard Colwick, who is seeking the office of police judge.
The incumbents are being challenged in their re-election bids to represent the residents of Marston. Mayor Paul Haubold will face Becky Redden in the April election. In the South Ward, Donald Ferguson, who was appointed to fill the board seat, is being challenged by Shannon Sprouse for the one-year term and for a two-year term in the ward, incumbent Wayne Ruby is opposed by Sydney Williams. North Ward Alderman Robert Silman and George Lance are seeking election to a two-year term on the board. No one filed for the office of police judge.
There are two openings for two-year terms on the Matthews Board of Aldermen. Elaine Vandever is running unopposed for re-election in Ward 1 and in Ward 2, incumbent Armand Porter will be opposed in the April 2 election by Bud Armstrong.
The incumbents will face challengers for election to the two-year terms on the Morehouse Board of Aldermen. Ward 1 board member Evelyn Comstock is opposed by L.V. Brothers and in Ward 2 Sharon Buckley is challenging current boardmember "Pop" Parr.
All three aldermen face opposition in their bid for re-election in New Madrid. Longtime Ward 1 Alderman Dick St. Mary faces a challenge from Bobby Martin. In Ward 2, Alderman Russell Riggs is being challenged by Bobby Blom and in Ward 3, incumbent Glen Medlin will face William Kosky Jr. City Marshal Claude McFerren is opposed in his re-election bid by Tommy Hunter. Filing unopposed are Mayor Mark Baker, City Police Judge Bill Boyd and City Collector Sherry Phillips.
Incumbents have indicated their interest in being returned to office in Portageville and one is opposed in their re-election bid. Phyllis Pate, who currently fills the Ward 1 position on the board, will be opposed on the ballot by Lynn Doering for election to a two-year term. Unopposed for two year terms as Ward 2 Alderman Bruce Martin and Bill Foster, municipal court judge.
There are three openings, mayor and aldermen from the East and West wards, but no races for Risco citizens to decide.
James Hensley filed for re-election to a two-year term on the board in the East Ward and in the West Ward, Joe Rowe has filed to fill the office now held by Brad Lancaster, who didn't seek re-election. Mayor Don Lancaster is seeking re-election to a four-year term.