~New Madrid County
NEW MADRID - Voters in New Madrid County will be choosing city officials and in most cases board members to serve local school districts when they go to the polls April 4. The polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
There will be two races decided by Canalou voters. Jimmie Fowler Jr. and Blake Sindle are seeking the office of marshal while John Slayton and Rebecca A. Lasters are the candidates for police judge. Unopposed on the ballot are James D. Taul, mayor; Thelma Slayton, collector; Steve Joyce, Ward 1 alderman; and Debbie Harris, Ward 2 alderman.
Catron voters will pick two persons to serve on the Board of Trustees and there are two names on the ballot - Barbara Matlock and Joe Pride.
Three people are vying to serve as mayor of Gideon. Seeking the office are Lawrence "Toby" Jordan, Lee Downing and Ron Wilburn. James Pickard and Tommy Goings are on the ballot as candidates for chief of police. In the North Ward, Eric Johnson is opposed by Scott Earnheart for the office of alderman while candidates for alderman in the South Ward are Lindal R. Cossey, Jerry Skidmore and Heather Pickard.
The candidates for mayor of Howardville include incumbent Clennon "Jim" Farr, Earnestine Jackson and Jessie Newson Jr. Also there are five candidates seeking the opening as Ward 1 alderman with Billy Ray Brown, Marvelle Cranford, Xavier Matthews, Demetrius Moore and Robert Young listed on the ballot. Unopposed in Ward 2 is Mary L. Johnson.
Three races will be decided by Lilbourn voters. For mayor, Frank Ash is opposed by Dale Ray for the office. Three candidates are seeking the office of Ward 1 alderman with voters to choose from Robert Taylor, Johnnie R. Baker and Danny Sprouse while in Ward 2, Alvin Bobo and Dan Ruark are seeking the job of alderman. Unopposed for office are: Yvonne Morgan, collector; Dennis Young, marshal; and Richard Kolwyck, municipal judge.
Two sales tax issues will be decided in Marston during the April 4 election. Voters are being asked whether to impose a 1/2 of 1 percent sales tax which will be used for the upkeep and recapping of existing streets. Another 1/2 of 1 percent is being sought to fund capital improvement for the fire and police departments. Unopposed on the ballot are Rebecca Redden for the office of mayor; Wayne Newsom, North Ward alderman, and Dustin Redden, South Ward alderman; write-in votes will determine who will fill the office of police judge.
Matthews residents in Ward 1 can choose either Eddie Polk or Freddy Daniels to serve as their alderman. In Ward 2, the candidates for a two-year term are Thomas "Bud" Armstrong and Armand Porter while Rodney Dunlap is unopposed in his bid to fill the one-year unexpired term as Ward 2 alderman.
Neither Morehouse Board of Alderman candidates has an opponent for election to a two-year term. Donna Brashears is unopposed in Ward 1 and Jackie Hays Sr. in Ward 2.
Two races have developed to serve on the New Madrid Board of Aldermen with two long-time officeholders not seeking re-election. In Ward 1, the candidates are Judy Taylor, Dick Bodi and Phil Pfuehler while Ward 3 voters will decide between Brad Kolwyck and Harold Allred; incumbent Russell Riggs is unopposed in Ward 2. Also seeking re-election and unopposed are Donnie Brown, mayor; Sherry Phillips, collector; Claude Jerome McFerren, marshal; and Bill Boyd, police judge.
There are two names - Lewis Moore and Lonnie B. Moore - listed for the two openings for full-terms as trustees for the Village of North Lilbourn. Seeking a one-year unexpired term is Leonard Thomas.
In Parma, neither candidate is opposed on the ballot to serve on the board of alderman. Steve Lewis is the candidate in Ward 1 and in Ward 2, Barry Aycock is seeking election. However, Parma residents will have two issues to decide with voters asked whether to make the office of collector appointed or an elected position. Also on the ballot is whether $500,000 in water and sewerage system bonds should be issued for the purpose of extending and improving the town's water and sewer system; the bonds are to be repaid through the operation of the system.
There is a race in Ward 2 to serve on the Portageville Board of Aldermen with Rodi Walker and Kathy Klipfel vying for the position. Unopposed on the ballot is Bill Foster for municipal court judge and in Ward 1, Rick Rhoades for alderman.
No one filed for the office of mayor or West Ward alderman in Risco, with both to be decided by write-in votes. Unopposed on the Risco ballot in for
East Ward alderman is Bert Todd.
Mike Marshall is seeking re-election as mayor of Sikeston and is unopposed. Also unopposed on the Sikeston ballot is David Teachout, the candidate for Ward 3 councilman.
Tallapoosa residents will select a mayor with Frank Smith and Kathy Joiner seeking the position. Unopposed in Tuesday's election are Barbara Copeland, city clerk; Kelly J. Deprow, North Ward alderman; and no one filed to serve as South Ward alderman.
New Madrid County residents residing in the Gideon No. 37 school district will choose two directors for six-years terms on their board. Vying for the office are Joe Woolverton, Bill McCain, Cindy Parker, Claude Owens, Shane Marcus, Larry Boone and Timothy Lynn Stanfield.
Residents of Portageville have three candidates to select from to fill two spots on the Portageville School District board. They are: Ronnie Adams, Donney Benthal Jr. and Lee Ann Wallace.
Patrons residing in the Risco R-2 School District have four choices to fill two openings on the school board. Candidates are Curt Patterson, Clayton Knight, Sonya Landers and Eddie Earnheart.
A portion of the Sikeston R-6 school district is in New Madrid County and those residents will choose two candidates to serve on the board from among Ann W. Jones, Julia Crader Dolan and Scott Crumpecker.
Because only two candidates filed for the two openings on the New Madrid County R-1 School board, an election is not necessary.