SIKESTON -- Scott County voters will decide whether to continue a countywide half-cent sales tax in addition to picking municipal and school board officials during Tuesday's election.
The half-cent sales tax proposed is actually a continuation of the half-cent sales tax which expires Dec. 31, 2016, due to a sunset clause, according to Scott County officials. While this tax is in effect, county officials have set property tax received by the county at zero.
If approved, the half-cent sales tax would be extended until Dec. 31, 2024, with the county's property tax levy remaining at zero during this time.
With Steven H. Burch unopposed on the ballot to serve as Sikeston's next mayor for a three-year term and Karen R. Evans unopposed for her bid to represent Ward 3 for a full three-year term, the race to watch in the Scott County's largest municipality is in Ward 2 where Gerald Settles is running against incumbent John Graham for a full three-year term.
Settles and Graham previously appeared on the ballot facing each other for the one-year unexpired term Graham is now about to finish.
In Miner, there is a three-way race for a four-year term as city collector. Candidates are: Donna Thomas, incumbent Vanita Wilburn and Doris Smith.
Also in Miner, incumbent Deloris Smith will face Mechelle Farmer in a race to represent Ward I for the next two-year term while Peggy Holman and Betty Barnes compete to represent Ward II.
Miner voters will also decide whether to impose a quarter-cent sales tax to fund operation of the city's fire department.
Also for Tuesday's election:
* The city of Benton has a single candidate on the ballot for mayor: David Wilhelm. Benton mayors serve four-year terms.
Incumbent Beverly Riley has no opponent for another two-year term as city collector.
In Benton's Ward I, incumbent Howard Bollinger is unopposed for another two-year term on the Board of Aldermen as is David Mack in Ward II.
* In Oran, Harold J. Landewee faces Craig Friga in Ward One, Melissa Spencer is up against Danny Forehand in Ward Two and Jimmy G. Westrich and Brenda Cook are in a Ward Three race for full two-years terms on the Board of Aldermen while Karen LeGrand is unopposed in Ward Four.
Also unopposed is Tiffany Schaefer who is running to fill a one-year term in Ward Four.
* Mike Ellison is again unopposed in his bid to represent Ward 1 on the Scott City Council.
Voters in Scott City's Ward 2 will choose between Pat Brazel and Jonathan Rasnic for a full two-year term.
Ron Cummins is facing Bobby Bollinger II in a race for a full term in Ward 3.
In Ward 4, incumbent Randy Morse is unopposed for another term.
* The village of Blodgett has three positions open on its Board of Trustees and four candidates: Ruby Ann Hurst, Wayne Montgomery, Jon C. Pierce and Glenna Brown.
* Steven Loucks is unopposed in his run for another term as Chaffee's mayor.
Chaffee voters have unopposed incumbents running for new two-year terms in three ward -- Darlene Crocker in Ward One, Jerry Childers in Ward Two and Eric Seyer in Ward Four -- but no candidates listed on the ballot for Ward Three.
* The Commerce Board of Trustees has two openings and five candidates in the race: Zach Vetter, Marvin S. Nienhaus-Miller, Lois Lee Huck Ramsey, William Bailey and Brock Hanners.
Terms run for two years.
* Three candidates appear on the ballot for the three positions on the Kelso Board of Trustees. They are Bruce Beggs, Andy Beussink and Donald K. Reinagel.
* Voters in Haywood City have two candidates, Linda Williams and Earl E. Baker, to fill two Board of Trustees positions up for election.
* Morley has two at-large positions up for election on its Board of Alderman and two candidates: Doug Sikes and Kenny Rodgers.
Voters in Morley will also be asked to authorize forgoing annual elections if the number of candidates filed for a particular office equals the number of positions in the office to be filled by the election.
* Vanduser has three openings on its Board of Trustees and two candidates listed: Michael W. Hargrove and Jim Murphree.
* The village of Lambert has five candidates on the ballot with five positions open on its Board. Candidates are Jerry D. Wolsey II, Henry M. Schiwitz, Arthur A. Schiwitz, James A. Nall and Traci Bollinger.
Lambert voters will also decide whether or not to forego annual municipal elections for six years if the number of candidates filing equals the number of positions in the office or offices to be filled in that election.
* Voters within the Illmo Special Road District will pick a director to serve a three-year term. Candidates are Edwin Ledure and Bob Keesee Sr.
* Three county's school districts have two board seats with full three-year terms up for election. Voters may pick two names from the list of candidates for a district they live in.
In the Sikeston R-6 District, choices are Heather Drury, Jay Elliott, Matt Tanner and Chris Hodgkiss.
Voters in the Scott County R-1 District in Scott City may pick from: Sally Porch, Beth McDonough Cox, Gary Miller and Justin Braun.
Candidates to select from in the R-IV Kelly School District are: Marshall Meeks, David Collier and Michael Bolen.