With about three weeks left in the filing period for local elections, a number of candidates have filed for the five seats on the Carthage City Council and the two seats on the Carthage R-9 Board of Education.
The filing period ends at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019.
As of the week before Christmas, seven candidates had filed for the six open seats on the Carthage City Council.
Three people had filed for the two open seats on the Carthage Board of Education, ensuring that an election will be held for that body.
If two or fewer candidates had filed for the Board of Education, the Board would have had the option of not holding an election.
Carthage City Council
Residents of Ward 5 and in Ward 4, both in the south part of Carthage, will have choices to make in the April 2 election.
Carthage teacher Ed Barlow was the first person to file for Carthage City Council Ward 5 when the filing period opened on Dec. 11. Former City Council Member T.J. Teed also filed for the Ward 5 seat.
In Ward 4, incumbent Alan Snow and a challenger, Dawn Denniston, filed for the two-year term.
Two seats are open in Ward 2 a two-year term currently held by David Armstrong and a one-year term to complete the term left open by the resignation of Timothy Shields last summer. Armstrong has filed for reelection to the two-year term in Ward 2 and Raymond West has filed for the one-year seat.
In the other wards, James Harrison filed for a second, two-year term in Ward 1 and Ceri Otero filed for a second term in Ward 3.
People interested in running for the six open city council seats can file at Carthage City Hall on the east side of the Carthage Square, 326 Grant St.
Council members are required to attend two city council meetings a month, serve on at least two of the five standing council committees, and serve as a council liaison to some of more than a dozen boards that receive city money.
The city provides training in ethics, the state Open Meetings, Open Records Law, and other issues related to a council member’s duties through the Missouri Municipal League.
People can call the Carthage City Clerk’s office at 237-7000 for more details and how to file for the election.
Carthage R-9 Board of Education
The two incumbents and one challenger had filed for the two open seats on the governing body for the Carthage school district.
Residents will vote for two people on each ballot and the top two vote-getters will win the election.
Incumbents Justin Baucom and Niki Cloud, and challenger Wayne Jones, all filed in the days before the Christmas holiday.
Terms for the school board seats are three years each.
The Carthage Board of Education meets regularly once a month and can be called to special sessions as needed.
Filing for School Board seats will be at the Carthage R-9 District Administration office, 710 Lyon St., Carthage.
People can call the Clerk of the Board or the Superintendent at 359-7000 for more details about the election or how to file.
