Filings begin for local cities, school districts

It’s a new year and that means cities and schools will soon select their new leadership moving forward.

The filing period for the April election is open and will run through Tuesday, January 19. The April election, which will focus on city councils and local boards of educations, will be held on Tuesday, April 6.

In Lathrop, three seats will be open on the city council. The mayoral seat held by Dean Langner is up for election, and two residents have already filed for the spot – Jennifer (Eads) Morrison and Gabe Goad. As of Monday, there had been no filings for the other two seats, the North Ward seat held by Gerald Snodgrass and the South Ward seat held by Coetta Whiteley. Each seat carries a two-year term.

In Gower, the mayor’s seat held by Chip Holman will headline the ballot. Holman has said he doesn’t intend to refile for election and won’t accept a write-in nomination. Ken Pike has filed for the mayor’s seat. Two alderman seats will be up for grabs, the Ward I seat of Mike Kruger and the Ward II seat of Randy Jameson. Krueger has refiled for election in Ward I. Each seat carries a two-year term.

In Plattsburg, there will be three seats with two-year terms up for grabs, one from each ward. In Ward II, incumbent Sue Malone filed for reelection, and she will see competition, as Lisa Crawford has also filed for the seat. Ward III Alderman Ken Tongue has filed for reelection and no one has signed up to challenge him for the seat. No one has filed for the Ward I seat currently held by Clyde May.

The East Buchanan Board of Education has two seats in contention this April, with each carrying a three-year term. The seats currently belong to Dean Walkup and Ryan Harper, and both have filed for reelection.

In Lathrop, two seats on the board of education will be available with three-year terms. The two incumbents for those seats, Adam Cockrum and Matt Holsted, have filed for reelection.

The Clinton County R-III School District also has two seats up for grabs this April. Incumbent Corey Wilkinson has filed for reelection, while challenger Keith Carnie has also filed. The other incumbent, Linda Hoskins, has yet to file.