Filing period opens for county, state, federal offices

Feb. 28—CARTHAGE, Mo. — The filing period for people interested in running in the August primary and November general election for county, state and federal offices opened Tuesday, and a number of candidates were in line. Filing closes at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 26.

A number of candidates interested in offices in county races showed up at their respective county courthouses Tuesday while those wanting to be on the ballot for any of the state offices or for U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senater filed at the Missouri secretary of state's office in Jefferson City.

Jasper County

County offices such as the two associate county commissioners, sheriff, treasurer, public administrator and others are open and candidates — both incumbent and challengers — lined up at the elections office in the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage to be among the first to file.

These were the filings as of Wednesday morning. An (I) denotes an incumbent:

—Western District commissioner: Darieus Adams (I) has announced he won't seek reelection after 20 years in the office. Those who filed: Mike Landis, Ed Scorse, Mike Woolston and James Pierce.

—Eastern District commissioner: Challenger Mark Lasley filed for the seat Tuesday. Tom Flanigan (I) has said he plans to run for reelection.

—Sheriff: Randee Kaiser (I) and challenger Ethan Snow.

—Coroner: James Harrison. Randy Mace (I) has not filed.

—Public administrator: Angie Casavecchia (I).

—Treasurer: Shannon Karraker has filed, but Denise Rohr (I) had not yet filed.

—Assessor: Lisa Perry (I).

—Circuit judge: Division 1: current Jasper County prosecutor Theresa Kenney and current Division 5 Associate Judge Joseph Hensley. Judge Gayle Crane (I) had not filed as of Tuesday evening. Division 3: David Boyce Mouton (I).

Newton County

In Newton County, those who have filed are:

—County commission: District 1: Republicans Raleigh Ritter, Mark Knight and John Hird; and Libertarian Martin Lindstedt. District 2: Republicans David Osborn (I), former sheriff and coroner Mark Bridges, and Robert Brunner.

—Public administrator: Joy Williams (I).

—Coroner: Dale Owen (I).

—Treasurer: Gina Rodriguez (I) and Lane Osborn.

—Sheriff: Matt Stewart.

—Assessor: Cheryle Perkins (I).

—Surveyor: Jerry Wood (I).

Statewide offices

On the state level, voters will be choosing the next governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and attorney general.

—Governor: Eight Republicans, three Democrats and one Libertarian have filed to replace Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who is prevented by term limits from seeking a third term.

Republicans who have filed are Darrell Leon McClanahan III, of Milo; Jeremy Gunnel, of Washburn; Bill Eigel, of Weldon Springs; Robert James Olson, of Springfield; John R. "Jay" Ashcroft, of Bolivar; Mike Kehoe, of Jefferson City; Chris Wright, of Joplin; and Darren L. Grant, of Maryland Heights.

Democrats who have filed are Eric Morrison, of Lee's Summit; Crystal Quade, of Springfield; and Sheryl Gladney, of St. Charles.

The only Libertarian who filed is Bill Slantz, of St. Charles.

—Lieutenant governor: Five Republicans filed for the lieutenant governor's office being vacated by Republican Mike Kehoe, who is running for governor.

Candidates are Dean Plocher, of Clayton; Holly Rehder, of Scott City; Dave Wasinger, of Des Peres; Lincoln Hough, of Springfield; and Paul Berry III, of Maryland Heights.

—Secretary of state: Four Republicans and three Democrats filed to run for Missouri secretary of state to replace Republican Jay Ashcroft, who is running for governor.

Republican filers on the first day are Valantina Gomez, of St. Louis; Shane Scholler, of Willard; Denny Hoskins, of Warrensburg; and Adam J. Schwandron, of St. Charles.

Democrats who have filed are Monique Williams, Gavin Bena and Barbara Phifer, all of St. Louis.

—State treasurer: Three Republicans have filed to run for the state treasurer's office currently held by Parson appointee Vivek Malek.

Republicans are Cody Smith, of Carthage; Andrew Koenig, of Manchester; and Lori Rook, of Springfield.

—Attorney general: Two Republicans and one Democrat filed on the first day for the Missouri attorney general's office.

Republican candidates are Will Scharf, of Richmond Heights; and incumbent Andrew Bailey, of Jefferson City.

The Democrat is Elad Jonathan Gross, of St. Louis.

Missouri Legislature

Voters will also be choosing members of the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate.

Jasper and Newton counties will not be voting for a state senator this year because only candidates in odd-numbered districts are up for reelection. The area is currently represented by Sen. Jill Carter.

District 29, covering McDonald, Barry, Lawrence and Christian counties, is the only odd-numbered Senate district in Southwest Missouri. Mike Moon (I), of Halltown, and challenger Susan Haralson are the only two to file for that seat on the Republican ballot.

All 163 members of the Missouri House of Representatives hold two-year terms, so they are all up for reelection this year.

In the immediate Joplin area, voters will be choosing a new representative in the 163rd District, covering Carthage and parts of Webb City and Joplin. Cody Smith (I) is prevented by term limits from running for that seat again. He is running for the state treasurer's office. Zach Hatcher and Cathy Jo Loy, both of Carthage, have filed for the Republican nomination for District 163.

—In District 162, representing Carl Junction and Jasper County west of Joplin and Webb City, Bob Bromley (I) is the only candidate to file for the seat so far.

—In District 161, representing south Joplin and parts of Newton County, Lane Roberts (I), of Joplin, and challenger Thomas Ross, also of Joplin, have filed on the first day.

—In District 160, representing the north-central part of Newton County, including Joplin in Newton County and parts of Neosho, Ben Baker (I) is the only candidate to have filed.

—Dirk Deaton (I) is the only person who filed in District 159, which covers most of Newton County and parts of McDonald County.

—Scott Cupp (I) is the only person who has filed so far for District 158, which covers southeastern McDonald County and Barry County.

—Ann Kelley (I) is the only person who has filed in District 127, which covers rural Jasper County, including Sarcoxie, Barton and Dade counties, and the south part of Cedar County.