Race taking shape for Circuit Judge

Spring municipal and school elections are just weeks away, but announcements this week about ballot decisions for county and state offices next August and November also command attention.

Daviess County will have a choice for Associate Circuit Judge in an election between incumbent Judge Daren Adkins and challenger Mike Arnold, both of Gallatin. Judge Adkins is completing his first term in office and is on the Democrat ticket. Mr. Arnold, a former prosecuting attorney now in private practice, has circulated a petition to be nominated as an independent candidate.

According to state law, eligibility for nomination by petition is determined when the candidate secures signatures from 2% of the total of voters casting votes for the office in the previous election. In this case, this mark was 40 votes. Over 60 signatures are listed on Mr. Arnold’s petition now recorded at the courthouse.

So far, this is the only race shaping up for either the primary or general elections. Filing deadline for the August primary election is March 26.

One new office holder will be determined this fall, following the decision to split the circuit clerk and the recorder offices apart. Incumbent Circuit Clerk Linda Adkins has filed for re-election. A clerk deputy, Georgia Maxwell, has filed for the new separate office of county recorder of deeds.

Other incumbents seeking re-election this fall are Democrats David Tolen for presiding commissioner, Linda Steward for county clerk, and Julia A. Roselle for prosecuting attorney.

Incumbent State Representative Jim Whorton (3rd District) is seeking re-election which currently includes the area of Daviess, Mercer, Grundy, Harrison and a part of Sullivan counties. As a result of redistricting, southern Sullivan County along with a significant portion of Worth and Gentry Counties will be added to the 3rd District.

Congressman Sam Graves (6th District) filed for re-election yesterday in Jefferson City before returning to Washington, D.C. The Republican is serving his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives after serving as a Missouri state senator. As congressman Graves represents 26 counties in Northwest Missouri, including Daviess County.

April Elections

Various choices confront voters in the more immediate spring elections to be conducted on April 2. In Gallatin’s city elections, voters will choose between Norma R. Griffin and Donald M. Smith for east ward alderman. Contestants for west ward alderman are Timothy Andrew and write in candidate Becky (Baker) Ness.

Voters will choose two board members from those running for the four year term on the Central Dispatch for Emergency Services District 1 — Angela L. Jones, Daniel Skinner, Troy Souders and Jerry Baldwin; District 2 — Barron Gann, James Wycoff, John W. Sullenger, Timothy Andrew.

County voters will select one board member, who shall serve as a member of the board of directors for a three year term, for Public Water Supply District #3 of Clinton and Daviess County. Candidates are — John G. Rupert, Wayne O. Schemmer.

In local municipal elections, the Village of Altamont will vote for two for board of trustees — Marvin Lollar and Jeff Rogers.

The City of Coffey has a lone candidate for mayor — Sonny Clutter. Debra Courter is uncontested as northward alderman. No one has filed for southward alderman.

Village of Jameson for the of board of Trustees, two year term, vote for three — Patricia Baker or write in candidate Hilda Cummens. Jameson will also vote yes or no on a 15 cent tax levy for general municipal purposes for a period of four years.

City of Jamesport for park board, three year term, vote for two — Stan Peery and Joyce Peery. For Park board, two year unexpired term, vote for two — William Eckert.

Virginia Hopkins is uncontested for the two year term of east ward alderman of Jamesport, while voters will select either David Bequette or Jerry Pierce for the two year term of west ward alderman.

Village of Lock Springs for board of trustees two year term, vote for three: Dolores Williams, Bernice Fields, Barbara Williams and Rena Perkins.

Lock Springs Special Road District for commissioner, vote for one — Robert Dyson, Rena Perkins.

City of Pattonsburg East Ward Alderman, two year term, vote for one — William “Gene” Walker.

City of Pattonsburg west ward alderman, two year term, vote for one — no one has filed.

Village of Winston for Board of Trustees, two year term, vote for three — Linda Tarepin or write in candidate Arvella Eaton.

Voters will choose three candidates among those running for seats on the five county school boards. Candidates vying for a term of three years each, vote for three are: Gallatin R-5 — Sandra Alden, Danny Dixon, Clint Vanatta and Allan Lunsford;

Winston R-6 — Gary Caldwell, David Neth, Shelly Mason and Clyde Edwards;

North Daviess R-3 — Beverly Hunter, Gene Morris, Chris Nelson and Donald Baker;

Tri-County R-7 — Rodney Odom, Richard Dustman, Rena Perkins and Janet denHartog;

Pattonsburg R-2 — Greg Brown, Thomas C. Lambert, Richard W. Mooney, Eugene Thatcher and Craig Lambert.

Pattonsburg voters will also choose a director to serve as a member of the R-2 school board, an unexpired term of one year. No candidates have filed for this position.