Candidates file petitions to fill open Jefferson City council seats
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Tuesday marked the first day of filing for the April 6, 2021 municipal election in many cities across the state.
In Jefferson City, several people filed petitions to run in the election -- including two candidates hoping to fill open city council seats.
Longtime city councilmen Carlos Graham and Ken Hussey have termed out and won't be able to run in the coming election. Residents Mary Schantz and Derrick Spicer have filed to run for the 3rd and 4th ward seats.
Schantz has sat on the Jefferson City Historic Preservation Commission for seven years, served with the city's bicycle subcommittee since it was created and has also worked with the Jefferson City Heritage Foundation.
Schantz says she wants to improve Jefferson City and make it a place people can grow up in and raise their families.
"Through my work with the city, I think I have proven my committment to Jefferson City and represnting its people," Schantz said.
She said she's looking forward to working with the 3rd ward constituents and sharing her vision of the city with them.
Spicer filed his petition to run for the open 4th ward council seat. ABC 17 reached out to the candidate Tuesday morning but did not immediately hear back.
Scott Evans said he was the first in line at the city clerk's office dropping off his petition for municipal judge.
Evans says he believes in working for the community and giving back to the city. He has been a lawyer in Jefferson City for 10 years and primarily handles family law cases.
"My approach as municipal judge will be to use the court for rehabilitation and not making people criminals," Evans said. "I want to focus on how we can stop future crimes from happening."
Gaylin Carver, Jefferson City's incumbent Municipal Prosecutor, has filed to run again for the position.
Carver has served as the city's prosecutor for the past two years and has previously served as an assistant prosecutor in Cole County.
Carver said 2020 has been unusal for court cases but that she will make sure all people receive their day in court.
"We have worked hard to make sure that people are heard in timely manner and that justice is dispensed fairly," Carver said. “I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Jefferson City if re-elected.”
Incumbent councilmen David Kemna, Laura Ward and Mark Schreiber have also filed petitions for their respective seats.
