Boone County presiding commissioner won’t seek reelection; Democrat runs for seat

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill said Wednesday that he will not seek another term, the same day a fellow Democrat announced his campaign for Atwill's seat.

"I am proud to have been a small part of the progress Boone County has made in the past 10 years and I hope to continue helping with that for the remainder of my term," Atwill said.

Atwill was appointed as Boone County Presiding Commissioner in October 2011. He was then elected in 2012 and reelected in 2014 and 2018.

Nick Knoth,, a Democrat like Atwill, announced his candidacy to replace Atwill on Wednesday.

Knoth says his campaign will focus on three areas of improvement for Boone County — increasing quality of life, improving infrastructure, and supporting economic development.

“My professional and personal experiences have led me to understand how important it is to have leaders in Boone County who deliver results that help parents provide for their children, keep our neighbors out of a jail cell, and support a safe and prosperous environment for all who wish to call Boone County home,” said Knoth.

Jim Musgraves, a Republican, is also running for Atwill's seat.

The commission is currently made up of three Democrats -- Atwill, Northern District Commissioner Janet Thompson and Southern District Commissioner Justin Aldred.