Eight candidates file for five open Jefferson City Council positions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Filing for local elections taking place April 2, 2024 opened Tuesday.

Candidates could officially put their names in for local elections starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Filing in most places will continue during regular business hours for the city or county government building until 5 p.m. Dec. 26.

Races will take place across Mid-Missouri. Here are a few:

Jefferson City Council

All five Jefferson City Council wards have one seat up for election April 2024.

The Jefferson City Council is made up of 10 council members, two from each ward, and the mayor. The council members' two-year terms are staggered, so that a seat in each ward is up for election every year.

The council members whose terms are expiring are:

• Jack Deeken (Ward 1)
• Mike Lester (Ward 2)
• Erin L. Wiseman (Ward 3)
• Randall Z. Wright (Ward 4)
• Jon Hensley (Ward 5)

According to the city's bylaws, a qualified candidate for Jefferson City Council must be at least 21 years old at the time of the election, be a U.S. citizen and qualified voter in Jefferson City, have lived in the city for at least a year before the election and have lived in the ward they're running for at least six months before the election.

Those filed so far are:

Ward 1:

• Jack Deeken (incumbent)

Ward 2:

• Darrel P. Bryan
• Michael Lester (incumbent)

Ward 3:

• Amy Brix
• Treaka Young

Ward 4:

• Randall Z.Wright (incumbent)
• Chris Leuckel

Ward 5:

• Mackenzie Job

Candidates will appear on the ballot in the order they file, and they must have three endorsements from residents of their ward to file. Candidates can file at the city offices in the Boone Bancroft Room at City Hall on 320 E. McCarty St.

Two people have also filed for the Jefferson City Board of Education. Those are:

• Lindsey Rowden
• Ken Hussey

Auxvasse Mayor and Aldermen

The seats for three Aldermen and the mayor are up election in April 2024 in Auxvasse.

Former Auxvasse Mayor Ronald Dye resigned in October. His resignation letter explains he stepped down because of backlash from the community. Dye served as mayor for less than a year.

“Due to the persisting feeling from the Citizens of Auxvasse that I am not a competent mayor, along with that I do not have the city’s best interest in heart, and I only care about money. I hereby resign my position as mayor effective immediately,” the resignation letter reads.

Whoever is elected as mayor will serve the remainder of Dye's term.

Four aldermen serve on the Board of Aldermen, two from each ward. The mayor sits on and presides over the board.

Two Northward aldermen seats are up for election; one is for a full two-year term, while the other is to serve the remaining one year of a two-year term. One full term as a Southward alderman is also up for election.

To file, candidates must submit a written statement of candidacy in person at City Hall on 104 S. Main St.

Columbia Board of Education

Two three-year seats are available on the Columbia Board of Education. As of Tuesday, no one filed to fill these seats.

Candidates have to file in person at 1818 West Worley St., but first, they need to get the official candidate filing packet and forms from Board of Education Secretary Noël McDonald, who can be reached at 573-214-3416 or nmcdonald@cpsk12.org.

Tuesday, candidates can file in person with no appointment until 4 p.m. After that, candidates must make an appointment with McDonald.

On the last day of filing, Dec. 26, walk-ins will be welcome to file from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Aslin Administration Building. Candidates are asked to arrive before 4:30 p.m. that day to ensure all filing is done by the 5 p.m. deadline.

Candidates' names will be listed on the ballot in the order they file, with one exception. All candidates who file by 4 p.m. Tuesday will have their names in a drawing to determine order. The drawing will be on a later date, according to the Columbia Board of Education website.

The Board is offering an information workshop on Dec. 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. to answer questions about filing and running.