Some Mid-Missouri counties see crowded school board races

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Plenty of folks want to be on a school board in Cole County.

Each board of education race in that county has drawn a number of candidates that at least doubles the number of seats available.

Every ballot across Mid-Missouri will feature local races, including municipal governments and school boards. More on each county's ballot below:

Cole County

Cole County's biggest school district has a crowded field in its board of education race.

The Jefferson City Board of Education has drawn seven candidates for the three seats on the April ballot. And none of them are incumbents.

Instead, Cierra Griffin, Trent Vallandingham, Ryan Towner, Kris Scheperle, Michelle Rodemeyer, Gretchen Duckworth and James Kindred Sr. are seeking a seat. The election will remake nearly half of the seven-member board.

Cole County R-V in Eugene also has a crowded field for its board election. Spencer Hoskins, Brian Golden, Carl Sweezer, Travis Graham, Jen Colvin and Matt Hale are competing for three seats. Hoskins and Hale are incumbents.

The Blair Oaks School District has also drawn a crowded field, with six candidates vying for three seats. All three incumbents -- Mark McCarter, Doug Mueller and Sarah Lueckenhoff -- are running. They're joined by challengers Billy Cannon, Frank Verslues and Matt Forck.

Two seats on the Jefferson City Council are up for election. Randy Hoselton faces George Bacon in Ward 1 and Mackenzie Job faces Rebekah Frost in Ward 5. The terms are two years apiece.

Boone County

Boone County ballots will also see a high-profile school board race.

Three incumbents -- Paul Harper, John Lyman and April Ferrao -- are seeking reelection to the Columbia Board of Education. They're facing a challenge from one political newcomer, Dr. Keary Husain.

The Harrisburg Board of Education will also have a contested race, with four candidates for three seats. Two incumbents are running: Josh Byrd and Scott Eaton. The newcomers seeking to oust them are Seth Clatterbuck and Donald Moxley.

Four candidates are running in Ashland for the Southern Boone Board of Education. Incumbents Amy Begeman, Karen Bill and Chris Felmlee are hoping to keep their seats against challenger Jared Vredenberg. Three seats are up for election.

Meanwhile, in the New Franklin School District, no one filed to run for school board.

Voters in Columbia's Fifth Ward will also see a contested race, with Christina Hartman taking on incumbent Don Waterman.

Callaway County

Several school districts in Callaway County have contested races set for their April school board races.

The Jefferson City School District stretches into Callaway County. Those voters will see a crowded ballot of Cierra Griffin, Trent Vallandingham, Ryan Towner, Kris Scheperle, Michelle Rodemeyer, Gretchen Duckworth and James Kindred Sr. The election will remake nearly half of the seven-member board, with no incumbents running.

Four candidates are vying for three seats on the Fulton Board of Education, but only Connie Eperson is a current board member. Emily Omohundro, Joe Davis and Joe Bachmann are also seeking three-year terms on the board.

The New Bloomfield School District also has a contested school board race, with four candidates seeking three seats. Two incumbents, Angie Robinson Sullivan and Lance Martin, are seeking reelection against Bethany Walsh and Morgan Starnes.

The City of New Bloomfield also has a contested mayor's race. Mayor Gary Hoelscher is being challenged by Councilwoman Jessica Shaffer.

Audrain County

Several contested school board races will appear on ballots in Audrain County.

The biggest field is in the Community R-VI School District, where five candidates are running for three seats. Stephan Schafer is the only incumbent running. The other candidates are Ryan Knipfel, Chuck Sommer, Leslie Carter and Brent Raynor.

Four candidates are running for three seats in the Wellsville-Middletown district. Incumbent Clinetta Weinrich is seeking reelection. The other candidates are Chad Scholfield, Melissa Beabout and Katherine Taylor.

Van-Far School District voters will also see four names on their ballot seeking three seats. Three of the candidates are incumbents -- Jessica Reading, Mike Smith and Justin Hopke. Carol Schambach is also running for election.

Randolph County

Only one contested race originates in Randolph County -- a five-way race for three seats on the Higbee Board of Education. Three incumbents are seeking reelection: Susan Ware, Morgan Rockett and Ernie Boggs Jr. Lisa McGuire and Austin Messer are also seeking seats.

A contested race is also on for the Macon Board of Education, which affects a small portion of Randolph County.

Cooper County

Two Cooper County school districts will vote in heavily contested board of education races.

The Boonville School District has six candidates running for three seats on its board of education. The only incumbents seeking reelection are Emily Shikles and Ryan Rapp, meaning at least one seat will be filled by a new member. Others seeking election are William Donahue, Melinda Oswald, Alan Lammers and Bruce Drummond.

Five candidates in the Blackwater School District want board seats. Incumbents Austin Painter and Brad Bergeson are seeking reelection, meaning at least one seat will be filled by a newcomer. Others seeking election are Angela Harvey, Thaddeus Fisher and Kirby Rugen.

The Otterville Board of Education has the biggest field of candidates, with eight going for three seats. The candidates include incumbents Sean Main and Mark Blankenship. Other candidates are Craig Nau, Teni Northern, Jonathan Seifert, Candace Woodall, Dawn Johnson and Daniel Ewers.

Five candidates are running for two seats on the Prairie Home Board of Education. All three incumbents are running for reelection: Nathan Alpers, Klay Holliday and Dennis Toalson. Robert Brandes and Mary Jessica Kaiser hope to unseat two of them.

The Pilot Grove School District only has two registered candidates for three seats on its school board.

In Boonville, voters will pick from three candidates -- Morris Carter, Mike Conway, and Tanner Lee Bechtel -- for mayor. The city also has a two-way race for the city council's First Ward between Hallie Thompson and Steve Young.

Howard County

Howard County's April election is largely devoid of contested races.

One exception is for the 911 board, with a contested race in the Western District. Caitlyn Atwood, Debra Carmack and David Schaefer are seeking two board seats.

No one is seeking a seat on the New Franklin Board of Education, while small groups of Howard County voters will decide on members of the Higbee and Harrisburg school boards, which feature contested races.

Moniteau County

Voters across Moniteau County will be able to pick their representatives for the local school board this April.

Four candidates are running for three seats on the Jamestown Board of Education. One incumbent, Bryan Sedgwick, is joined on the ballot by David Shaul, Devin Baysinger and Gary Jones.

A crowded field is vying for the California Board of Education. Incumbents Tony Haile, David Cook and Jan Trachsel are looking for reelection while Matt Abernathy and Scott Jobe hope to join the board. Three seats are up for election.

Three incumbents are running in the Moniteau County R-V School District in Latham -- Sarah and Amanda Bolinger and Bobby Medlin. Lorrie Grimes hopes to prevail over one of them for the three available seats.

Miller County

The big race in Miller County is for the Eldon Board of Education.

Six candidates are running for three seats. All three incumbents -- Mike Holland, Linday Ahart and Jerry Kaibel- hope to keep their seats against Kelly Robinett, Taylor Bailey and Sara Rose Ollerich.

Three candidates are running for three seats in the Miller County R-III School District for just three seats, making an uncontested race.

The Village of Tuscumbia will also vote in two elections for the board of trustees.

Morgan County

There is no contested race in the Morgan County R-I Board of Education race. Three candidates are running for three seats.

However, many Morgan County residents will vote in school districts that are based in other counties.

Maries County

Maries County residents will vote in several contested school board races for districts that are based in other local counties.

Some voters will see a contested race for the Maries County Emergency Services Western District seat on the board of directors. Three candidates are running for two seats.

Montgomery County

Every ballot in Montgomery County will see a contested race for the health department's board of trustees. Four candidates are running for the three available seats.

The Northwest Fire Protection District board also has a contested race on the ballot with three candidates for two seats on its board of directors.

Camden County

School boards in Camdenton and Climax Springs have contested races on the April ballot.

Camdenton voters will choose among four candidates for three seats. The field includes the three incumbents, Troy Risner, Callie Henze and Shelley Creed. The challenger is Nancy Masterson.

In Climax Springs, the three incumbents, Shannon Hodges, Cody Noell and Ryan Williams, are seeking reelection against challengers Marilyn Emery and Maryellen Noland.

Contested races are also on the ballot for the Northwest Fire Protection District and Camdenton Ward 2 alderman.

Osage County

Voters in the Osage R-II School District will choose from five candidates for three school board seats.

Shawn Strong is the only incumbent running for the three seats up for election. Other candidates are Matthew McCoy, Mitchell Branson, Alfred Brandt and Jill Tschappier.

The field is even bigger in the Osage County R-III District, where seven candidates are vying for three seats. Three incumbents hope to keep their seats: D.J. Schroeder, Joyce Weber and Wayne Baumhoer. The four challengers are Casey Helton, Travis Massman, Karen Luebbering, Elizabeth Feltrop and Nicole Bax.

Voters in the City of Linn will also see contested races for mayor and alderman.