Few file except in Peabody

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

By Monday’s filing deadline, 58 candidates had filed for 63 elected positions to be decided Nov. 4.

Peabody, embroiled in political strife for more than a year, is shaping up for hot campaign competition. Two candidates have filed for mayor and each seat.

Political acrimony began after a series of firings and resignations of city officials led to a dog catcher and convicted financial felon being appointed city clerk.

The clerk went missing under mysterious circumstances only two months later as state officials investigated the use of grant money under his supervision both in Peabody and his hometown of Mullinville.

Hiring decisions made by the council afterward included a police officer being hired while facing a police brutality lawsuit.

In some city races, candidates are the same faces as before or nobody chose to file.

Burns

Incumbent Mike Hammann filed for mayor.

Travis Bailey, Eugene Pearson, and Dillon Ryan filed for two council positions.

Durham

No filings for mayor or five council positions.

Florence

Incumbent Robert Gayle filed for mayor.

Jeanie Meirowsky and Calvin Pendergrass filed for ward 1 and 2 city council seats.

Goessel

Evan Esau filed for mayor.

Duane Adrian and Sam Griffin filed for two council positions.

Hillsboro

Incumbent Lou Thurston filed for mayor.

Blake Beye and Ronald Wilkins filed for ward 1 and 3 city council positions.

Lehigh

Scott Schultz filed for mayor.

April Gottwald filed for city council. Four other city council seats have no filers.

Lincolnville

Sherri Pankratz filed for mayor.

Cristina Peterson filed for one of two council seats.

Lost Springs

Nobody filed for mayor.

Laura Sowter filed for one of five council seats.

Marion

Incumbents Kevin Burkholder and Zach Collett filed for city council.

Peabody

Every seat on the Peabody ballot has competition. Kevin Burke and incumbent Catherine Weems filed for Peabody mayor.

Jennifer Bush, Randy Dallke, Beth Peter, and James Philpott filed for two city council positions. All are newcomers.

Ramona

Paul Alcorn and Arthur Stroda filed for three city council positions.

Tampa

No filings for three open city council positions.

Centre School Board

Adriane Richard filed for Position 4. Eric Carlson filed for Position 5. No filings for Position 6.

Peabody-Burns School Board

Hannah Bourbon, Teddy Dover, Lisa Hutto, and Mollie Partridge filed for three school board positions.

Marion School Board

Every seat on the ballot for Marion school board has competition.

Molly Guinn and Josh Housman filed for Position 4.

Alysha Haines and Roman Hofer filed for Position 5.

Jenna Meyerhoff and Amy Soyez filed for Position 6.

Hillsboro School Board

Jessey Hiebert, Sara Wichert, and Scott Winter filed for three school board positions.

Goessel School Board

Jim Schmidt and Mark Smith filed for Position 4.

Kelly Booton filed for Position 5 and Patrick Flaming filed for Position 6.

Eastshore Improvement District

Allen Albright, Brad Gorsuch, and Cliff Hodson filed for three positions.

County Lake Improvement District

Ed Burnett, Kathryn Shockley, and Greg Wyatt filed for three positions.

Pilsen Improvement District

No filings.

Chisholm Trail Extension District

William Fish and Brad Vannocker filed for two positions.

Cottonwood Valley Drainage Directors

Alan Hett, John Hett, and Darvin Markley filed for three positions.

Election dates

• Oct. 14 — Deadline to register or update voter registration.
• Oct. 15 — Advance voting begins.
• Oct. 28 — Advance in-person voting begins.
• Nov. 4 — General election. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Poll sites

Burns Community Center, 301 N. Washington.

John McKay American Legion Post 308, 401 Main St., Florence.

Goessel City Building, 101 S. Cedar.

Hillsboro United Methodist Church, 905 E. D St.

Lincolnville Community Center, 213 W. 6th St.

Eastmoor United Methodist Church, 105 Eastmoor Drive, Marion.

Peabody Senior Center, 106 N. Walnut.

Tampa Senior Center, 100 Main St.