The opening day of filing for the Aug. 7 primary election was a busy one in Stoddard County as 14 people filed at the county clerk's office. Many of those filing were incumbents for county offices, and no one has filed to oppose them. One race that has generated a lot of interest is District 1 on the Stoddard County Commission. Five candidates (three Republicans and two Democrats) filed for District 1. Candidates at the state level also began filing in Jefferson City where redistricting has created a great deal of confusion.
The Secretary of State's office was also busy as many candidates for state offices filed opening day. Sen. Rob Mayer (R) and Associate Judge Stephen Mitchell (D) both filed for circuit judge in Judicial District 35 which includes Stoddard and Dunklin Counties. Bob Thrower (R) of Dexter has filed for State Representative in District 151 which includes all of Stoddard County. Meanwhile, Bob Parker of Raymondville, Mo. was the only one that had filed for District 8 in the US House of Representatives as of noon Tuesday. The incumbent is Jo Ann Emerson.
Senate District 25 drew a lot of interest with three candidates filing . Rep. Billy Pat Wright (R) of Dexter, Doug Libla (R) of Poplar Bluff and Terry Swinger (D) of Caruthersville all filed for Senate District 25 the first day. Libla was taken out of District 25 in the initial redistricting map, but placed back in a subsequent plan. That plan is in the public input phase and remains unresolved. Rep. Ellen Brandom (R) of Sikeston filed for senate in District 27. The first plan would have put her in the same district as Wright and Swinger. Also filing in District 27 was Wayne Wallingford (R) of Cape Girardeau. The new Senate boundaries can't be finalized until after a 15-day public comment period, and they also could be challenged in court. So in the meantime, the old boundaries remain in place, even though they are likely to be changed before the Aug. 7 primaries or the Nov. 6 general election.
Under Missouri law, ballot positions are decided by a drawing on opening day of filing. The ballot position after opening day is determined by the order in which the candidate files for an office. Following is a list of those that had filed as of noon Tuesday, by ballot position:
* District 1 Commissioner
Democrats
Kenneth Carney
Dale Moreland
Republicans
Jason Williams
Steve Jordan
Danny Talkington
* District 2 Commissioner
Carol Jarrell (R)
* Public Administrator - Pam Lape (D)
* County Treasurer - Carla Knowles Moore (D)
* County Sheriff - Carl Hefner (D)
* Liberty Township Committee Woman
Annis Fortner (D)
*Liberty Township Committee Man
Wayne Jean (R)
* Richland Township Committee Man
Danny Talkington (R)
* Castor Township Committee Woman
Francis Moore (D))
* Senate District 25
Billy Pat Wright (R)
Doug Libla (R)
Terry Swinger (D)
*House District 151
Bob Thrower (R)
* Judicial District 35 Circuit Judge
Rob Mayer (R)
Stephen Mitchell (D)