Filing deadline noon Tuesday

Deadline to file for positions on city and school governing boards is drawing near, noon Tuesday.
School candidates must file at the Allen County clerk’s office. Those seeking election to Humboldt and Iola councils must file at their city clerk’s office; all other city candidates may file either at the county or city clerks’ offices.
A number have filed, but several positions remain without candidates, County Clerk Sherrie Riebel said, also noting that this may be the last time for spring elections.
For several years efforts have surfaced in the Legislature to put all elections in the fall, partly as a means to save money. If that occurs, Riebel anticipates all elections will become partisan, meaning candidates will have to declare a party or file as an independent. It also likely would mean that all elections would move to even-numbered years, when fall elections are.
With this year’s elections, a primary will be on March 3 if more than two candidates file for one position. The general election will be April 7.

THREE OF five incumbents in Iola have filed for re-election to four-year terms, and a fourth, Councilman Bob Shaughnessy, Ward 2, announced this week he would file. Mayor Joel Wicoff has filed, as have councilmen Jonathan Wells, Ward 1, and Eugene Myrick, Ward 3. Steve French, representing Ward 4, told the Register previously he was “leaning toward running again.”
In Humboldt, Mayor Nobby Davis is seeking re-election, as are Vada Aikins, Ward 2, position 1, and Sunny Shreeve, Ward 2, position 2. Robert Lachenmaier has filed for Ward 1, position 1; Wayne Smith, the incumbent, announced he would not run, as did Joann Evens, Ward 1, position 2.
At Bassett, Mayor Larry Crawford and Councilwoman Carol Crawford have filed for re-election. Incumbents Connie Alexander, Mark Dozier and James and Sheryll Ratcliff have not.
Elsmore Mayor Clarence Loraine Price and five council incumbents have yet to file.
In Gas, Councilman George Grisier and Larry Robertson have filed; Jane Burns said she would not seek reelection to the council.
LaHarpe has races for mayor and two council positions. Mayor Cynthia Carr has not filed, but EllaMae Crowell, now on the council, and Lloyd Wayne Turner have filed for the position. Incumbent Savannah Flory had filed for the council, as have three not now on the governing body, Don F. Gay, Ronald Knavel Sr. and Danny Ware Jr.
No one has filed for mayor or five council positions in Mildred.
James Mueller, who lost a nail-bitter to Jerry Daniels in last November’s county commission race, has filed for re-election to the Moran Council. Gene Gardner has not, nor has long-term Mayor Phillip Merkel.
The slate in Savonburg also is bare, where a mayor and five council members will be elected.
Races with no candidates may be filled by write-in efforts.

THREE TRUSTEES will be elected for Allen Community College. Two incumbents, Spencer Ambler and Ken McGuffin, have filed, along with newcomer Mary Kay Heard. The third incumbent, Larry Manes, had not filed as of Wednesday.
In school races, only two incumbents in the three districts have filed; each has four openings.
Kris Smith filed for re-election to position 7 on the USD 256 board, while Doug Dunlap has filed for re-election to position 2 on the USD 257 board.
In Humboldt three non-incumbents have filed — Donald Hauser, Clayton Schoendaller and Briana Wilkerson — for the USD 258 board, where all members are elected at large. Incumbents are Joe Works, Curt Mueller, Sandra K. Whitaker and Helen Harrington.
USD 256 incumbents yet to file are Amanda Allen, position 1, John Booth, position 2, and Jim Armstrong, position 3. USD 257 incumbents yet to file are Don Snavely, position 1, Jack McFadden, position 3, and Mark Burris, position 7.

FINALLY, Allen County voters will decide two members for the Southwind Extension District No. 10 Board.
Southwind is made up of old Extension Service districts in Allen, Neosho and Bourbon counties.
Riebel said one or two people had indicated interest in the board positions, but none had filed. Same is true with school and city races, including one person who picked up three filing forms for USD 257.