Candidates Have Filed For Several Upcoming Races

y ERIC X. VICCARO

eviccaro@stegenherald.com

Filing is now underway for elections across Ste. Genevieve County.

The first day for filing was Tuesday, Dec. 7, and several communities provided the Herald with updated information.

Ste. Genevieve R-II School District administrative assistant Keri Pfaff sent a Google document with those who have filed for two board of education openings.

Terry McDaniel and Richard Rudloff are the incumbents; but, neither has filed as of this press run of the Herald. McDaniel currently serves as the board secretary.

Jamie Ballew, Michael Stoll and Larry Pfaff have filed to run for the school board. Ballew was first to file at 8:02 a.m. on Dec. 7.

Stoll filed later that day, with Pfaff at 11:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8. 

Stoll has been vocal about the district on social media, mainly Facebook, discussing his views on how the district has handled the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. 

Both Ballew and Pfaff ran for board spots last year, but neither received enough votes. 

Board of education president David Bova received 617 votes, 29.75 percent. Geralyn Diesel was voted onto the board with 547 votes (26.37 percent). Ballew received 465 votes, Pfaff 403, Josh Carlisle 36 and six write-in votes. 

“Each position is for a three-year term,” Pfaff reported.

Ste. Genevieve city clerk Pam Meyer emailed the Herald on Thursday to let us know Bob Donovan has filed for Ward 2 and Joe Prince for Ward 4 in the upcoming aldermanic election.

Gary Smith is up for election in Ward 1, and Jeff Eydmann for Ward 3. Smith could neither confirm or deny he would run again for election when asked on Thursday evening.

Board of aldermen members serve two-year terms. Last election cycle in April 2021, there was only one contested race. 

Susie Johnson fended off Amie Dobbs in a Ward 1 race, 50-44. Johnson received 53.19 percent of the vote. Michael “Buck” Jokerst (Ward 2), Mike Raney (Ward 3) and Ashley Armbruster (Ward 4) all ran unopposed.

In St. Mary, there are three positions up for election: mayor, one spot in Ward 1 and one in Ward 2.

Carl Wyatt is the current mayor, with Ron Barnett representing Ward 1 and Annette Hacker in Ward 2. Wyatt typically provides police updates, Hacker fire department updates and Barnett street department during aldermanic meetings.

St. Mary collector Katrina Ullman ran unopposed last year, as did Dr. Zen Duda in Ward 2. Barnett’s most recent term was for one year.

St. Mary city manager David Woods said he’s surprised there have been no filings yet. 

“It’s first come, first-served on the ballot,” Woods noted. Cedar Street serves as the delineation between the pair of wards.

In Bloomsdale, Mayor Paul Monia, Ward 1 Alderwoman Monica Rozier and Ward 2 Alderman Brandon Shortt all ran unopposed in 2021.

There are two spots up for election in Bloomsdale this year, one seat in Ward 1 and one in Ward 2 – currently held by John Schweigert and Chris “Sappy” Basler, respectively.