County-level candidate filing opens this week

Filing for candidates in the August primary opens this week in the office of the Howell County Clerk located at 35 Court Square, West Plains. Candidates who wish to declare a candidacy for may file for office during regular business hours from Tuesday, February 24, at 8:00 a.m. until Tuesday, March 31, at 5:00 p.m.

 

Nine Howell County Offices are up for election this year. In recent years, Republican Party candidates have not been challenged other parties, and although outcomes are not legal until after November results, outcomes of local races have usually been decided in August primaries. 

 

Eight of the following office holders have been elected as Republicans. The ninth, Collector of Revenue Janet Crow, initially withdrew as a Republican candidate before re-filing, and subsequently being elected as an Independent.

 

Howell County Offices open for filing this week are:

 

Associate Circuit Judge – Division 2, incumbent: Melissa Stewart;

 

Associate Circuit Judge – Division 3, incumbent: R. David Ray;

 

Presiding Commissioner of the County Commission, incumbent: Ralph Riggs; 

 

County Clerk, incumbent: Kelly Waggoner;

 

Clerk of the Circuit Court, incumbent: Cynthia Lee;

 

Recorder of Deeds, incumbent: Jeff Braiser;

 

County Treasurer, incumbent: Nancy Franz;

 

Prosecuting Attorney, incumbent: Michael Hutchings; and

 

Collector of Revenue, incumbent: Janet Crow.