The first day of filings for the Aug. 5 primary election produced races for both the Democratic and Republican nominations for Jefferson County executive, with four candidates signing up.
Besides the county executive job, by the end of the day Tuesday, there was one primary race for Jefferson County Council, one judicial primary race, and races for both the Democratic and Republican nominations for state representatives in districts 112 and 113.
Filings opened Tuesday and will close March 25. The general election will be held Nov. 4.
County executive
Political newcomer Gary Stout II of Festus and former county Presiding Commissioner Sam Rauls of Hillsboro filed for the Democratic Party’s nomination for county executive.
Mark Paul of Imperial filed for the Republican nomination, challenging fellow Republican Ken Waller, who filed for re-election on Tuesday.
Stout, 32, has worked in law enforcement for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for nine years and said he has been contemplating running for office for the last two years.
He said the fact that he lacks experience in politics is a positive.
“I’ve never run for political office,” he said. “I think what we need is people with real leadership skills. I don’t want to say that I’m more qualified than they are, but I think I have different ideas about how things should be run.”
Paul, 34, of Imperial is the Republican Imperial Township committeeman and works at a family business, H.L. Paul Distributing in Imperial. He is married and has two children.
He said he believes he can improve county government.
“I think we need leadership in this county, and I don’t think we have that currently,” Paul said. “Jefferson County is a beautiful county and we can do better than being known as the meth capital of the U.S.”
Rauls, 65, of Hillsboro retired three and a half years ago as executive director of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corp. He was appointed to serve on the Jefferson County Public Sewer District in July 2013.
From 1998 to 2002, Rauls served as Jefferson County presiding commissioner. He lost his bid for re-election to Republican Mark Mertens. Before that, Rauls served a decade as Jefferson County public administrator. Rauls ran for county treasurer in 2004, losing to Waller in the general election.
Waller was elected four years ago as the first county executive under the county’s recently instituted charter form of government. Before that, Waller was the county’s treasurer.
Waller announced his decision to run for re-election in May 2013 and Rauls announced earlier this month. Stout announced last week. Paul did not announce before Tuesday.
The county executive will be paid a salary of $79,169 next year.
County Council
Two Democrats filed for that party’s nomination for the District 3 County Council seat – Mike Evans and Charles Huey, both of Arnold.
Incumbent Bob Boyer of Arnold, a Republican, currently holds the seat and has filed for re-election.
In other election news, Republican Kelly Waymon of Dittmer said he’s not intending to file for another term as District 7 representative on the Jefferson County Council, while local businessman Steve Bergner, 37, of Ware filed Tuesday for the Republican nomination.
Waymon, 53, is wrapping up his first term on the council. Last year, he served as the council chairman but took his name out of consideration to lead the seven-member legislative body for this year.
He said he hasn’t decided yet his next political move, or if he has one.
“I’m trying not to rule anything out,” Waymon said. “There are lots of options. I want to see what develops.”
District 5 County Councilwoman Terri Kreitler of Festus also has announced that she will not seek re-election.
Other County Council filings on Tuesday included Don Bickowski of Eureka, the District 1 incumbent, and two filers for District 5 – Oscar James “Jim” Kasten of Herculaneum for the Democratic nomination and Jim Muellersman of Festus for the Republican nomination.
The salary for a County Council member in 2015 will be $10,710. Terms are four years.
Judges
Two Democrats have filed for Div. 10 associate circuit judge – John S. Appelbaum of Imperial and Joe Rathert of High Ridge.
Republican Darrell Missey of Fenton, the current Div. 10 associate circuit judge, has filed for Div. 2 circuit judge.
Gary Kramer, currently the Div. 2 circuit judge, has announced he will retire at the end of 2014.
Other judicial filings follow. Incumbents are denoted with an (I).
■ Div. 11 associate circuit judge – Democrat Ray Dickhaner of Arnold (I), Republican Brenda Stacey of Arnold.
■ Div. 12 associate circuit judge – Democrat Stephen D. Bouchard of Crystal City (I), Republican Antonio “Tony” Manansala of Dittmer.
■ Div. 13 associate circuit judge – Democrat Patricia Ann Riehl of Fenton (I).
■ Div. 14 associate circuit judge – Democrat Tim Miller of Festus (I).
■ Div. 15 associate circuit judge – Democrat Shannon R. Dougherty (I).
The salary for associate circuit judge is $116,858, while the circuit judge position pays $127,020.
Terms for circuit judges are six years, while an associate circuit judge serves four years.
State representative, senate
There will be races for both the Democratic and Republican nominations for District 112 state representative.
On the Democratic side, Robert W. Butler and Larry D. Steinkamp, both of Barnhart, filed Tuesday.
Rob Vescovo of Arnold, former Jefferson County Councilman Charles Groeteke of Barnhart and Avery Fortenberry of Barnhart filed for the Republican nomination.
Republican Paul Wieland of Imperial currently holds that seat and has filed for his party’s nomination for the 22nd District state Senate seat.
Two Democrats and two Republicans filed for the District 113 state representative primary election.
Democrats Sean Fauss of Arnold and Jefferson College board member Krystal Hargis of Arnold will seek their party’s nomination, and Republicans Dan Shaul of Imperial and Arnold City Councilman Jason Fulbright will run for theirs.
Democrat Jeff Roorda of Barnhart is the current District 113 rep and has filed for his party’s nomination for the 22nd District state Senate seat.
Other state representative filings include:
■ District 97 – Republican John McCaherty of High Ridge (I)
■ District 111 – Democrat Michael Frame of Eureka (I), Republican Shane Roden of Cedar Hill.
■ District 114 – Democrat T.J. McKenna of Festus (I), Republican Becky Ruth of Festus.
■ District 115 – Democrat Dan Darian of De Soto, Republican Elaine Freeman Gannon of De Soto (I).
■ District 118 – Democrat Ben Harris of Hillsboro (I), Republican Michael P. McGirl of Potosi.
The pay for a Missouri state representative or senator is $35,915 per year, a weekly allowance for miles traveled going to and returning from meetings and expenses for each day the General Assembly is in session.
State representatives serve two-year terms; state senators serve four years.
Other filings
A list of other candidates who filed on Tuesday follows.
Jefferson County offices (four-year terms)
■ Recorder of Deeds – Democrat Mike Bone of De Soto, Republican Debbie Dunnegan of Hillsboro (I). The salary for the recorder of deeds will be $79,169 next year.
■ County clerk – Democrat Wes Wagner of De Soto (I), Republican Jeremy A. Day of Imperial. (Salary, $79,169.)
■ Auditor – Democrat Dorothy Stafford of Festus (I). (Salary, $79,169.)
■ Collector of revenue – Democrat Beth Mahn of Hillsboro (I). (Salary, $79,169.)
■ Circuit clerk – Democrat Jeanette McKee of Hillsboro, Republican Mike Reuter of Imperial. Longtime Circuit Clerk Howard Wagner has announced he is retiring. (Salary, $69,000).
■ Prosecuting attorney – Democrat Forrest Wegge of Arnold (I). (Salary, $116,858).
Congressional (two-year terms)
■ District 2 U.S. representative – Republican Ann Wagner of Ballwin (I), Libertarian Bill Slantz of St. Charles.
■ District 8 U.S. representative – Democrat Barbara Stocker of Silva, Republican Jason Smith of Cape Girardeau (I), Constitution Party candidate Doug Enyart of Piedmont.
■ District 3 U.S. representative – Democrat Velma Steinman of Jefferson City, and Republicans John Morris of St. Peters, Leonard Steinman of Jefferson City and Blaine Luetkemeyer of St. Elizabeth (I).
U.S. congressional pay is $174,000, plus allowances.
Jefferson County central committees (two-year terms)
■ Democratic Central Township committeeman – Sam Rauls of Hillsboro (I).
■ Republican Joachim Township Committeeman – George Engelbach of Hillsboro (I).
■ Republican Joachim Township Committeewoman – Janet Engelbach of Hillsboro (I).
■ Republican Meramec Township Committeeman – Ken Holleberg of House Springs (I).
■ Republican Riverview Township Committeeman – Gerald Bollinger of Festus.
■ Republican Rock Township Committeeman – William Alter of High Ridge (I).
■ Republican Rock Township committeewoman – Angela Alter-Wren of High Ridge (I).
■ Republican Valle Township Committeewoman – Paulette Northcutt of De Soto (I).
Committee positions are unpaid.