The Jefferson County Clerk seat has a three-way race within the Republican Party.
Steve Wyatt Earp, Jaclyn Riebold and Brent Myers are running on the Republican ballot.
Republican Jeannie Goff, who has served mainly as the second-in-command in the office for 35 years under five county clerks, opted not to run again after being elected as County Clerk in 2022.
One Democratic challenger, Tracy Johnson, runs unopposed in the Aug. 4 primary election. The winning Republican Party candidate will face off against Johnson in the November general election.
The county clerk is the county’s election authority as well as the keeper of county records. The office also issues liquor and solid waste licenses and administers notary public commissions.
The office pays a salary of approximately $86,000.
Earp, 50, of Hillsboro has worked in politics for 25 years as a consultant for many county elected officials, including the late Ken Waller, Cecelie Williams and Bill Lucas. He is the owner of Liberty Lawncare and Imperator Political Consulting Group. He has two adult children. Earp earned an associate degree in business administration from St. Louis Community College.
Riebold, 44 of Cedar Hill is employed in healthcare provider credentialing and insurance contracting. Riebold and her husband, Victor, have three children. Since April 2022, Riebold has worked as an election judge, and sitting on the verification board judge panel since April 2024. Since 2022, Riebold has volunteered in multiple roles with Faith Community Church. From 2021-2025, she served as the treasurer for Jeffco Patriots. She was a Sunday School teacher at Summit Church from 2017-2021 and an assistant Girl Scouts troop leader from 2017-2022. She managed various traveling soccer club teams from 2010-2020.
Myers, 46 of Hillsboro is a machinist at Browning Arms Co. in Arnold and is a small business owner. Myers and his wife Samantha have three children. Myers is a St. Pius X High School graduate and earned an associate degree in business management from Jefferson College. Since 2024, Myers has worked as an election judge, assistant supervisor judge and has served on the election verification board. Since 2023, Myers has served as a Republican Central Township Committeeman. He’s a member of Festus-Crystal City Elks Lodge #1721. From 1990 to 2024, Myers was a member of the Fort Hill Ramrods Muzzleloader Club. He helped organize the Developmental Disabilities Fishing Day from 2009 to 2013. He was on the Jefferson County Community Emergency Response Team from 2007 to 2018.
Why should voters elect you, and what are your goals if elected?
Earp: Jefferson County deserves a County Clerk with election experience, not someone learning on the job. For more than 25 years, I’ve worked in campaigns and elections, giving me a unique understanding of what it takes to conduct elections that are secure, accurate, transparent and trusted by the public. My priority will be protecting the integrity of our elections. I support maintaining our secure electronic tabulation system, which is never connected to the internet, thoroughly tested before every election, and produces fast, accurate results. I oppose expensive and error-prone hand counting, which would delay results and increase costs for taxpayers. My second goal is to make voting more convenient by expanding regional voting centers, so voters have flexibility in where they cast ballots while reducing costs for the county. This method has been effective in St. Francois County, instituted by Clerk Kevin Engler. I’ll continue advocating for stronger voter safeguards, including accurate voter registration rolls and requiring proof of citizenship for voting through identification issued by the state.
Riebold: I believe voters should choose me due to my experience currently serving in the county elections, as well as my professional experience. More over, I will be a public servant for all of the voters in Jefferson County and not biased based on political party. Every registered voter will know that their vote is their voice and their voice will be treated with absolute respect, dignity and professionalism. My goals are to build the public trust and increase voter turnout; that starts with educating the residents on the office, as well as being accessible and accountable.
Myers: I’m asking for your vote because I believe the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office should be led by someone with experience, integrity and a commitment to serving the public, not a politician. As an election judge, assistant supervisor judge, and member of the Jefferson County Election Verification Board, I understand how important it is to get every detail right. The Clerk’s Office conducts every election in Jefferson County, making it the most important office in our county. It plays a critical role in ensuring our elections are administered securely, accurately, transparently and with integrity. If elected, my goals are to conduct the most secure elections possible, ensure everyone involved in the election process meets the highest standards of honesty and integrity, and provide outstanding service to every resident. I will work every day to protect your vote, earn your trust and serve Jefferson County with professionalism, accountability and common-sense leadership.
How would you assess election security in Jefferson County and the state of Missouri?
Earp: Missouri has one of the strongest election systems in the country, and Jefferson County has a solid record of conducting secure, accurate elections. That doesn’t mean we should stop looking for ways to improve. Public confidence in elections is just as important as election security. I support keeping our voter registration rolls accurate by removing voters who have moved or died, continuing rigorous testing and auditing procedures, and advocating for state-issued identification that verifies U.S. citizenship for voting. I will not support replacing our secure electronic tabulation system with hand counting. With more than 160,000 registered voters in Jefferson County, hand counting would increase costs, require hundreds of additional workers, delay election results and introduce more opportunities for human error. My goal as County Clerk is straightforward: protect what works, improve where we can, and ensure every legal vote is counted accurately while maintaining the public’s confidence in our election system.
Riebold: I feel that in Jefferson County and the state, we have more secure elections compared to other states around the country. In Missouri, the paper ballot has been the official ballot since 2023 and we have our own versions of the SAVE Act already in place, with photo ID laws, paper ballots and absentee ballots only under certain circumstances. With our current systems of using electronic tabulators and hand-counted verification keeps a system of checks and balances that ensures the “official” election result can be trusted.
Myers: Jefferson County and Missouri have strong election laws compared to other states, bipartisan oversight, and multiple safeguards that help protect the integrity of our elections. However, no election system is stronger than the people responsible for carrying it out. Election security depends on honest, well-trained individuals who follow the law and are accountable to the public. As County Clerk, I will work to conduct the most secure, accurate and transparent elections possible. That includes ensuring election equipment is thoroughly tested, closely reviewing the security of our ballot scanners, verifying they are not connected to wireless networks during election operations, and following all established security procedures. I support strong training for election judges and strict adherence to election law. Secure elections begin with honest people, and I will lead the Clerk’s Office with the integrity, professionalism and accountability that the people of Jefferson County deserve.
How would you work to improve voter registration and participation?
Earp: My goal is to make it easier for every eligible citizen to register, vote and have confidence that their vote is counted accurately. Increasing participation isn’t about lowering standards — it’s about removing unnecessary barriers while protecting election integrity. I support expanding regional voting centers, so voters have greater flexibility in where they cast their ballots on Election Day. That makes voting more convenient for working families, seniors, and those with busy schedules while reducing taxpayer costs. The County Clerk’s office should be proactive in educating voters. Clear information about registration deadlines, polling locations, absentee voting, and election procedures should be available through our website, social media, and community outreach. We must maintain accurate voter registration rolls by removing records for deceased individuals and those who have moved away, while ensuring every eligible citizen can register. I will also continue advocating for state-issued identification that clearly verifies U.S. citizenship for voting.
Riebold: To help improve voter registration, I would like to collaborate with local schools and civic organizations to encourage residents to register and update their registrations. I think a great way of accomplishing this is to attend more community events like the Senior Expos, back-to-school rallies, college nights at high schools, etc. Regarding voter participation, this goes hand in hand with building trust; voters need to know that their votes are counted and kept secure. The more the voter trusts the process, the more they are willing to be engaged with the process. I would also like to explore working with the state legislators on state holidays for elections to allow working voters more time to report to the polls. In having state holidays, it can also allow the opportunity for more election judges to work at the polls.
Myers: I believe we should work with schools, community organizations and participate in local events to educate new voters about the registration and voting process. Some people choose not to vote because they feel their vote doesn’t matter or have concerns about the election process. By administering elections fairly, securely and transparently, and by communicating clearly with the public, we can help strengthen confidence in the integrity of elections. I believe greater public confidence encourages greater participation. Every eligible voter should have the opportunity to cast a ballot, and every voter should have confidence that their vote will be counted accurately, securely and fairly.
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