The filing deadline for April 4 municipal elections closed Jan. 17, and no candidates filed on many of the races on several area towns' ballots.
For positions where no candidate filed, the office will go to the write-in candidate with the most votes for each race.
Clarksburg had the most vacancies on the list; no one filed for the offices of mayor, North Ward alderman or South Ward alderman.
Jamestown also is looking for a mayor for the next two years, but no candidate filed for the job.
Even the city of Tipton did not escape the "no filing" problem; no one filed for the West Ward alderman seat.
Candidates filing for office were:
Tipton
Mayor: Incumbent Jennifer Cary will face challenger John Hineman.
East Ward alderman, a two-year term: Don Basinger.
City marshal, a four-year term: Incumbent Edward Wiecken.
City collector, a four-year term: Incumbent Marna Williams.
California
Mayor: Incumbent Norris G. Gerhart will face challenger Charlie Roll.
Ward 1 alderman, a two-year term: Incumbent Ron Baker.
Ward 2 alderman, a two-year term: Incumbent Darryl Elliott.
Ward 3 alderman, a two-year term: Lanny Ash has filed for the seat being vacated by Carol Rackers.
Lupus
Mayor: Dyno Don Perry.
City clerk: James Denny.
Street commissioner: Sue Denny.
Constable: Mike Carraher.
Board member: Chrissy Fischer.
School boards
California R-I School Board: Four candidates will be on the ballot for three seats on the ballot. Filed for the three-year terms are: incumbents Craig Ash, Philip Burger and Joe Kirby, and challenger Michael Irey.
Tipton R-6 School Board: Seven candidates will seek three seats on the ballot. The candidates are: Clinton (Clint) C. Miller, Sarah Bestgen, Nancy L. Bookout, Jason Hays, Patsy Reed, Kent Fischer and Craig Wolf.
Latham R-5 School Board: Five candidates are vying for three seats in April. Seeking the three three-year terms are: Morgan Fulks, Donna A. Higgins, Amanda Bollinger, Bobby D. Medlin and Delton Rissler.
Prairie Home R-5 School Board: Two candidates are seeking three, three-year seats on the ballot. The candidates are: Tammy Brandes and Marsha Stewart; the third seat will be filled by a write-in vote.
Ballot issues
One city and one school district have ballot issues to be put before the voters on April 4.
City of Clarksburg Proposition A: Shall the city of Clarksburg impose a business tax on all electric, gas, telecommunication, internet, cable and other public utilities doing business in the city equal to 6 percent of annual gross receipts?
Cole County R-1 School District Proposition A: Shall the Board of Education of the Cole County R-I School District, Missouri, be authorized to increase the operating tax levy ceiling to $3.76 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation in order to provide additional funds to better maintain its facilities, to hire and retain qualified staff, and to meet other operating needs of the District?
(If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the School District is estimated to increase by $0.50 from $3.2612, currently, to $3.76 per $100 of assessed valuation of the 2017 tax year and will be applied to the assessed valuation for each year thereafter.)
Cole County R-1 School District Proposition Care: Shall the Board of Education of the Cole County R-I School District, without an estimated increase in the current debt service property tax levy, issue $2 million of general obligation bonds for the purpose of providing funds to improve district facilities including, without limitation, the re-cabling of the technology network at both buildings and construction of separate server rooms; renovation of the elementary cafeteria and roof replacement; remodeling restrooms at the elementary and high school; construction of a handicapped ramp in the elementary school hallway; completion of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system improvements to the elementary school; and to the extent funds are available, complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the district? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the school district is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.9500 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property.