The local election is next Tuesday, April 8. Several of the candidates are running unopposed. Running unopposed for the California city offices are incumbent Ward I Alderman Joe Coffelt; Ward II Alderman candidate Bryan Lawson; and Ward III Alderwoman candidate Resa Dudley.
The City of California has two other issues on the ballot.
One question is "Should the Office of Collector for the City of California be changed from an elective office to an appointive office, beginning April 1, 2015?" The City Collector position no longer has any duties, since the tax collection duties were delegated to the Moniteau County Collector several years ago and other duties were spread among other city employees. The office, which now pays $10 a year, must be filled until officially eliminated by the voters.
The second question is whether a local Use Tax should be imposed at the current sales tax rate, whether it is later raised or lowered by voter approval. The current rate is 1.5 percent and the passage of this issue would tax purchases from out-of-state vendors, with the "use tax return" not required to be filed by anyone whose out-of-state vendor purchases do not exceed $2,000 in any calendar year. The California R-I School has, in addition to three seats up for election on the California School Board, a school improvement bond issue proposition.
The three school board seats are contested by a field of five candidates.
Candidates are Craig Ash, Andrew Korte, Kerri Tuttle, Philip Burger and Joe Kirby. Ash is the only incumbent running in this election. Each school board candidate was asked to respond to the same questions: 1) What experience do you feel qualifies you as a school board member? 2) Are there specific issues you would like the board to address? and 3) Why are you running for this office?