Candidates file for Aug. 4 primary election
Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise, far right, passed out paperwork Tuesday to candidates filing for county positions that are up for election in the Aug. 4 primary. These candidates were at the clerk's office at 8 a.m. when filing opened: (from left) Christy Thompson, incumbent candidate for treasurer; Jama Berry, incumbent candidate for assessor; Ozark County Deputy Cpl. Curtis Dobbs, who filed for sheriff; and Layne Nance, who filed for western district commissioner. Filing continues through March 31.
Filing for the Aug. 4 primary election opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will continue through March 31.
Candidates can file for office by filling out the candidacy paperwork at the Ozark County Clerk’s office on the main floor of the courthouse.
According to the Missouri Secretary of State’s website, candidates who file for the primary election on the first day of filing select a number by random drawing, and that number determines the order in which the candidates’ names will appear on the primary ballot.
After the first day and through the rest of the filing period, which continues until 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, candidates’ names are placed on the ballot “in the order of their filing,” according to the website.
At noon on Tuesday, these candidates had officially filed for positions:
Assessor: Jama Berry, Jennifer Cole.
Western District Commissioner: Layne Nance.
Eastern District Commissioner: Gary Lee Collins.
Coroner: Gene Britt.
Public Administrator: Melinda Abraham.
Sheriff: Curtis Dobbs, Cass Martin.
Surveyor: No candidates have filed yet.
Treasurer: Christy Thompson.
Current Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed told the Times he has decided not to run for Missouri House 155th District representative. Reed had announced his candidacy for the seat in November, but he told the Times Monday that he has had some health issues arise that will need attention this summer, so he has decided not to run.
Qualification and salaries
Missouri law specifies that a county office candidate must meet these “general qualifications”:
• Citizen of the United States
• Residents of the state for one year preceding election
• Registered Missouri voter
• Is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence as stated in declaration of candidacy
• Is not a past or present corporate officer of any free office that owes any taxes to the state
• Has not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under federal or state law
This list shows the Ozark County offices that are up for election in 2020, along with additional specific qualifications for that office, as well as the estimated salaries. Salary information was provide by the Ozark County Clerk’s office.
• Assessor - Salary: $38,000. Qualification: Ozark County citizen.
• Western District Commissioner- Salary: $25,000. Qualification: Resident of the western district of Ozark County.
• Eastern District Commissioner - Salary: $25,000. Qualification: Resident of eastern district of Ozark County.
• Coroner: Salary: $11,000. Qualifications: At least 21 years old, citizen of Ozark County for six months preceding the election.
• Public Administrator: Salary: $38,000. Qualification: At least 21 years old, must provide a copy of a signed affidavit from a surety company indicating the candidate meets bond requirements.
• Sheriff - Salary: $42,000. Qualification: No felony convictions, capable of efficient law enforcement and has a valid peace officer license.
• Surveyor - Salary: Paid as needed. Qualification: At least 21 years old, registered land surveyor, must have resided in Ozark County for six months immediately prior to election and must continue to reside in Ozark County while serving as surveyor.
• Treasurer (unexpired term of Phyllis Turner, who died in office) - Salary: $38,000. Qualification: At least 21 years old, must provide a copy of a signed affidavit from a surety company indicating the candidate meets bond requirements.
The state positions listed below, along with the positions of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general and representatives for each congressional district, are also up for election in 2020. We’ve provided salary and qualification information for the 44th District Circuit Judge, 155th District State Representative and 33rd District Senate because some local residents currently hold the positions or have indicated that they intend to file for the positions.
• 44th Circuit Judge - Salary: $127,000. Qualification: At least 30 years old, licensed to practice law within Missouri, a U.S. citizen for at least 10 years, a qualified voter of the state for three years preceding selection and a resident of the circuit in which the judge serves for at least one year.
• 155th District State Representative - Salary: $35,915 plus per diem (each representative is reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses in an amount equal to 80 percent of the federal per diem established by the IRS for Jefferson City for each day he/she is present as a senator or representative). Qualifications: At least 24 years old, must have been a voter in Missouri for two years and a resident of the district for one year.
• 33rd District Senator - Salary: $35,915 plus per diem (same as state representative, above). Qualifications: At least 30 years old at the time of the election, must have been a Missouri voter for three years and a resident of the district for one year.