Sheriff, coroner, commissioner races to be contested in primary

The Stoddard County primary election ballot is taking shape. The filing period for candidates started at 8 a.m. Tuesday and ends at 5 p.m. March 26. Candidate filing is held in the Stoddard County Clerk’s Office, 401 S. Prairie, Bloomfield.

Candidates who file on the first day by 5 p.m. select a number by random drawing. The number drawn determines primary ballot placement.

“After the first day, candidates are placed on the ballot in the order of their filing,” explained Stoddard County Clerk Cecil Weeks.

Candidates must submit a written declaration containing full name, address, proposed office and party ticket in person or certified mail.

The primary election is to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Stoddard County voter turn out was 36% in 2020’s primary election. Stoddard County has approximately 19,300 registered voters.

The following contains Stoddard County Office candidates currently on the primary ballot as of 5 p.m. Thursday:

Public administrator: Lorrie Duckworth-R

Sheriff: Thomas Forkum-R, Carl Hefner-R

Collector/treasurer: Josh Speakman-R

Coroner: Brent Stidham-R, Charlie Robertson-R

Commissioner District 1: C.D. Stewart-R

Commissioner District 2: Wes Howard-R, Carol Jarrell-R, Jeff Riddle-R

Assessor: Jacob Clary-R

Committee Man

Liberty: Wayne Jean-R, Chenoa (Noah) Burns-D

Pike: Bill Knoderer-R, Michael Moroni-D

New Lisbon: Eldon Evans-R

No candidates filed for Richland, Castor, Elk and Duck Creek townships

Committee Woman

Liberty: Ethleen Montgomery-R

No candidates filed for Richland, Pike, New Lisbon, Castor, Elk and Duck Creek townships.