Local School Board Filings Start Tuesday

At 8 a.m. this morning school board candidates for Fort Zumwalt and Francis Howell can throw their hats into the ring.

Just like , filing for the two local school districts begin today. Starting at 8 a.m. and running until 5 p.m. today candidates can apply for the two open spots in each school district. The filing season runs until 5 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2012. The candidates will be filing for the April 3, 2012 General Election.

Francis Howell has two three-year terms due up for the election process. Current vice president Steve Johnson and Marty Hodits have reached the end of their terms.  

Potential candidates must do so in person at the Administration Building, 4545 Central School Road in St. Charles. Candidates can file 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Filing will not occur on days that the District's offices are closed due to inclement weather or on the following days when the District’s office are closed: Dec. 23, Dec. 26, and Jan. 2, and Jan. 16. 

Applicants may file for office beginning in the superintendent’s office by declaring their intent to become a candidate, in person and in writing, to the secretary of the Board.

According to the Francis Howell website, this year a lottery system will be used to determine ballot placement.

A lottery system for ballot order placement for first and last day filings will be utilized. The candidate shall draw a number at random at the time of filing. The names of the candidates filing on the first day will be listed in ascending order of the numbers drawn and ahead of the names of candidates filing on a later date. The names of candidates filing on the last day will be listed in descending order of the numbers drawn after the names of all candidates who have previously filed on an earlier date.

Potential candidates must be a United States citizen of at  24 years in age. Candidates must also be a taxpayer of the Francis Howell District an a resident of Missouri for one year prior to the election. Also potential candidates have to have never plead guilty or or nolo contendere nor been convicted of a felony, is not registered or required to be register as a sex offender, and has filed all required campaign disclosure reports for any previous elections.

For more information contact the superintendent's office at (636) 851-4026.

Fort Zumwalt will have two open spots as well. Mike MacCormack and Barbara Story are the current Board members who must file to retain their seats in the dais. In a , this year candidates will be running for six-year positions. 

Because of O'Fallon's O'Fallon is now considered an urban district. The change in designation means that Board members can serve, at most, two terms of six years. Legislation is currently being discussed that would allow Fort Zumwalt to revert back to the old system of three-year terms. Candidates are running for a six-year term but, if legislation passes, could it could go back to a three-year term.

To serve on the board a candidate must be a United States citizen, a voter in the Zumwalt District, a Missouri resident for at least one year prior to the election, at least 24, eligible to hold office in Missouri and not be a registered sex offender. 

Persons interested may file at the located at 110 Virgil Street in O’Fallon, Missouri. Filing begins at 8 a.m. and will continue during the district’s regular business hours—Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Filing will end on Jan. 17, 2012. The district offices will be closed on Dec. 23, Dec. 26, Dec. 27, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, and Jan. 2, as well as days that the district is closed due to inclement weather.