Filing closed Dec. 30 for the April 7, 2026, municipal elections. As of the Saint James Press’s deadline, the St. James Ward 4 Alderman seat with a one-year term did not have a declared candidate.

Seats that will be on the April ballot include five alderman positions with varied terms, three Board of Education seats, two openings on the St. James Fire Protection District of Phelps County and two openings on the Ambulance Board of Directors. 

Aldermen Steve Hutchcraft filed at 7:35 a.m. for Ward 4, followed by Tyler Wagnon at 4:20 p.m. for Ward 1 on Dec. 9 at City Hall. 

Recently appointed to the unfulfilled position vacated by Scott Coleman, Hutchcraft will vacate his current unfulfilled one-year term and has declared for the two-year term. 

Seats in Ward 2, Ward 3, and Ward 4 (one-year term) are open with no declared candidates.

In Ward 2, a two-year term is currently held by Mark Gray. Ward 3 has a seat with a two-year term held by Isaiah Wills.

The St. James R-1 Board of Education has three seats, each with a three-year term.

Jessica Roy filed at 8:45 a.m., and incumbent Wes Gahr filed at 11:25 a.m., on Dec. 19 at the District’s Central Office.

Previously, on Dec. 9, Kendra Swee and incumbent Melanie Davis declared their candidacy

The three board of education seats are currently held by Davis, Gahr and Jon Rapp.

Candidates who wish to serve on the school board must be tax-paying residents of the district. In order to run for office, a candidate must be 24 years old, a U.S. citizen, reside in Missouri, and the district for one year. Those qualified should file in person with the board secretary at 122 E. Scioto Street, St. James.

The names of qualified candidates shall be placed on the ballot in order of filing, except for candidates who file a declaration before 5 p.m. on the first day, in which case names will be drawn randomly to determine the order they are listed on the ballot.

St. James Ambulance District Board of Directors has two positions available, each with a three-year term. Seats are currently held by Tammy Yamnitz for Sub-district No. 3 and Jennifer Rabenau for Sub-district No. 6. Yamnitz and Rabenau re-filed on Dec. 19. EMS Chief Jennifer Parrett said that Dec. 8 to Dec. 22 were dedicated days where individuals could come in to file without an appointment. After Dec. 22, filing was available by appointment only.

St. James Fire Protection District of Phelps County has two Board of Directors seats open.

Larry Rinehart filed on Dec. 9 for one of two board of directors seats. The second seat will be available for write-in candidacy.

Board director seats serve six-year terms, and candidates must be a voter of the district for at least one year before the election. 

Candidates must be over 25 years old.

Declarations of candidacy can be filed at 903 N. Jefferson St, St. James. There will be a $10 fee, and filing a statement under oath that such a person possesses the required qualifications. Any filing that took place after the Saint James Press’s deadline will be reported in the Jan. 7 edition.