Filing closed Dec. 30 for the April 7, 2026, municipal elections. 

Several candidates have declared for open seats that will be on the April ballot, including 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. 

Alderman Mark Gray filed at 1:40 p.m. on Dec. 29 in Ward 2 to retain his seat.

Filing on Dec. 30 were Marcie Wilson at 8:45 a.m. for the one-year term in Ward 4; Margaret Kirgan Roberts filed at 10:36 a.m. for Ward 3; and Keith Livingstone at 1:20 p.m. for Ward 2. 

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 declared intentions to run for the two-year term.

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.

Linda Wischow filed at 4:10 p.m. on Dec. 30, joining Dec. 19 filers Jessica Roy, who declared at 8:45 a.m., and incumbent Wes Gahr filed at 11:25 a.m., 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.​

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.

Jeff Davis, Marcy Scott and John Money on Dec. 30 filed for board of director seats.

Larry Rinehart filed on Dec. 9.

Members of the board of directors 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.