Filing Period Opens for Spring Elections

The filing period for the April 2019 election is underway, and a number of individuals have filed for office.

One candidate for mayor and five for city commissioner were on hand at City Hall when the doors opened Monday morning. The candidate for mayor was incumbent Jeff Bloemker, who earlier announced plans to seek re-election.

The five candidates for commissioner included all four incumbents Don Althoff, Kevin Esker, Merv Gillenwater and Kevin Willis and former city employee Jayne Miller, who had indicated when she retired that she planned to run for a Council seat. 

A lottery will be necessary to determine ballot position for the five commissioner candidates.

Several individuals have filed for school board. That filing is taking place at the County Clerk's office.

Those who had filed early Monday morning include Alan Kollman and Amanda Lynn Miller in Altamont Unit 10, Lee Roadarmel in Beecher City Unit 20, and Danielle Kingery Harden, Jill Wendling, Robin Klosterman and Jane Willenborg in Effingham Unit 40. Of the four to file in Unit 40, Willenborg is the only person currently serving on the Board. Carol Ruffner, Jeff Michael and Todd Schaefer are the other incumbents.

Three people were on hand when the filing period opened for the Lake Land College Board of Trustees. 

The three included incumbent Dave Storm of Effingham as well as challengers Kevin L. Curtis of Mattoon and Denise Walk of Teutopolis. All three filed for one of two full six-year terms available. There is also an unexpired term to be filled.

The filing period continues through next Monday.

Election Day is April 2, 2019.