As April Election Filing Period Grows Short, the List of Candidates Remains Short, Too

The filing period for the April 2021 election is growing short, and the list of those who have filed to run is short, too.

In Effingham County, those running for school board file with the County Clerk's office. So far, no one has filed in Beecher City Unit 20, Dieterich Unit 30, or Effingham Unit 40.

In Teutopolis Unit 50, Michael Ritchie, Brandon Pals, Erin Ordner and Courtney Tegeler have filed. Teutopolis has full terms and unexpired terms to fill.

In Altamont Unit 10, two people have filed, Dale Laue and Alan Shumaker. Both are currently serving on the Board. Scott Beal had filed for the Altamont board while waiting to get a ruling on whether he could still serve on the West Township board and serve on the school board. After he filed for the school board, State's Attorney Bryan Kibler got word from the State that Beal could not serve on both boards, and would have to give up the office on which he has served the longest. Not wanting to leave the township board, Beal withdrew as a candidate for the school board.

There are three seats to be filled on the Effingham Unit 40 board in April; those seats are now held by Steve Bone, Kathleen Smith and Angie Byers.

In other races, there are two seats to be filled on the Lake Land College Board of Trustees. The two incumbents, Gary Cadwell of Mode and Tom Wright of Dieterich, are the only two candidates to file so far.

There is also a seat to fill on the Effingham Park Board, and incumbent Ron Mietzner is not seeking re-election. St. Anthony Athletic Director Kevin Palmer is the only person to file for the seat at this point.

The filing period runs through Monday.

Township offices will also be filled in the April election.