Candidates file for Aug. 4 Primary

There are six local county office positions that will be up for election during this year’s Aug. 4 Primary Election. They are prosecuting attorney, circuit clerk/recorder, presiding commissioner, county clerk, collector and treasurer. 

The filling period for those who wish to file as candidates for the respective offices opened Tuesday and will continue through 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. To file, visit the Ozark County Clerk’s office on the main floor of the Ozark County Courthouse. For more information, contact the clerk’s office during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 417-679-3516.

Local residents will also find races on the ballot for Ozark County Associate Judge,  committeeman and committeewoman, state auditor, 155th district state representative and district 8 U.S. representative. 

The following list shows the Ozark County offices that are up for election in 2026 along with a short description of job duties, estimated salaries and who holds the current position. 

Please note that this list was prepared as a courtesy to prospective candidates and to the public. Candidates are responsible for researching the full requirements and responsibilities of the particular office they seek. 

Presiding Commissioner 

(4-year term)

Job description: leads weekly Ozark County Commission meetings, establishes county policy, approves and adopts county operational budgets, approves actual county expenditures, ensures county compliance with statutory requirements and acts as a liaison to other offices and agencies, oversees county buildings and infrastructure. 

Salary: $31,797.60

Position currently held by: Terry Newton, Republican

County Clerk 

(4-year term)

Job description: takes and maintains the permanent record of the Ozark County commissioners meetings and other commission business, serves as the election authority for Ozark County, handles voter registration and supervises elections, oversees human resources and payroll for the county. 

Salary: $44,776.56

Position currently held by: Brian Wise, Republican

County Collector 

(4-year term)

Job description: collects taxes due from residents in compliance with assessor’s records, oversees the collection of personal and real estate taxes for various taxing entities in the county, prepares separate tax statements for personal property (cars, trucks, boats, etc…) and real estate (residential, commercial, agricultural), conducts delinquent tax sale. 

Salary: $44,776.56

Position currently held by: Darla Sullivan, Republican

County Treasurer 

(4-year term)

Job description: receives, distributes and invests funds for the county, balances the financial books for the county and ensures all money is correctly accounted for and in separate funds as required by Missouri law, maintains records for grants and reimbursements held by Ozark County. 

Salary: $44,776.56

Position currently held by: Christy Thompson, Republican

Circuit Clerk/ Recorder of Deeds 

(4-year term)

Job description: Circuit Clerk: conducts clerk duties for the civil, domestic relations, criminal, juvenile and probate courts, maintains a record of all required proceedings within the court system, prepares dockets for court hearings, prepares and files summons, warrants, orders, judgements and injunctions authorized by the court. Recorder: records documents for the county and county residents including marriages, deeds, plat books, birth and death records, divorces, mortgages, liens and other orders and instruments which involve property within the county. 

Salary: $70,565

Position currently held by: Jackie Smith, Republican

Prosecuting Attorney 

(4-year term)

Job description: representing the state in criminal matters, acts as the representative for the county in civil matters, negotiates plea deals, works with law enforcement to build cases, manages case dockets from arraignment to final disposition for misdemeanor and felony cases and serves as a part of various special assignments including Ozark County treatment court. 

Salary: $166,154

Position currently held by: Lee Pipkins, Republican

Ozark County Associate Judge 

(4-year term)

Job description: hear and determine certain cases or classes of cases specified by law. All criminal misdemeanors and infractions are heard and decided by the associate circuit judge. In felony criminal cases, the associate circuit judge conducts a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to find that a felony has been committed and that the defendant committed it. If probable cause is found, the defendant is “bound over” to the circuit court. Associate circuit judges also may hear civil cases. 

Salary: $166,154

Position currently held by: Raymond Gross, Republican

Committeeman and 

Committeewoman

Job description: Each established political party in the state is required to maintain various committees. At the county level, each township is represented by one man and one woman. In Ozark County, in recent years, the Republican party has had the only established political committee. According to committee bylaws for the Ozark County Republican Committee, “The purpose of the county committee shall be to foster loyalty to the Republican Party, to promote its principles and to recruit, assist and elect Republican candidates.” Members are required to attend local meetings and may also be called upon to participate in special meetings. In some cases, when contacted by the governor’s office, the committee may be asked to make recommendations to fill county-level offices that have been unexpectedly vacated. A detailed description of the committees can be found in Missouri Election Law Statutes beginning at Section 115.603.

Salary: This is an unpaid, political party position.

State and federal offices

 up for election in Primary

State and federal offices to be voted on in the August primary include 

• State auditor, currently held by Scott Fitzpatrick (R);

• U.S. House of Representative District 8 seat currently held by Jason Smith (R); 

• Missouri House of Representatives District 155 seat currently held by Matthew Overcast (R). 

Candidates wishing to run for those state or federal positions should file with the Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in Jefferson City before 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. 

For more information

The last day to register to vote in the Primary Election is July 8.

For more information on registering to vote, filing for these offices in the Primary Election or any other election information, call the Ozark County Clerk’s Office at 417-679-3516 or stop by their office on the main floor of the Ozark County Courthouse.

Candidates who are interested in advertising in future editions of the Ozark County Times can contact Ad Manager Jenny Yarger at jenny@ozarkcountytimes.com.