Potential candidates can file for open seats on school boards, city council and more Tuesday

The April 7, 2026, General Municipal Election is still several months away, but those interested in filing for open board seats for area school districts, city and village councils and other municipal boards should take note that the filing period opens next week and concludes at the end of this month. 

Filing is open from Tuesday, Dec. 9 - Tuesday, Dec. 30. Those filing for school board seats should note the school’s individual hours and dates, as many schools will be closed for an extended time for winter break. 

See official legal notices, placed by the schools, on page 10. 

Bakersfield School board

Four open seats - The Bakersfield School Board will have three open seats on its Board of Education for a term of three years each and one open seat for a term of one year. 

File in person at the Bakersfield School superintendent’s office, located in the FEMA building on the school campus, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9-19 when school is in session. Candidates can also file from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, the last day of the filing period. Other than that day, candidates should note that the school offices will be closed to the public Dec. 22 - Jan. 2, 2026 for winter break. The dates and times may be altered due to inclement weather. For more information, call Bakersfield School at 417-284-7333.

Dora School board

Three open seats - The Dora School Board will have three 3-year positions open on its school board. Those interested in filing can do so between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 9-19 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30. Dora school will be on winter break from Dec. 22 - Jan. 2, 2026.  

To find out more on how to file for the open school board positions, contact Superintendent Brett Mitchell during normal school business hours at 417-261-2337.

Gainesville School board

Three open seats -The Gainesville School Board will have three open positions available with three-year terms.  

Filing can be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays Dec. 9-18 in the superintendent’s office (located across High School Drive from the high school). On the first day of filing, the office will remain open until 5 p.m. and on the last day of filing, Dec. 30, the office will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. Filing will not occur on days that the school district’s central offices are closed due to inclement weather or during winter break, Dec. 19-29. Ballot order will be determined by the order of filing.

For more information, call the school at 417-679-4200. 

Lutie School board

Three open seats - The Lutie School board has three open board seats. Two of the seats are for 3-year terms, and one seat is for a 2-year term. 

Filing will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dec. 9-19. Except for the last day of the filing period, Dec. 30, filing will not occur on days that the school district’s offices are closed due to inclement weather or during winter break, Dec. 23-26. On Mondays, Dec. 22 and 29, filing is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and filing on the last day, Tuesday, Dec. 30, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m.

Those interested should file at the superintendent’s office located in the school’s main office. Enter through the elementary entrance. 

For more information, contact Superintendent Kathalee Cole at 417-273-4274. 

Thornfield School board 

Four open seats - The Thornfield School board has one 1-year term and  three 3-year term open. 

Filing is during regular school hours from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9 - 30 with the exception of inclement weather and during winter break Dec. 22 - 31. Appointments can be made by calling 417-543-0479 to file during that time.

Mark Twain School board

Three open seats - The Mark Twain School District will have three, 3-year terms open. Filing will occur during open school hours Dec. 9-30. To find out how to file for the open school board member positions, contact school Superintendent Joe Donley at Mark Twain School. For more information, call the school at 417-785-4323. 

Gainesville City Council

Mayor’s position and three open city council seats - The position of Gainesville mayor and three 2-year termed city council positions are coming open. The city council positions are one for each the west, east and center wards of the city. 

To qualify for the city council position, a person: must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States and an inhabitant and resident of the city for one year from the election date. They must also be a resident of the ward they are filing for (east, west or center) at the time of filing and during the term they serve. Call City Hall if you are unsure which ward you reside in. 

To qualify to file as mayor, a person must be 21, a citizen of the United States and a resident of the city at the time and for at least one year prior to the election date. 

Candidates should provide proof of identity such as social security card, Missouri driver’s license or must be recognizable to the City Clerk.

Those who are arrears for any unpaid city taxes or forfeiture are not eligible to be elected into the seat. 

Those interested in filing for the positions should file in person at City Hall (located on the north side of the Gainesville square). The filing hours are from 8 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9-Dec. 30 (Filing will be held open until 5 p.m. on the last day of filing). The office is not open on Saturdays and Sundays, or those days designated a holiday by the City of Gainesville.

Bakersfield Village

Three open seats - The Village of Bakersfield will have three open seats, each with two year terms, coming open. 

Filing will be held from 8 to 5 p.m. Dec. 9-30 during open hours. Those wishing to file a declaration of candidacy may do so at the Bakersfield City hall or by calling 417-284-7238 or 417-284-1626. 

Theodosia Village Council

Two open seats - There will be two open seats, each with a 2-year term, coming open on the Village of Theodosia board. 

Filing can be done from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9-30 at Village Hall. Filing will continue through 5 p.m. on the last day of filing, Dec. 30. 

Village Hall will be closed Dec. 24-25, and filing will not be completed on those days. 

For more information, call Theodosia Village Hall at 417-273-4830.

Theodosia water department

Two open seats - There are two open seats, each with a 3-year term, coming open on the Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Ozark County, which serves the Theodosia area. The seats coming open are those of current board members Bob Metzger and Rodney Frazier. 

The legal notice the organization has filed says that candidates can visit the district office, located at 85 Westwood, Theodosia, anytime from 8 a.m. Dec. 16, and 5 p.m. on January 20, 2026 to file. 

A member of the Board of Directors must be a registered voter who resides in the district, must have no delinquent taxes, must be at least 25 years of age and must have resided in the sub-district for at least one year prior to his or her election.