Contested races have opened up for voters in the April 2024 municipal and school board elections. The filing period closed at the end of the day on Tues. Dec. 26.

Two candidates have filed for an open seat in the Southwest Ward on the Fayette Board of Aldermen. Tristan Head and Lee Anna Shiflett have both filed for the seat. Incumbent Bekki Galloway declined to seek a second term.

Elsewhere in city politics, former Mayor Greg Stidham will assume office in April. He is the only candidate for the city’s highest office. Current mayor Jeremy Dawson will not seek re-election. Alderwomen Michelle Ishmael (Northwest Ward) and Ronda Gerlt (East Ward) will run unopposed. Both are finishing their first terms. 

A three-way race has developed for two Fayette Board of Education seats. As previously reported by the Advertiser, former Fayette teacher Lisa Shrum declared her candidacy early in the filing period. Brian Gose and Wes Friebe later filed, creating a three-way race. School board terms last three years.

Both incumbents, Matt Hudson (Board VP) and John Stroupe, did not seek re-election. Both served two consecutive terms.

Contested races will also appear on the ballots of Glasgow residents. Ousted Central Ward Alderwoman Renna Bean hopes to retake her seat after she was impeached on Nov. 1, 2023. She faces a challenge from Jeffrey Parks.

Voters will also decide a two-way race in the North Ward. Mike Carter is challenging incumbent Eric Monnig for the seat.

Jason Wright will run unopposed for the South Ward Seat. Incumbent Joey Gibbs did not seek another term. 

The Glasgow Board of Education will not hold an election. While neither incumbent filed for new terms, two newcomers will assume the seats in April. The new members will be Amber Monnig and John Stricker.

All three incumbents filed for new terms on the New Franklin city council. They are Rachel Hammers (Ward 1), Seth Hallowell (Ward 2), and Anthony Martin (Ward 3).

Likewise, in Franklin, city council incumbents Tammy Hundley-Wilkerson (Ward 1) and Tommy Howard (Ward 2) will both run unopposed. Mayor Teddy Townlain will also run unchallenged for another term.

New Franklin school board incumbents Kirk Wilmsmeyer and Alan Marshall will both serve new terms. Neither faces opposition.

Armstrong incumbents will face no opposition either. Mayor Jackie Kurtz, East Ward Alderman Christopher DeGraffenreid, and West Ward Alderman Korey Wood will all resume their seats following the election.

Three candidates will compete for two seats on the Harrisburg school board. Incumbents Bethann Rosson and Josh Stephenson will face challenger Don Malone.