Only One Contested Race On April 6 Ballot In Ripley County

The filing deadline passed Tuesday for the April 6 election leaving only one contested race in Ripley County.

Voters in the Lone Star R-IV School District will decide among three candidates for two positions on the school board. Those filing were incumbent Dennis Meyers, Justin Beckwith and Vera Dickson. Current board member Dan Dickson did not file.

Doniphan R-I, Naylor R-II and Gatewood R-III will not have school board elections in April. Each district had two candidates file for two expiring board positions.

At Doniphan, incumbent Katie Friend and former board member David Maple are unopposed. Current board president Keith Elliott chose not to seek another term.

At Naylor, current board members Linda Lunsford and Jeff Sullivan will receive new three-year terms.

At Gatewood, incumbents Craig Combs and Tiffany Smith will have new three-year terms.

The City of Doniphan will have a new alderman for Ward One. Denver Jackson II is unopposed for the position currently held by Jerry Cole. Cole did not file for anothter term.

In Ward II, incumbent Steve Collins is unopposed in his bid for another two-year term as alderman.

Mark Rodgers is unopposed for another four-year term as city marshal.

At Naylor, two aldermen will have expiring terms in April. Linda Jo Lunsford and Robert Miller both have filed for re-election.

Both incumbents facing expiring terms on the Ripley County Ambulance District board are unopposed for new terms. They include Malissa Bradshaw in Sub-District 3 and Tommye Garrett in Sub-District 6.

In Ripley County Public Water District One, Mark Thompson is unopposed in Sub-District 1.

In Ripley County Public Water District Two, no candidates filed for the expiring position in Sub-District 3. A new representative will be appointed by the board. In Sub-District 4, James Akers filed to retain his seat on the board.

Several county road district commissioner positions will be unopposed as well.

Candidates include Ron Barnett, Doniphan Special Road District; Billy Howard, Jordan District; Gary Woolard, Naylor Special Road District; Tom Hart, Pine-Bardley District; Jack Kernodle (three-year term) and Bryan Murdock (one-year unexpired term), Ponder-Gatewood District; and Brittany Sullivan, Purman District.