Filing for the August primary election officially opened Tuesday morning and the majority of Stone County office holders plan to seek office again.
Open positions include those of two associate circuit judges, circuit court clerk, prosecuting attorney, presiding commissioner, county clerk, county recorder, county treasurer, county collector, northern road commissioner and southern road commissioner.
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| Stone County presiding commissioner Dennis Wood |
Stone County Presiding Commissioner Dennis Wood will seek his second full term. Wood, has held the position for one term after he was appointed to serve out the remaining term of George Cutbirth, who resigned.
"I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished in Stone County in the last five years while I’ve been presiding commissioner, but there are still some things I’d love to see happen," he said. "I think we’re going to have some phenomenal growth in the next four years and I want to be a part of it."
The presiding commissioner, who is paid $38,4000 annually, works alongside the northern and southern commissioners. They oversee all county departments, set the county budget and is the decision-making body of the county.
David Stump Jr. has also said he will seek the office of presiding commissioner.
Stone County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Selby, who was elected to his position in 1999, will ask voters for a fifth term.
"I prosecute because I believe that as a prosecutor I have more opportunities to help people than in any other thing I could do as an attorney or as an elected official," he said. "I just have a lot more that I want to accomplish. Plus, I love my job and the opportunities to make a difference."
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| Matt Selby |
The prosecutor's office is responsible for handling all state criminal cases filed in the county. The position pays $132,272, according to the Stone County clerk’s office.
Circuit Court Clerk Debbie Scobee also plans to file for re-election. She was elected to her first term in 2012, but has been employed in the circuit clerk's office for almost 30 years. The position has an annual salary of $55, 088.
"I love my job," she said. "I find it really interesting. It’s one that’s never boring, but it’s challenging."
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| Debbie Scobee |
The circuit clerk maintains calenders for the court, some administrative duties and keeping the clerks up to date on new mandates and statutes.
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| Cindy Elmore |
Stone County Clerk Judy Berkstresser will not be seek re-election. Her deputy clerk Cindy Elmore, county commission assistant Denise Dickens and newcomer Matthew Carr have expressed interest in the position which pays $54,000 per year.
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| Denise Dickens |
Recorder Amy Larson, who has held her office for two terms, will also file for re-election. That salary also pays $54,000 annually.
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| Amy Larson |
"I just enjoy my job and I have lots of projects started I’d like to get the chance to finish," she said.
Treasurer Kristi Stephen is seeking her fifth term.
"I just love serving the citizens of the county,” she said."“I’ve always been sort of a service-oriented person. It’s a job that I dearly love and I feel I keep the office very accountable and very trustworthy."
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| Kristi Stephens |
Stephens was first elected in 1999. The position also pays a yearly salary of $54,000.
Collector Vicki May will seeking a fifth term as well.
The collector’s is responsible for property tax and distributing funds to the proper county entities.
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| Vicki May |
"Why wouldn’t I," she said when asked if she planned to run again. "I think things are going well in the county and I just enjoy working with the people."
According to the clerk’s office, the collector’s salary is $54,000.
Associate Circuit Judge Mark Stephens, who held the position for two terms and handles a mostly civil and juvenile docket, will ask voters to elect him to a third term. The position pays $116,858, according to the circuit clerk’s office.
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| Associate circuit court judge Mark Stephens |
Associate Circuit Judge Alan Blankenship, who handles criminal cases and drug and dwi court, will also seek re-election. That position also pays $116,858.
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| Associate circuit court judge Alan Blankenship |
Voters will also elect road commissioners for northern and southern Stone County. They meet twice a month and are paid a stipend of about $20 a month. James Gold and Stan Potter currently hold those positions respectively.
8 comments:
Would br great if the prosecutor and Alan Blankenship who appears to do whatever Selby wants him to were both voted out and maybe there would be a lot less corruption. Still have corrupt law enforcement and who knows if next prosecutor will be corrpt be not likely could hold a candle to the current one.
Seems strange that Judge Blankenship makes less per year than Matt Selby.Seems even more strange that Blankenship gets less than $117,000 per year while Selby makes over $132,000 per year. If both were good lawyers they could make a lot more per year but of course they have proven they are not.
Are there people running against them that we can vote for? If there are and when you find out please do post. Thanks
David stump would be large improvement!be like dudley do right.instead of the boss hog we have now!
People please vote get the buddy thing out of ur county thay all have been there to long its like there own play ground only thing there playing with lifes
Matt selby he puts the wrong people away for life he like is up on charges for putting a boy away for life and he new it was not him really1st degree. and new he had d n a and still put him and friend away for life ya life knowing he had the wrong guy then when he was over turned. he went got his evidence. and got right one and gave him a lesser charge why isn't he in jail. mayb he will buy his way out with the money we pay him to b cruped or mayb it will cost the county tax payers to pay his wrongs he ruins. lifes then wants us to pay just so he gets his conviction. rate high so we will think he's for the good he's for his pay and likes to b god with life for the pay sick stuffed
I would like to more about David Stump. The comment about BOSS HOG is so true. This man only cares about how he looks and not about the residents of the county. Dennis Wood needs to go!
I will have interviews with each of the candidates in the coming weeks.
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