As was expected, Platte City Mayor Frank Offutt announced Tuesday night that he will seek a third term in office, and other filings are trickling in for the city and school election to be held in April.
Offutt’s name had been mentioned as a possible candidate for county office later this year. He says he was flattered to have been approached, but he prefers city office.
“My base interest remains as a hometown boy. I would like to see the CIP (Capital Improvement Program) through and see each phase become more successful than the last and right now we’re starting to see the fruits of that. Therefore, I do intend to re-file for mayor in the upcoming election,” Offutt said at a Tuesday night meeting of the board of aldermen. Offutt will have at least one opponent—Dave Brooks, who currently serves as a Ward 1 alderman. Brooks filed a few weeks ago.
There will also be a race for Ward 3 alderman, where incumbent John Kurtz will seek reelection. Gary Brown has also filed for the post.
Bill Knighton has filed for the Ward 1 spot currently held by Brooks.
At Weston, there will be a race for Ward 1 alderman, where incumbent Joyce Priddy will be challenged by Rod Ables. Meanwhile, incumbent John Collier is the only candidate to file thus far for the Ward 2 post that is open.
At Dearborn, Steve Sellars has filed for mayor. Incumbent Mayor Kent Hott has not yet filed. Other spots open at Dearborn include a Ward 1 alderman post currently held by Donald Swanstone, Jr., an unexpired Ward 1 spot that is currently vacant; and a Ward 2 post held by Frank Downing. There have been no filings for any of the alderman spots.
SCHOOL BOARD FILINGS PLATTE COUNTY R-3: The three incumbents—Carey Rolofson, Scott Henson and Dave Holland—have all signed up to run for the trio of three-year spots that are open.
In addition, R-3 has a one-year term on the board open, which will be vacated by Tammy Glick in the spring. Glick says she’ll resign to concentrate on her candidacy for Platte County Prosecutor.
There have been three persons file for the one-year term: Jeff Hayes, Dorothy Bridger and Karen Wagoner.
WEST PLATTE: There have been four candidates file for a trio of three-year terms available. They are Teresa Kincaid Bing, Patrick E. Roberts, Lynn Van Amburg, and Donald R. Wilson.
Also, West Platte has a one-year term open, a seat to which Van Amburg was recently appointed. Bill Taylor has filed to seek the one-year term.
NORTH PLATTE: Jimmy Paden has filed to seek reelection to the board. Other seats open are those currently held by Marty Richardson and the unexpired term of Diana Blankenship, whose term was recently filled with the appointment of Don Boyer. Paden is the only candidate to file thus far.
Filing deadline for all city and school positions is next Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.

