Deadline for candidates to file for city council and school board positions was Tuesday at 5 p.m.
There were some noteworthy developments near the deadline at both the City of Platte City, where there is a contested race for mayor, and at the City of Parkville, where three of the four incumbent aldermen will face opposition.
The municipal election will be held Tuesday, April 7.
At Platte City, where longtime incumbent mayor Frank Offutt recently announced he is retiring from elected office, there are two candidates seeking to be his replacement.
Offutt has served as mayor for a total of 16 years, from 1998 to 2002 and from 2008 to present. After Offutt recently announced his decision to step away, that prompted ward two alderman Tony Paolillo to switch his filing from alderman to mayor. Paolillo has served as ward two alderman since 2008.
Then on the final day of the filing period, David Sharp, president of the Platte City Chamber of Commerce, threw his hat in the ring, filing about 30 minutes before the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline. By coincidence, The Landmark walked in the City Hall door while Sharp was completing his filing paperwork.
Reached Tuesday evening, Paolillo said he is running because “I want to continue what previous boards have been doing and keep the city running as smoothly as possible.”
Paolillo then added the city is “on the verge of growing with the new subdivision (on the east side of I-29) and I want to make sure that we continue providing great service to the citizens of Platte City. We’re eventually going to be a larger town but I’d like to keep the small town feel.”
Meanwhile, Sharp, who has owned KCI Collision Center, described his reasons for running: “I chose to run for mayor to lead our city government, businesses, and community groups to support growth and innovative projects so Platte City remains a vibrant, healthy community keeping our city’s mission in mind of people, progress and quality.”
Sharp then added: “On a personal note, I grew up in Platte County, am a graduate of Platte City High School, have a child in the Platte County R-3 district, own a local business and firmly believe Platte City is a great place to call home.”
For alderman positions at Platte City, Troy Miller is running for Paolillo’s ward two alderman spot. James Everett, a current member of the board recently appointed after the resignation of Brad Fisher, is running in ward one. Incumbent Debbie Kirkpatrick is unopposed on the ballot in her bid for reelection in ward three.
At the City of Parkville, a flurry of activity as the deadline neared resulted in competition for three of the four incumbent aldermen who are up for re-election this year.
In ward one, incumbent Tina Welch faces opposition from Patricia S. Robinson.
In ward two, incumbent Dave Rittman is being challenged by Brett Krause.
In ward three, incumbent Robert Lock faces opposition from Doug Bias, Jr.
In ward four, incumbent Marc Sportsman will be unopposed.
Municipal judge Kevin Humiston is unopposed.