Feb 21, 2008

Filing for the 2008 primary election will begin next Tuesday, Feb. 26. Filing will remain open through Tuesday, March 25. County offices that are up for election this year include county commissioners for Districts 1 and 2, sheriff, assessor, public administrator, coroner, surveyor, and recorder of deeds. This is the first time Douglas County will elect a county recorder as a separate office. Currently, the duties of county recorder of deeds is combined with that of the circuit clerk, but beginning Jan. 1, 2009, the two offices will be separate. The recorder elected this year will serve two years to put the office in the proper rotation. After that, the position will be elected for a four-year term. Officials to be elected at the state level in 2008 include governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, and attorney general. Also to be elected are members of the Missouri House of Representatives and representatives in Congress. Individuals filing for office next Tuesday will be required to have an affidavit completed and notarized stating that they owe no delinquent taxes. The Candidate Tax Affidavit Form is available online or may be picked up at the county clerk’s office in the courthouse. County Clerk Karry Davis emphasizes to potential candidates that the form must be completed and notarized before the individual can file as a candidate. The original affidavit must be filed with the Missouri Department of Revenue and a copy of the affidavit must be attached to the declaration of candidacy filed with the secretary of state or the local election official. The affidavit states that the candidate is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes or real property taxes on their place of residence as stated on their declaration of candidacy. It also states that they are not a past or present corporate officer of any motor vehicle and driver license contract office that owes any taxes to the state.