Gasconade County Republican

Linda Baehr filed her notice of intent to seek a third term on the R-2 School District’s Board of Education late Tuesday afternoon, creating a three-way race.

Baehr, of Owensville, an incumbent currently serving her second three-year term, filed 15 minutes before the 5 p.m. filing deadline for the April 2 Municipal Election.  She will join Doug Dunlap, Owensville, and Tony Alvarez, Gerald, on the ballot.

Dunlap registered as a candidate on the afternoon of Jan. 9. Alvarez signed up on Monday morning.

As anticipated, Gary Pohlmann, currently president of the board, did not seek another term. Pohlmann had expressed his intent to serve two more years when he sought election in 2010 to fill the remainder of the unexpired term vacated by Chris Lenauer. Lenauer had resigned in mid-term to avoid any further potential conflict of interest over an obscure state law which prohibits school districts in smaller-class counties, with holdings in neighboring larger-class counties, from doing business with a business owned by a school board member.

In the city of Owensville’s election, each of the incumbents  will be unopposed on the April ballot.

Charles (Rob) Borgmann, Ward 2, and Bobbie Berger,  Ward 2, both filed as candidates in December.

City Administrator John Tracy on Tuesday checked with Missouri Municipal League officials and confirmed that even though neither candidates will be opposed, the city will still have to have them on a ballot. Tracy said proposed legislation allowing fourth-class cities to forego an election when candidates are unopposed was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon.