While normally held the first Tuesday of April, the 2020 Municipal Election fell victim to the coronavirus. With social distancing requirements put into place in late March, there was not enough time to prepare safe polling places.

The election was postponed to June 2.

Gerald voters will return to the St. Gerald’s Catholic Church hall to cast their ballots in June. County Clerk Tim Baker is preparing his staff on ways to maintain safe polling places. Election judges will be provided masks and Plexiglass guards will be in place.

Voters in Ward 1 will choose between Stephen M. Grgurich, 294 E. Springfield Ave, or Bradley G Landwehr, 1216 S Bernhardt,  for their representative on the city council. Incumbent Ruth Haase has chosen not to run.

In Ward 2, Ed Adams, 642 Scrivner St., the incumbent, will be the only name on the ballot for that race.

Voters in both wards will be asked if they wish to continue a 1 percent city sales tax for another five years. Money from this tax can only be used for street improvements.

The ballot language is this:

PROPOSITION ONE (Simple Majority)

Shall the City of Gerald continue to impose a city sales tax of one  percent (1%) for a period of five (5) tax years, beginning January 1, 2021 and ending, or “sunsetting,” December 31, 2025 for the purpose of maintaining, improving, designing, and constructing public streets of the City of Gerald?

If approved, the fiscal impact of this measure will be to generate approximately $113,700 annually for the years 2021 through 2025, used to maintain, improve, design, and construct public streets; enabling the City of Gerald to maintain the reduced property tax of $.9502 per one-hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the duration of this sales tax.

Yes

No

All in-town voters and others who reside in the Gasconade County R-2 School District will be electing representatives for a three-year term for the district’s Board of Directors. Voters will be asked to choose three from among:

Glenn S. Ely, 2095 Estes Rd, Rosebud 63091

Nona Miller, 5077 Mill Rock Rd, Gerald 63037

Jean Baker, 3783 Canaan Rd, Bland 65014

Kara Meyer, 1781 Old Woollam Rd, Owensville 65066

Dennis Frahm, 1648 Bem Church Rd, Owensville 65066

Jason Crowe, 231 Foxboro Rd, Gerald 63037

The Gerald Area Chamber of Commerce has invited all candidates to a Meet the Candidates forum, Wednesday, May 27, at 6 p.m. in the Depot in Legion Park.  Each candidate will be allowed to give a brief introduction of themselves and their qualifications. They will then field questions from the audience.

The public is encouraged to attend to learn more about their potential representatives.