HERMANN —The first week of filing for Gasconade County government offices ended with only one General Election contest in place — but with an announcement that could spark a crowded field in the Primary Election for the county’s top cop spot.

The forthcoming resignation of Sheriff John Romanus has, as expected, produced at least two would-be successors.

Hermann police patrolman Scott Eiler, R-Owensville, was the only one to file for the sheriff’s post by the end of last week. But heading into the weekend there was good chance the former Owensville policeman wouldn’t be the only candidate for the office by the time filing ends Tuesday, March 31.

Considering a run for the office as of Thursday when he attending the Commission meeting, was former Hermann Police Sgt. Shawn Mayberry, now a member of the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.

At Thursday’s session of the County Commission, he told county officials he was considering becoming a candidate for a county office. He told the Gasconade County Republican Central Committee’s Lincoln Day banquet crowd of 128 the same thing on Saturday evening. And, on Tuesday morning just before 9 a.m., Mayberry did indeed register as a candidate for sheriff on the Republican ticket.

Romanus, two months into the final year of his first term, met with the Commission Thursday morning in closed session to submit his letter of resignation. His resignation will be effective March 23. Romanus, who was elected sheriff in 2016 after a stint with the Maries County Sheriff’s Department, will be returning to his line of work outside of law enforcement which was as an electrician, he told Commission members.

An interim sheriff will be named by the County Commission and will serve at least through the November General Election if not through the entire year until a new sheriff takes office Jan. 1.

The General Election race that took shape on the first day of filing will have Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry D. Lairmore, R-Owensville, facing Democrat Jerry L. Spurgeon of Owensville, pending the filing of others for the seat.

Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, was the only candidate for that office after the first week of filing. Holland is seeking his second term. County Assessor Paul W. Schulte, a Republican, filed for a second term. He was unopposed after the first week of filing.

The other two offices that are open this election year are those of Public Administrator and Coroner. Republican Kathy L. Meyer was the only person filing during the first week to succeed retiring Public Administrator Faye Owsley.

Jeffrey Arnold, who lost the GOP nomination four years ago to incumbent Coroner Ben Grosse, is making another run for the office. Grosse said he will not seek another term. Incumbent County Surveyor Vincent C. Klott, a Republican, is seeking another term and was unopposed in both parties after the first week of filing.

The Primary Election will be held Aug. 4. No one else had filed for any county office as of Tuesday afternoon at closing time.