Three challengers and an incumbent have filed for two open seats on the Jefferson City Board of Education on Tuesday, the first day of filing.
In order of their appearance on the ballot, the four candidates are: Pam Murray, Joy Sweeney, Michael Couty and Dan Renfrow.
Sweeney, who has served on the board since 2009, is the only incumbent interested in retaining her seat. Alan Mudd's term is also coming to a close next spring. However, in a phone interview on Tuesday he said he will not seek another term.
"I've been on the board six years and I think it is enough time," Mudd said. "I'm ready, willing and anxious to give some younger folks a chance to serve and to see what they can accomplish."
Mudd said the board recently has made decisions that will "make a difference" in the years to come. He plans to continue to be engaged in the board's work, particularly as it seeks a new superintendent, in his final months in the office.
The filing period opened on Tuesday; it will close Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. The election will be April 7.
People interested in running for the board must be: U.S. citizens, resident taxpayers of the district, have resided in Missouri a minimum of one year and be at least 24 years old. Candidates also can not be on probation for a felony crime or be registered as sex offenders. And, they must file all required campaign disclosure reports and pay the requisite fees, if applicable.
Couty - who serves as juvenile court administrator at the Prenger Family Center, where he is responsible for all juvenile justice issues in Cole County - was the first candidate to announce his campaign several weeks ago. He said he wants to bring transparency back to the district.
As a member of the school district's Long Range Facilities Planning Committee, Murray has been a proponent for vocational and technical education as a part of the total curriculum.
Murray is a retired health care worker and volunteer. During her career, she has held oversight and quality-assurance jobs in several hospital settings.
Renfrow serves as president of the Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that raises money to support the district's educational mission.
He said he feels a disconnect exists between goals of the district and how those goals are being implemented. Leaders might give voice to what they'd like to see accomplished, but it's "not happening at the teacher and student level."
Renfrow has managed the Trust Department at Hawthorn Bank in Jefferson City for 13 years.
First elected in 2009, Sweeney is the only incumbent trying to retain her seat on the board.
Since the majority of JCPS employees are women, Sweeney believes it's important to retain at least one female perspective on board.
And, since the board will likely hire a new district superintendent before the April election, Sweeney said she wants to be able to help that person acclimate to the new job. The board has been interviewing candidates to replace Superintendent Brian Mitchell, who announced he will be leaving at the end of the school year.
Sweeney serves as executive director of the Jefferson City Council for Drug-Free Youth.