Three new candidates filed for election to local school boards since the start of the new year.
For Jefferson City Public Schools, Victoria Sterling filed Tuesday to be a candidate for the board. She has not yet released a statement on her candidacy.
She joins six other candidates who have already filed - incumbent board Vice President Steve Bruce and Paul Graham, Josh Harmon, Scott Hovis, Lori Massman and Don Salcedo.
In addition to Bruce's vacancy, there will be two other vacancies on the board. Current President John Ruth and Treasurer Ken Theroff are up for re-election but have decided not to run.
Filing for the JCPS school board election is open until 5 p.m. Jan. 17 at the JCPS Central Office, 315 E. Dunklin St.
Doug Moeller and Scott Farley filed this week for the Blair Oaks R-2 district. They join incumbent board member Peggy Luebbert and candidates Paul Mudd and Nicki Russell. There will be three vacancies available - Luebbert's seat, as well as the seats of Matt Fifer and Tim Van Ronzelen.
Moeller said he grew up in this area, attended the Jefferson City district and graduated in 1983. He grew up with children who went to Blair Oaks, and his own daughter and son have graduated from Blair Oaks - his daughter just this past May.
He said he's been a farm assistant at Lincoln University for the past 15 years, where he cuts and bales hay, cuts grass, helps with research projects and getting research plots planted, harvests and animal research.
Agriculture is something he's been a part of his whole life - his father was a farmer who raised hogs and sheep on 80 acres. Moeller said he's also been involved in 4-H and FFA.
"I want to keep the board pretty well rounded, have people that don't have kids in the school on the board," he said. He added there "ought to be an equal balance" on the board and he could be a spokesperson for folks who might have grandchildren in the Blair Oaks system or just pay their taxes into it.
He thinks the district is run very well and has no specific policy or facility issue he wants to work on. "There's really nothing I'm looking to change," he said.
Moeller said he's been thinking about running ever since his daughter graduated, and his reason is pretty simple - "I'd think it'd be interesting to be on the school board."
Farley is a bail bondsman who has lived in Jefferson City for 22 years. He is originally from Kansas, and he said his family has been a part of the Blair Oaks district since 2004.
His daughter graduated from Blair Oaks, one son is a senior this year, and his youngest son is at the middle school.
Farley said he is the head wrestling coach for the kindergarten through eighth-grade program, and he added "I've thought about (running for the board) off and on throughout the years." He feels now is an appropriate time in his life.
He also thinks the board is run well, respects Superintendent Jim Jones and wants to be part of the future of the district.
Filing for the Blair Oaks school board election will close Jan. 17.