Justin Alferman was a candidate for re-election when he resigned from the Missouri House of Representatives this week to accept new Gov. Mike Parson's offer to be the administration's legislative director.
But that simple job change created a not-so-simple situation for the county clerks in Osage, Gasconade and Franklin counties - because it's too late, under state law, for Alferman simply to resign as a candidate and be removed from the ballot.
Alferman, R-Hermann, had to ask a judge to remove his name from the ballot, which Presiding Circuit Judge I.I. Lamke approved after a Thursday morning hearing in Hermann, and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft listed him as a "withdrawn" candidate as of 2:33 p.m. Thursday.
Since Alferman was the only Republican candidate on the primary ballot for the 61st House District, other potential candidates now will have five days to file, beginning thismorning.
Ashcroft communications director Maura Browning, said the five-day "clock starts the next business day after we receive the order from the court."
In a news release, Ashcroft said his staff had "reached out to local election officials, encouraging them to delay printing ballots as long as possible in anticipation of candidate withdrawals prior to the Aug. 7 primary election."