Election season is underway after the deadline for people to file to run has passed, with local-level candidates set to automatically advance through the primary election set for May 10.
The deadline for incumbents to file for re-election was Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. Several candidates for local positions did not file for re-election, including Alliance City Council Members Earl Jones and Annora Bentley, Alliance School Board Member Josh Freiberger, Box Butte County Attorney Terry Curtiss and Box Butte County Clerk Judy Messersmith.
Many incumbents, however, have filed for re-election, including current Alliance Mayor Mike Dafney, Alliance School Board Members Tim Kollars and Edison Red Nest III, Box Butte County Assesor Michelle Robinson, Republican, Box Butte County Clerk of the District Court Kevin Horn, Republican, Box Butte County Commissioners Mike McGinnis, Republican, and Trish Johnston, Democrat, Box Butte County Sheriff Tammy Mowry, Republican, Box Butte County Treasurer Valery Bell, Republican, and Hemingford School Board Members Troy Turek, for Ward A, Justin Ansley, for Ward B, and Blanche Randolph, for Ward C.
The filing deadline for non-incumbents was 5 p.m. on March 1, which saw many new candidates filing to run for election.
In the race for the Alliance City Council, Russell Saito, Tearza Mashburn, Mara Andersen and Evan Mehne filed to run. The race has three seats up for grabs.
In the race for Alliance School Board, Tim Richey has filed for election. Three positions on the school board are up for election.
On the county level, Marissa Curtiss, Republican, has filed for County Attorney, Martie Burke, Republican, has filed for County Clerk, Brett Ditsch, Republican, has filed for County Commissioner, and Enet Somers-Dehaney, Republican, has filed for Public Defender.
In the race for the Hemingford School Board, Micki Votruba has filed for Ward A, and Joe Prochazka has filed for Ward B.
The deadline for incumbents for the Village Board of Trustees and Educational Service Units is July 15 at 5 p.m., with the deadline for non-incumbents set for Aug. 1 at 5 p.m.
The primary election will take place on May 10, with the general election slated for Nov. 8.