Voting Guide

Be an informed voter.

For more than a decade, The Voting Guide in The Odessan and Focus on Oak Grove has helped local voters learn about candidates up for election.

Candidates for local office are invited by the newspaper to participate in an in-person interview with Odessan reporters. Interviews and ensuing profiles include both biographical information about the candidates and their view on the position and important issues in the election.

In addition to candidate profiles, the Voting Guide includes information on ballot questions including state constitutional amendments and propositions, local tax questions and more.

In Missouri, written material can be taken with you into the polling booth, so you can consult the material in the Voting Guide as you vote.

April 8 Voting Guide

Scheduled coverage

This list is accurate of its publication and intended to be updated as candidates commit to interviews. Scheduled coverage is subject to change.

The Odessan

  • March 6 Issue

    City of Odessa, Alderman ward three

    •Bob Carey, incumbent

    •Bruce Whitsitt

    City of Odessa, Alderman ward one

    •Karla Polson, incumbent

    City of Odessa, Alderman ward two

    •Mike Plachte, incumbent

  • March 13 Issue

    Wellington-Napoleon R-9 Board of Education

    •No tax increase bond issue

    •Jeremy Ahmann, incumbent

    •Diane Rukavina

    •Justin Neece

  • March 20 issue

    Sni Valley Fire District

    •Levy increase ballot question

    •Charles Vinyard, incumbent

    •Gary Martin

    •Jeff Smith

  • March 27 issue

    Countywide ballot issue

    •Half-cent 911 sales tax

    Odessa Fire ballot issue

    •General obligation bonds

    Bates City mayor

    •Shawn Fox

    Darren Hilbrenner, incumbent, has not yet responded to a request to be interviewed.

    Bates City alderman

    Pepsi Maxwell canceled a scheduled interview for the Voting Guide and has not rescheduled.

    Diane Rickey, incumbent, Michael Brown and Rebecca Durham have not yet responded to requests to be interviewed.

  • April 3 issue

    Odessa R-7 Board of Education

    •Brady Madsen

    •Henry Grubb

  • April 10 issue

    Election results

Focus on Oak Grove

  • March 13 issue

    Oak Grove R-6 Board of Education

    •Tax levy bond issue

    •Jeff Jennings, incumbent

    •Joe Guevel

    •Brent Hager

  • March 20 issue

    Sni Valley Fire District

    •Tax levy bond issue

    •Charles Vinyard, incumbent

    •Gary Martin

    •Jeff Smith

  • March 27 issue

    City of Oak Grove, Ward Three

    •Melissa Johnson, incumbent

    •Tracey Newcomer, incumbent

    •Cierra Fortner

  • April 3 issue

    City of Oak Grove, ward one

    •Rachel Kilmer, incumbent

    City of Oak Grove, ward two

    •Kelly Nadeau, incumbent

  • November 7 issue

    Election results

  • Voter registration deadline: March 12

    Absentee ballot deadline: Request by 5 p.m. March 26, return ballots by election day

    No-excuse in-person absentee voting: Feburary 25-April 7 at the courthouse

    In-person election day Voting: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. at your polling place

  • Back issues of The Odessan within a year of publication can be purchased at The Odessan office for $1.50.

    Older issues from previous Voting Guides can be purchased with limited availability for $5.

  • Sample ballots are published in The Odessan in the two weeks leading up to the election. For the April 8 election, they will be published March 27 and April 3

  • The Voting Guide is published every April for the Missouri Municipal Election, and includes ballot issues as well as candidates for local Board of Aldermen, school boards, fire boards and more.

    In years with general or midterm elections, the Voting Guide is published in August and November. While rare, if a ballot issue or special election is held in a non-general election or midterm year, the Voting Guide will be published then as well.