Two more filings for city of Imperial races and another for county commissioner are creating interest in local races that hasn’t been seen in a number of election cycles.
    With filings last week as the deadline arrived, there are now three seeking the Mayor of Imperial position and five running for two city council seats.
    Preston Smith waited for the filing deadline last Thursday to file for mayor, challenging incumbent Dwight Coleman and another mayoral candidate, Mason Holmes. One will be eliminated in the May Primary, so two will advance.
    Craig Loeffler threw his hat in the ring for city council, enlarging the field now to five seeking the two seats open this year. Incumbents Chad Yaw and Charlesa Kline have filed, as well as challengers Blake Moreland and Darcy Moreland. One will be eliminated in May, so four can advance to the General Election.
    The Dist. #2 county commissioner seat held by David Hogsett, now has a fourth candidate. Jim Hayes of Imperial filed last Thursday.
    Hayes’ is the third Republican candidate for the Dist. #2 seat, along with incumbent Hogsett and challenger Jacci L. Brown of Champion. Duncan Einspahr has also filed as a Libertarian candidate.
    The top vote-getter among the three Republicans in the May Primary will advance to face Einspahr in the fall.
    The Dist. #3 commissioner seat, being vacated by incumbent Don Weiss Jr., also has three Republicans in the race—Sid Bartels of Imperial, Mark Davidson of Lamar and Dennis Kunnemann of Imperial. Only one Republican candidate will advance to November.
    In other county races, County Treasurer Cynthia Schoenberger has a challenger in Penny L. Strand, and County Clerk Debra Clark is being challenged by Billie Hayes.
    County Assessor Dotty Bartels, Attorney Arlan Wine and Sheriff Kevin Mueller face no challengers who filed by the deadline.
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