Update: Candidates Begin Filing For O'Fallon April Election

This article was updated at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20. 

Filing for seats on the O’Fallon City Council and Fort Zumwalt School Board began on Tuesday morning. 

City of O’Fallon

On the first day of filing, six candidates have filed for five open seats on the O'Fallon City Council and one candidate has filed for mayor. 

The terms of Rick Lucas, Jim Pepper, Rick Battelle, Jeff Schwentker and Michael Snowden end in April, leaving one seat open in wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Mayor Bill Hennessy's term also ends in April. Council members serve three-year terms. The mayor serves a four-year term. 

Candidates in filing order: 

Mayor 

William "Bill" Hennessy filed for re-election.

Ward 1

AC Arnie C. Dienoff 

Kevin Wattelet 

Ward 2

Jim Pepper filed for re-election.

Ward 3

Richard "Rick" Battelle filed for re-election.

Ward 4

Incumbant Jeff Schwentker is running for re-election against Bryon Ward. 

Ward 5

Michael Snowden filed for election. *The Mayor appointed Snowden last January to fulfill the term of Mark Perkins who resigned. 

After Dec. 11, filing continues in the city clerk's office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Each candidate must file in person, and pay a $25 fee filed with the City Clerk. The last day for filing is Jan. 15. Candidates will appear on the ballot in the order they have filed.

Fort Zumwalt School District

According to Nancy Coleman, of administrative services at Fort Zumwalt School District, no candidates have filed yet today for the school board. 

Two three-year positions are open on the Fort Zumwalt Board of Education. Scott Grasser and Carol Russell's terms end this April. 

Candidates can file at the superintendent's office located at 110 Virgil Street on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The district offices are closed: Dec. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31 and Jan. 1, as well as days that the district is closed due to inclement weather.