BELLE — Filing for the April 2025 municipal elections opened on Dec. 4 and already the Belle Board of Aldermen seats are in two and three-way races.

Ward 1 incumbent Barbara Howarth filed at 8 a.m. on Dec. 10 for the Ward 1 alderman seat. Rebecca Withouse on Dec. 12 declared her intentions to run against Howarth for the two-year term.

In Ward 2, Seth Klein at 8 a.m. on Dec. 10 declared his candidacy against Ward 2 incumbent Alderman Kevin Guffey. Former Belle marshal Terry Connors declared his intention to run for the seat last week. Guffey has also filed to retain his seat, turning the Ward 2 chair into a three-way race at Belle City Hall. The seat is a two-year term.

Candidate packets may be picked up and returned between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at Belle City Hall, 200 E. Third Street. Filing closes at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Maries County R-2 Board of Education seats held by Joey Butler II, Dawn Hicks, and Serena Langston are on the April 2025 ballot. Langston, serving the remainder of Amy Kiso’s unexpired term, was appointed to office in October 2025. Butler and Hicks each have three-year terms. The winner of the Kiso/Langston seat will serve until April 2026.

Butler declared his intention to retain the seat at 8:08 on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Filing will be unavailable when school is not in session due to the holiday season or inclement weather. However, the Administration Building is required to be open on Dec. 31 until 5 p.m., the last day to file. Anyone interested in running for school board may request a packet at the Maries R-2 Administration Building at 503 W. Third Street, Belle.

Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham said during the Oct. 29 meeting that the board needed people to apply.

If the R-2 board has the same number of candidates applying as seats available, it can forgo the ballot costs as an election is not required.