BELLE — When filing for the April 2 municipal elections closed on Dec. 26, the two open seats on the Maries County R-2 Board of Education only had one declared candidate, which guaranteed the need for a school board election with a write-in candidate. On Feb. 12, Paul Shanks announced his bid as a write-in candidate for via a letter to Maries County R-2 Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham and again on Feb. 20 via Facebook.

“I am writing this letter to express my interest in campaigning as a write-in candidate for the upcoming board of education election in April 2024. While I understand that there will be no “certified write-in candidates” prior to the election, I wanted to inform you and the district as a matter of courtesy before publicly announcing my intention. Even before returning to my beloved hometown and community, I knew that giving back through service to the school, which has contributed significantly to my career, was something I would eventually pursue. Given the current situation with two vacant seats and only one officially filed applicant, I feel compelled to step forward and express my interest in campaigning for consideration for such a position. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to share my thoughts, values, and passion with this strong community leading up to the April election.

Respectfully,

Paul Shanks.”

Board President Kenda Sanders filed to retain her seat.