Three contests possible in April municipal elections 

One month into packet pickup for Springfield City Council positions, there is the possibility of three contested races come April 8, according to information from the city clerk’s office. 

As previously reported, Mayor Ken McClure is term-limited after four two-year terms and will not be seeking reelection. The city has changed to four-year terms for mayor – with length of time in office still capped at eight years – and two local business leaders have declared interest in the post by picking up packets: Jeff Schrag and Mary Collette. 

Packet pickup also shows that a competition is emerging for the General A council seat currently held by Heather Hardinger. Hardinger intends to run again, and possible challengers are Tim A. Havens, a retiree who is a frequent speaker during the public comment portion of council meetings, and Eric Pauly, a member of the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, according to the city clerk’s office. 

In Zone 4, the seat currently held by Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Simpson, Simpson intends to run again, and he has three potential challengers so far: two attorneys, Raymond Lampert and Amy L. Poe, and Havens. The city clerk’s office reports Havens was the first to pick up a packet for the General A seat on Oct. 1 and collected a Zone 4 packet midmonth. 

Incumbents Craig Hosmer of General B and Monica Horton of Zone 1 both collected packets, and so far no challengers have emerged. 

All of the packets were picked up prior to Oct. 25. City Clerk Anita Cotter reported that no new packets were picked up last week. 

Candidates may pick up packets through Jan. 21, 2025, to gather petition signatures and run for municipal office in Springfield. Candidates must gather valid signatures – 100 for zone seats and 200 for general seats – to be certified for the April 2025 election, and the seats up for grabs are for mayor, General seats A and B, and Zones 1 and 4.