Special Election Tuesday

A special election will be held Tuesday, Feb. 6, to fill the remaining term as state representative for the 144th District that was vacated by Paul Fitzwater, who resigned in September 2017 to accept an appointment with the Probation and Parole Board.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. For a list of polling places, see the notice of election and sample ballot that is printed in this week’s issue.

Voters will choose between Democrat Jim Scaggs of Annapolis or Republican Christina Dinkins of Annapolis. The two candidates were chosen by their respective district legislative committees. Both are highly qualified for the position.

Once the election results are certified, the winner will be shown into office. They will serve until Dec. 31 of this year when someone will take office to serve a two-year term. Filing for the two-year term will run from Feb. 27 to March 27 in Jefferson City. Several area Republicans have stated they plan to file.

Jim Scaggs

Scaggs is a 1974 graduate of South Iron High School, a 1980 graduate of Mineral Area College with an Associates Degree in Business Administration, and he attended Central Methodist University (through MAC). He is the owner of Scaggs Rock-N-Lime, Inc. in Patterson.  He is the Presiding Commissioner of Iron County and served on the South Iron School Board for 16 years. He has served on numerous boards and commissions including the Missouri Department of Agriculture Economic Development board, the Southeast Missouri Mine Safety Association (President), and the National Stone Association

 

Christina Dinkins

Dinkins is a 1986 graduate of Clearwater High School.  She also received an Associates Degree from Mineral Area College, a Bachelors Degree in Science from Central Methodist University, and a Masters Degree in Multi-disciplines from Webster University. The candidate was a homemaker when her children were young, then spent 17 years as an elementary school teacher (mostly 5th grade).  She began campaigning for Paul Fitzwater back in 2010, later becoming his administrative assistant when he w
as elected.  She is also the administrative assistant for District 8 Rep. Jim Neely out of the same office in Farmington. She and her husband own Twin Rivers Landing, a Black River campground and floating outfitter in Reynolds County.