The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published January 8, 2025

Local cities announce candidates for April election

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – Filing has ended for those wishing to hold a local office in one of the cities and there are some challengers to certain positions and some familiar names.

Lake Ozark

Johnnie Franzeskos seemingly never-ending quest to regain the office of Mayor will be brought to the people again.

In 2019 Franzeskos lost the position of Mayor to then Aldermen Gerry Murawski who beat him with 146 votes to 111 for Franzeskos.

In 2021 Franzeskos challenged Murawski for the job and both lost to a write-in candidate, Dennis Newberry.

Newberry received 241 votes with Franzeskos getting 105 votes and Murawski gathering 101.

In 2023 Franzeskos tried to get his job back from Newberry and lost again.

This time he is running against David Ridgely.

The fight for the office of Mayor is not the only position with multiple names.

Alderman, Ward I will have Sherry Jackson against David Miller
Alderman, Ward II will have Krista Watts against David J. Gregg
Alderman, Ward III will have Drake Schmid and Carol Denecke-Denny

Camdenton

Current Mayor John McNabb is facing a challenge for the office from Daniel Ousley.

Brenda Weir, the current holder of the position of Aldermen Ward II, will be fighting it out against Dax Beaman.

The other candidates running are the only ones that have filed for their offices.

Alderman Ward I - Eric Faes
Alderman Ward III - Mark Anderson
Special Road District “R” – Kerry Shannon

Osage Beach

Seven candidates are in the running for open seats on the City of Osage Beach Board of Aldermen. Three seats, one in each ward, are up for re-election during the April election.

Each alderman serves a two-year term. Candidates are listed by ward:

Ward I - Bob O’Steen
Ward II - Justin Hoffman (Incumbent) will face off with challengers Kyle Carrara, Michael Lewis and William Donovan
Ward III - Richard Ross (Incumbent) will have a challenger for his seat, Rebecca Collins

The Municipal Election will take place in April of this year.