Missouri lawmaker's plan would usher in partisan elections at the local level

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Is the mayor a Democrat? How many Republicans are on the local school board? And is that one guy on city council actually a Libertarian? In Missouri, where elections at the municipal and school district level are nonpartisan, candidates for office currently do not declare a political party. But that would change if legislation introduced in the state Legislature is signed into law. A proposal by Rep. Bruce Sassmann, R-Bland, would require candidates in political subdivisions and special districts to declare a party affiliation, or nonaffiliation. A candidate's party, or l...