Politics & Government

Voters for Metro West Fire Board See Extra Notice at Polls

Anyone who has a ballot today that includes Metro West Fire Protection District will see an unfamiliar sign at their polling place. It's surprising some voters.

Voters going to the polls on Tuesday whose ballots encompass Metro West Fire Protection District are seeing an unusual paper sign taped at each voting machine. It reads: Steve H. Ward has been Removed from the Ballot by Court Order for the office of Director of Metro West Fire Protection District. Any votes cast for this candidate wil NOT be counted or reported.

As Patch reported on Feb. 12, St. Louis County Circuit Court officials announced they had disqualified Stephen H. Ward as a candidate for the position of board member and director for the Metro West Fire Protection District. 

At the time, Metro West issued a notification that court officials determined Ward “failed to timely comply with the filing fee requirements. Therefore, being disqualified as a candidate, the court orders that Mr. Ward be removed as a candidate, in the April 2, 2013 election ballot”.

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Because the ballots already were printed for the election, Ward’s name will not be physically removed from the ballot. 

The election commission shall post signs in each applicable polling place that the candidate has been “Removed from the Ballot by Court Order”. Any votes that would be cast for Ward will not be counted or reported.

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ward was a former Metro West assistant chief.

Tim Flora, the incumbent and current District Board Chairman is the only candidate for the position. Flora will begin his next term in office in April.


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