Competitive August primaries on tap for Wright County races

In a shocking last-minute change, Wright County Presiding Commissioner Zach Williams removed his name from the Aug. 4 primary ballot for re-election.
At approximately 4:45 p.m. on the final day for decisions on the August primary ballot, the commissioner submitted a letter notifying Wright County Clerk Loni Pedersen of his plan to withdraw.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to resend my filing for this office. This decision was not made lightly and I appreciate the opportunity to have been considered for public service in this capacity,” said Williams in the letter obtained via Sunshine Law request from the County Clerk’s office.
This bolt from the ballot leaves the Republican race to two newcomers, Doug Moseley and Nathan Culver. For Moseley, this is a race eight years in the making, according to a post made on his official campaign Facebook page.
“For the last eight years, I have been approached by several people who have asked me to run for a commissioner position. For eight years, I did not feel like I could run my business and devote the time needed to run the office. So through a lot of prayer and a lot of consideration, I have decided now is the time to slow down on my personal business and devote my time to serving my time to the good people of Wright County, Missouri, as Presiding Commissioner.”
For Culver, elections are not new, having been elected as the Committee Member for Gasconade Township in 2024, as well as being elected to the Hartville School Board. As owner of Culver Construction in Hartville, Culver is a known businessman with close ties to the community.
Another competitive race is that of the Associate Judge position to be vacated by Judge Lynette Veenstra, who announced her retirement from the bench after serving since 2018. This retirement leaves the bench open to an election for Ryan Morris and Jason MacPherson, both attorneys with practices in Mountain Grove.
Morris expressed excitement at the possibility of the posting on his personal Facebook page. “I have served on the Mountain Grove School Board since 2021, and I feel a great interest in the well-being of Wright County and its citizens. If elected, I will serve faithfully and impartially.” MacPherson stated he looked forward to community engagement in his announcement. “I look forward to talking with many of you during my campaign and ask you for the opportunity to serve my local community in a new capacity.”