It all comes down to the voters today.

A city mayor, city collector, county assessor, school board positions, fire and ambulance board candidates and a ballot proposal - all are on the local election ballot today. They have explained their positions, put up their yard signs and recruited volunteers to staff polling places.

It's now up to you. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

It's a big election in St. Louis and Jefferson counties as there are hundreds of candidates in dozens of cities and school district hoping to land a position in their communities.

To help voters know who is running and learn about the candidates and their stands on the issues, Fenton High Ridge Patch has been carrying stories about the those who are running for the past several weeks.

In Fenton, incumbent Mayor Dennis Hancock is being challenged by current city collector Carol Brennan for a two-year term. The city collector post, currently the subject of Fenton's Proposition 1, may be eliminated depending onwhether voters decide it is necessary. Meanwhile, no on has filed for the soon-to-be-open city collector position.

Aldermen Paul Seemayer (Ward 1), Joe Maurath (Ward 2) Chris Clauss (Ward 3) and James Mauller (Ward 4) have no opposition in the April election.

For the first time, St. Louis County voters will be asked to elect a county assessor. The candidates are Jake Zimmerman and L.K. "Chip" Wood. Each candidate promised at a recent public forum that they would get property assessments right the first time.

There are contested races in three local school boards - Northwest, Lindbergh and Rockwood. Each feature six candidates vying for three seats on their respective boards. All school board positions are for four-year terms.

In the Northwest R-1 School District, the candidates are Nelson O. Weber, Retta "Susan" Tuggle, Ron Deichmann, Sherri K Talbott, Chris Davis and Sherrie L. Werner. Tuggle and Talbott are incumbents.

Tuggle and Talbott are incumbents. Sally Lippmann did not file for re-election.

A Northwest R-1 election forum was held March 25 where the candidates explained their positions and their reasons for running.

Vying for positions on the Lindbergh School District Board of Education are Kathleen O. Kienstra, Donald Bee, Vicki Lorenz Englund, Joseph Sartorius, Leslie J. Weiss and George Rezabek.

Kientra and Bee and Rudoff are incumbents. Current board member Larry McIntosh did not file for re-election.

Seeking election to the school board inthe Rockwood School District are Keith Kinder, Stephen Smith, Roger Stock, Kevin Mabie, Matt Doell and Mike Geller.

Smith is an incumbent. Board members Darla Baker and Kim McGuiness did not file for re-election.

The High Ridge Fire Protection District wll fill one seat on its board of directors. The candidates are Carla Hloben and Jack Walters.

The Saline Valley Fire Protection District also has one opening to fill on its board, with Allen Lanzarini and Daniel J. Bruno vying for the position.

The North Jefferson County Ambulance District has a crowded field of six people running for two open seats on the board. The candidates are Dana Stolarski, Ron Woehrle,  Carla Hloben, Jeffrey Hanewinkel, Francis D. Jett and Clayton M. Gregoric.

In the Community College District of Jefferson County two to be elected. The candidates are Gary W. Davis, John J. Winkelman, David K. Kennedy, Gary M. Stefan, Charles (Bo) Harrison, Mauro "Doc" Carranza and Avery A. Fortenberry.