Ripley County, MO elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Ripley County: 14 seats on 12 elected bodies. 6 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County Commission

Ripley County Commission

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
Associate Commissioner, Eastern DistrictGary Emmons Republican source
Associate Commissioner, Western DistrictKeith Whiteside Republican source
Presiding CommissionerJesse Roy Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
AssessorRandi D. Ederer Republican source
Circuit ClerkRuth Austin Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Collector of RevenueMarcia L. Tackett Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
CoronerMike Jackson Democratic source
County ClerkMichael A. Williams Republican source
County SurveyorWilliam Troy Ayers Republican source
Prosecuting AttorneyMatt Michel Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Public AdministratorDonna Barnett Republican source
Recorder of DeedsDonnie Johnson Jr. Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffRad Talburt Republican source
TreasurerTerry L. Slayton Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Ripley County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 35 local governments in Ripley County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships20
School districts (school boards)40
Special districts (elected boards)280

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Ripley County

10,708people
40.7median ageU.S.: 38.9
$42,037 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
24.8%below the U.S.: 12.5%
12.6%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$119,600median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.7%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
1.1%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
9.2%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
15.6%U.S.: 8.4%
63.5%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
29.1%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 1.5% · White 92.4% · Black 0.3% · Asian 0.3% · Other or more than one race 5.5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Ripley County

3.7%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.4%. Missouri: 3.3%.
173people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
4,526people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
4,699in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Ripley County 0.0%2.1%4.2%6.3%8.4% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)3.7%1734,5264,699
August 20265.0%2274,2784,505
July 20264.9%2174,2394,456
June 20264.3%1984,4294,627
May 20263.8%1774,5034,680
April 20263.8%1824,5584,740
March 20264.7%2224,5084,730
February 20264.7%2234,5074,730
January 20264.8%2184,3574,575
December 20253.7%1694,4124,581
November 20253.7%1694,3894,558
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20254.4%2004,3824,582
August 20255.9%2584,1294,387
July 20256.5%2864,1444,430
June 20255.3%2494,4094,658
May 20254.5%2104,4724,682
April 20254.2%1954,5014,696
March 20254.9%2324,5054,737
February 20255.5%2644,5424,806
January 20255.4%2624,5604,822
December 20244.2%1984,5224,720
November 20244.1%1904,4494,639
October 20244.0%1854,4554,640
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.9%2274,4044,631
20244.5%2104,4824,692
20234.0%1904,6064,796
20223.1%1454,5104,655
20215.1%2364,4244,660
20208.0%3734,2684,641
20195.4%2524,3914,643
20185.3%2534,5004,753
20175.6%2754,6444,919
20167.1%3574,6635,020

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Missouri's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.6% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Ripley County

322.3 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 417.8.
832.6 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 1,644.1.
2murders2025, 36 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
202536322.393832.6
202419167.382721.8
2023871.685760.8
2022654.61181,073.9
20211179.7117847.6
20201179.92161,568.2
201783576.72541,765.0
201658404.63502,441.6
By police agency (2)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Ripley County Sheriff's Office202532658,947
Doniphan Police Department20254281,782

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Missouri · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.61 per 1,000 residents2022, 2 agencies serving 10,546 people.
17sworn officers2022, full-time, as of October 31.
7civilian staff2022, full-time.

2022 is the latest year every agency here sent the FBI its staff count.

Agencies counted (2), 2022
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Doniphan Police Department851,703
Ripley County Sheriff's Office928,843
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
2022171.6172
2020171.2952
2017171.2352
2016171.2442

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Ripley County Assessor?
Randi D. Ederer (Republican) is the Assessor of Ripley County, Missouri.
Who is the Ripley County Circuit Clerk?
Ruth Austin (Republican) is the Circuit Clerk of Ripley County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Ripley County Collector of Revenue?
Marcia L. Tackett (Republican) is the Collector of Revenue of Ripley County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Ripley County Coroner?
Mike Jackson (Democratic) is the Coroner of Ripley County, Missouri.
Who is the Ripley County County Clerk?
Michael A. Williams (Republican) is the County Clerk of Ripley County, Missouri.
Who is the Ripley County County Surveyor?
William Troy Ayers (Republican) is the County Surveyor of Ripley County, Missouri.
Who is the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney?
Matt Michel (Democratic) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Ripley County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Ripley County Public Administrator?
Donna Barnett (Republican) is the Public Administrator of Ripley County, Missouri.
Who is the Ripley County Recorder of Deeds?
Donnie Johnson Jr. (Republican) is the Recorder of Deeds of Ripley County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Ripley County Sheriff?
Rad Talburt (Republican) is the Sheriff of Ripley County, Missouri.
Who is the Ripley County Treasurer?
Terry L. Slayton (Republican) is the Treasurer of Ripley County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Ripley County commissioners?
Gary Emmons (Associate Commissioner, Eastern District); Keith Whiteside (Associate Commissioner, Western District); Jesse Roy (Presiding Commissioner).
What is the population of Ripley County?
About 10,708 people, with a median age of 40.7; the median household income is $42,037 and 24.8% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Ripley County?
3.7% in September 2026 (preliminary): 173 people unemployed in a labor force of 4,699, against 4.4% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Ripley County?
35 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 2 municipal, 4 school district and 28 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Missouri Secretary of State's Official Manual (Blue Book) 2025–2026; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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