RICHMOND – The Secretary of State’s Office has reminded candidates of a change in election filing dates. The change affects when candidates can start filing and when filing ends for the April general municipal elections, including in Excelsior Springs. Ray County Clerk Glenda Powell said she is not a fan of the statewide change. “It was a bad idea,” she said. Powell said the General Assembly made the change. “They wanted it so that (filings) would all be done in the same year. They thought it would make it easier for us,” she said. “It gives us a shorter time for people to sign up and, no, it doesn’t make it any easier for us because we still have to do all the paperwork.” State lawmakers made the decision without approval from the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Elections Authorities. Group members oversee most elections. Powell said she doubts the change will affect candidates much. “As long as they’re paying attention to the paper,” she said, or otherwise they might not…