Nothing surprises like March in the Missouri 6th Congressional District, where mystery Democrats have become the norm every even-numbered year.

In recent times, the last-minute filings have included out-of-district residents, Republicans suddenly reborn as Democrats and even a “phone-sex grandma.”

This year’s late entry, assuming no other Democrats join the field before filing closes at 5 p.m. today, is Ali Allon Sherkat, a heretofore political unknown who paid his $100 fee and registered with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office last week.

The campaign operation for Kay Barnes, the presumptive Democratic nominee, had no previous knowledge of the new opponent from Riverside, Mo. Other Democrats were similarly in the dark.

“I’ve never heard of him,” said Russell Purvis, chairman of the Platte County Democratic Central Committee. “He hasn’t attended any events that I know of.”

Nor contributed money to political candidates in the past, according to Federal Election Commission documents.

Mr. Sherkat did not return a phone call from the News-Press but e-mailed documents explaining his background and policy positions. He cited a 1981 degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He pledged to work to improve the nation’s leadership role in the world, to stall the selective application of American laws and “to eliminate the underestimation of (people’s) intellect.”

In one of his e-mails, Mr. Sherkat called himself a “novice” and asked that the News-Press provide questions in advance of an interview.

His Riverside address, found in a telephone directory, is less than two miles from where Ms. Barnes lives.

In past Democratic primaries, head-scratching entries have become commonplace in the 6th District. In 2002, David Gilstrap filed for the party’s nomination despite living out of district, in Columbia, and being one year removed from presiding over a Republican club in that city.

In 2004, Jeff Bailey of Gladstone filed as a Democrat six hours before the deadline, having run for the House seat once before as a Democrat and twice as a Republican.

The most unlikely filer was Opal Dockery, a woman who lived 100 miles outside the 6th District in Southwest Missouri. She boasted no political experience but starred as the title character in a cinematic short called “Phone Sex Grandma.” She left the race before the primary.

In addition to the two filed Democrats, incumbent U.S. Rep. Sam Graves is on the Republican ballot, while Dave Browning is the lone Libertarian candidate.

Ken Newton can be reached

at kenn@npgco.com.