Race is on for mayor at Senath, Hornersville

Many of the incumbents found themselves unopposed in the election. Kennett Alderman Darrel Wheeler, Ward V, was one of these candidates. Wheeler has been an alderman for two years and serves on the Industrial Committee.

"My goal for the next term is to make Kennett a better place to live and fill empty building to create jobs," Wheeler said. "I am honored to represent the people in the town and think this is a great place to live."

Also, Jake Crafton the Ward I incumbent is running unopposed in the election. Crafton has served as an alderman in Kennett for two years, and is on the Kennett Chamber of Commerce board and Kennett Jaycee's board.

"During my next term I want to continue improvement of the city and make more adjustment and additions to areas of the city to better the residents," Crafton said.

New to the city council is Roy Cunningham, who is running unopposed for Ward IV, the incumbent Donald Burke chose not to run for re-election. Cunningham was a state officer for the Eagles until June 2007. He joined five others in the 2007 Hall of Fame for his service to the Eagles' Club.

Bill Branum is running for re-election to his Ward III seat, but will be facing the opposition of Jeff McCormick.

Branum has been a member of the council since 1989 and said he joined the council to give the people a voice.

"I felt like the people of Kennett knew what they wanted, so I always voted according to the people's wishes here in Kennett," Branum said.

McCormick served on the Holcomb City Council for four years before coming to Kennett. His goal as an alderman is to "Keep Kennett moving forward."

"During an economic downturn it is beneficial to have a progressive and aggressive person attracting new business to the city," McCormick said. "The city should also watch spending to ensure that every tax dollar is stretched as far as possible."

In Senath, Mo., three candidates are running for the open North Ward seat.

Ricky Parker, who served on the former Christmas Lighting Committee, is one of the candidates for the seat.

"I have been to a lot of city council meetings and want to make a difference in the town," Parker said. "I am looking forward to the chance of helping people with their problems."

Another candidate for the North Ward seat is Daryl Hopper. Hopper is a former North Ward alderman serving in the seat for four years.

The third candidate, Ray Ivy, served as president of the Park Board for nine years. He also served on the Christmas Committee, Walk Way in the Park Committee, and Senath Beautification Committee.

"If elected I will do the best job I can for the city and residents," Ivy said. "I just want to help out the city, because I care about what happens to the city."

Along with the North Ward seat, the City Marshall position has three separate candidates.

Omar Karnes, the acting City Marshall, is the first candidate for the position and has been commissioned in Senath since 1994. Karnes was an officer in Arbyrd for seven years, Kennett for three years, and in California for four years, following his service in the Air Force.

The second candidate, Michael George, is currently a police officer in the city of Senath. Prior to his work in Senath, George was an officer on the Bootheel Drug Task Force.

Joe McLain, the third candidate, is a former Senath City Marshall for six years, and City Alderman for four years. McLain has also served nine years as an officer in the city of Senath. Also, McLain served four years on the Salem Township Board.

The position of Mayor of Senath has two candidates campaigning for the residents' votes.

Joe Lane, the first candidate, was Mayor of Senath from 1989 to 2001. He has also served as a City Alderman for six years, school board for three years, Arkansas Methodist Advisory Board for nine years, and Senath Little League program head for 12 years.

"I am most proud of getting a new water and sewer system in Senath, along with an extra well, and the beginning of 911 emergency in Senath," Lane said.

The second candidate, Ronnie Newman, has previously served 14 years as a City Alderman in Senath. Newman vows to do whatever it takes for the benefit of the city and the people of the city.

"I will show no favoritism and be honest to everybody," Newman said. "I will listen to the people and make decisions based on the majority of the people of Senath."

In Arbyrd, Mo., Brent Pierce, the South Ward incumbent, will be facing the opposition of Paul Phillips.

Pierce has been a City Alderman for four years and a member of the Arbyrd Fire Department for two years.

"During my next term I would like to get the park going and focus time on the police department," Pierce said. "I just want to get the city looking better, period."

Phillips has also served as a City Alderman for four years and said he got on the city council to help out the city. He worked as a housing inspector for the state for 20 years until retirement.

"A lot of things need to be improved and worked with in the city and they will be my focus if elected," Phillips said.

In the North Ward, Ron Branum will be filling the empty seat, following Johnny Zolman's departure from the city council.

Branum served five years as a City Alderman and has served in helping with the Watermelon Festival.

"There are a number of things to improve in the city, but we need to run the city without getting into debt," Branum said.

Bruce Miller will be meeting opposition in Hornersville, Mo., as he seeks re-election to his North Ward seat. Miller has been a City Alderman for three terms.

"My main objective is to improve the streets of Hornersville and keep improving the city altogether," Miller said.

His opposition for the North Ward position is Jeff F. Harris, of Hornersville.

Phyllis Hamrick will be running unopposed for her position in the South Ward Alderman seat. Hamrick has served as an alderman for three years, the United Methodist in Hornersville church board for five years, and is a retired teacher after 29 years of experience.

"The city of Hornersville has done so much for me, this is my way to repay that debt," Hamrick said.

The position of Mayor in Hornersville finds two candidates campaigning for election.

The incumbent Richard Mara has served as Mayor of Hornersville for two years. Since becoming mayor, Mara has managed to get two streets in town paved, after a 10-year lapse. Also, Mara completed a water project, purchased a new tractor for the city, and is working on a 100 percent grant to put a new roof on the Community Building and make the building handicap accessible.

"With all of the different jobs I have served in the town, I have a lot of history and knowledge of the different jobs necessary to run the city," Mara said. "I always put the city first and have a dedication to doing the job and doing it right."

Rondia Rauls is the second candidate for Mayor and currently serves as an Alderman on the city council. She was nominated into professionals "Whose Who" in Memphis, Tenn., in 1992, through her corporate work while living in Memphis.

"I have always thought of Hornersville as my home and wanted the same thing for my family," Rauls said. "It doesn't matter how much you know, it matters how much you care."

In the city of Cardwell, Mo., John Prince, Wanda Lee, and Jack Sparks run unopposed for their respective positions.

Prince has served as Mayor of Cardwell for two years, on the city council for six months, moderator for General Baptist, and is a retired Elementary Principal at Southland.

"In the foreseeable future we are looking to put in a grant application for a third police officer and also for a better police vehicle," Prince said. "We will also be trying to improve more with the water and sewer department and whatever we can in Cardwell."

Lee has been a City Alderman for four years and served as the Mayor Pro Tem for six months prior to Prince's election.

Alderman for two years, Sparks is retired from the Air Force and has lived in Cardwell for 32 years.

The elections will be held on Tuesday, April 7, at the cities' designated voting area.