| Today's Feature
City Election Tomorrow.
In this issue you will find
articles submitted by local candidates.
Candidates were invited to submit up to 350 words
to set out their qualifications and objectives.
Listed below are polling places
for the City of Carthage. Polls open at 6 a.m.
and close at 7 p.m.
1st Ward, 1st and 2nd
Precinct
Grace Episcopal Church 820
Howard
2nd Ward, 1st and 2nd
Precinct
Memorial Hall, 407 S. Garrison
3rd Ward, 1st Precinct
Fire Department, 401 W.
Chestnut
3rd Ward, 2nd Precinct
Columbian School 1015 W. Macon
4th Ward, 1st Precinct
Jr. High School, 827 E.
Centennial
4th Ward, 2nd Precinct
Fairview School, 1211 E.
Fairview
5th Ward, 1st Precinct
Mark Twain School, 1435 W. Main
5th Ward, 2nd Precinct
Salvation Army, 125 E Fairview
Nate
Stokes for R-9 School Board.
My name is Nate Stokes. My wife
Sandi and I live on Gum Road. Our two children
attend R-9 Schools. We belong to Fairview
Christian Church, where I am a volunteer youth
worker.
School board membership is not
just an honorary position or a status symbol. Our
schools are a large and extremely important
operation. The school board is the governing body
of this whole enterprise. They are elected by the
voters of this district to see that the taxpayers
money is wisely spent, that our school buildings
provide a safe environment for our children and
teachers and that our children receive the best
education we can provide.
Board members who just attend
monthly meetings, listen to reports from school
administrators, and then vote on the
administrator’s recommendations are not
doing their job. I believe we have good school
administrators and I would maintain a cooperative
attitude in working with them. But, I would
consider it my duty to keep myself informed about
our schools by inspecting the buildings, visiting
classes, and seeking input from teachers,
students, parents, and taxpayers. Only then,
could I vote intelligently.
Here is an example of what I
mean. Our teacher’s pay is just below the
median pay for Missouri teachers, whereas our
administrator’s pay is well above the
median. Yet, at the board’s last vote on
salaries they gave the administrators a 5%
increase and gave the teachers only 3.5%. You
have to wonder, was the decision researched or
simply voted on from the recommendation.
I sincerely want my children
and all the children of this district to receive
the best education we can give them. If elected I
promise to give the time and effort which this
important office deserves. Please vote for me.
Earnest Vaile
for R-9 School Board.
I have many concerns in regard
to the R-9 School system and I feel that I can
offer a positive outlook on the direction that
our educational system takes. However, the recent
increases in the tax burden that our citizens
have had to bear are a major concern for me. Our
school district received 92% of the recent
property tax increase (Joplin Globe, 1/21/02).
This windfall increase in funding for our school
district amounted to a 24% increase in funds or
$1,488,977.00 extra from now on (Joplin Globe,
1/21/02). Levy "rollback" measures in
state law should have been utilized to make the
reassessment "revenue neutral" but our
school board did not act to relieve this unfair
extra burden upon the taxpayers of the school
district. I support a rollback of our tax levy to
a level that would eliminate the unfair windfall
that the school district received.
I oppose increases in the tax
levy for any purpose. I do not believe that we
need a new high school or another new elementary
school or a new tech center. I will not support a
property tax levy increase to fund 38 million
dollars worth of new schools. It is my opinion
that soon we will see another effort to raise the
levy in order to fund the new schools; enough is
enough! The tax and spend insanity must end; the
school board tore down 2 elementary schools and
led the taxpayer to believe that a new elementary
school would be enough for the future, but now we
find out that they want more elementary schools.
The school board is out of touch with the
ordinary citizen taxpayer. We recently voted an
overwhelming "NO" on the property tax
issue. That vote should have ended it but, in my
opinion, it will be back very soon. The end
result of the school district windfall was an
unfair excessive burden that was placed upon the
average citizen of the district. I believe that
the school system should live within its budget
and provide a quality education for every
resident of the district! I will demand value for
every tax dollar that is spent by the school
system.
Carey
Murphy for City Council.
Dear Citizens, unlike the other
Wards in town, you will have a choice this year
for Councilman in Ward 4. Please consider the
following before making a decision:
In the past year the City
Council has continued its policy of unwise taxing
and spending. Taxes go up, new taxes are created
and fees are increased to pay for spending (i.e.
several million-dollar golf course). It appears
that the Council is practicing want over need,
and it seems to me that we all pay enough taxes
already and that the City’s income should be
better spent. Many streets in town need a great
deal of work and everyone knows that a lot of
city owned property is in horrendous condition.
Keep in mind, we now have many more acres to
maintain at the Fair Acres Complex. As a footnote
to the condition of city property, is anyone
asking the following questions? Is the Larry
Allen building no longer dangerous and in need of
being demolished just because the city now owns
it? Did the transfer of ownership suddenly heal
the structural problems? Is the city exempt from
its own rules?
Something else to reflect upon:
Not so many years ago in this community
"Operation Cowboy" was not needed and
would have been a total failure. I can remember
going for walks around town, day or night, never
fearing that I might be passing houses full of
illegal drugs and arsenals of weapons. If our
city government does not begin to take this
problem seriously and become pro-active, the
consequences of continuing to do nothing will be
devastating for Carthage.
If you want a Councilman who
cares enough about our town to constructively
criticize when needed, who will voice and vote to
spend conservatively and hold the city
accountable in governing, then please vote for
me. It will be sincerely appreciated.
Thank you,
Carey Murphy
Jim
McPheeters for City Council.
Born May 4, 1938 in Poplar
Bluff, MO. Graduated Poplar Bluff High School in
1956. Received B/S and B/A at the University of
Missouri, Columbia. Served in United States Navy
4 years, 1962-1965. Discharged at Lieutenant.
Served as weekend administrator
at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Served as intern
to the administrator at the Muskogee Hospital.
Served as administrator Director of the OUMedical
Center.
Became administrator of
McCune-Brooks Hospital in Sept. 1971, retired in
1998. Served on board of Broadway Country Club,
one year as president.
Served on board of the Missouri
Hospital Association five years, one year as
secretary. Served two years on the Carthage City
Council.
Kenneth
Johnson for Mayor.
During the past four years
while serving Carthage as Mayor, there have been
133 new single family dwelling homes, 14
duplexes, and 1 triplex built in the City. There
will be 24 more single family dwelling homes
built in yet another new addition being annexed
into the City. Our City has contracted
$450,000.00 in street resurfacing and have
installed new traffic actuated signals at 3 major
intersections. Carthage is growing and our
infrastructure is improving. Being a lifetime
resident of Carthage, I know the needs of the
City and I am proud of the progress we have made.
My experience enables me to work well with our
Department Heads and assure all citizens that we
intend to move forward in a responsible,
professional manner. I appreciate any input from
our residents and business owners and I am always
willing to listen and consider all options. I
look forward to continue serving Carthage as
Mayor.
Kenneth Johnson, Mayor
Lujene G. Clark
for Mayor.
Lujene Clark is the first woman
in history to run for Mayor of Carthage. She has
served two terms on the Carthage City Council
representing the Fifth Ward.
As councilwoman, she served on
several committees, including Public Safety
(Vice-chairman), Public Services (Vice-chairman),
Budget, Ways and Means, Public Works and Finance,
Personnel, Insurance, Audit & Claims
(Chairman April 1997 - April 1998 and April 1999
- October 2000). In 1997, she was selected by the
Missouri Municipal League to serve as a delegate
to the National League of Cities.
Lujene is a member of the
American Business Women’s Association -
Peace Star Chapter, where she currently serves as
Program Chairwoman. In March 2002, she was
awarded the ABWA "Woman of the Year"
for her chapter.
She is an Honorary Patron of
the McCune-Brooks Hospital Auxiliary, serving as
President from 1998 to 2000. She is also a
member of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.
Lujene’s commitment to the
preservation of Carthage’s historic heritage
has led her to volunteer with numerous local
organizations. She has served on the Board of
Directors of Victorian Carthage, a non-profit
organization dedicated to the preservation of
Kendrick Place. She is also a Life Member of
Carthage Historic Preservation, Inc., a
non-profit organization committed to the
preservation of the Phelps House. As a volunteer
Ambassador to Main Street Carthage, Lujene hopes
to aid in the continued revitalization and
preservation of historic downtown Carthage.
As a mother and avid reader,
Lujene realizes the importance of education and
literacy to the future of Carthage. She is a long
time member of the Friends of the Library, in
addition to serving as city council liaison to
the Carthage Library. Lujene has been appointed
to the Grant Writing Cadre of Mark Twain
Accelerated Elementary School where her son,
Devon, is a first grader.
Lujene’s husband, Alan,
shares her commitment to the community. Dr. Clark
is Medical Director of the Carthage Community
Clinic providing free medical care to the
underprivileged. He also serves on the Site
Council of Carthage Caring Communities. Alan and
Lujene will celebrate their 15th wedding
anniversary in June.
Gary
Lee for Special
Road District
Commissioner.
My name is Gary Robert Lee. On
April 2nd I will be running for the position of
Carthage Special Road District Commissioner.
Before moving to the Carthage
area, my family and I lived in Avilla, ten miles
west of Carthage, where I served as Avilla
Special Road District Commissioner for 10 years.
I have been employed at Blevins Asphalt
Construction Company for 28 years at the Carthage
Plant.
If you choose to vote for me,
you can vote with confidence. Not only do I have
the know how, but I also have the hands on
experience to be your Commissioner. My wife,
Beatrice, and I, along with our kids, Cary,
Lindsey and Sandy would appreciate your vote on
April 2nd.
Thanks, Gary R. Lee
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