City Council and School Board candidates express their views

Dear Candidate:
The El Dorado Springs Sun believes that voters should have as much information as possible when they go to the poles to vote – in this case on Tuesday, April 4. We are asking candidates to answer the following questions and return them to us for publication in the March 23 issue of the Sun.

1. Name and occupation:
2. What office are you running for?
3. Why are you running and what do you hope to accomplish if elected?
4. Anything else that you believe will help voters see you as the best candidate?

Please return your answers and a picture of yourself if you have one by March 13. If you do not have a photograph, we can take one for you.

You can return your information by mail, bringing it by the Sun office at 125 N. Main, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 or emailing it to sunpub@centurylink.net.

Thank you for your participation.

Kimball Long publisher

Candidate response:

City Council

Ryan Cloyd

My name is Ryan Cloyd and I am running for your City Council.
Currently I work at 3M in Nevada as a production operator, I have been at 3M for two years and I previously worked for my dad, Joe Barger at Mike and Joe’s.
My wife, Bailee, and I have been married for three years and we have the most wonderful little girl who has this dad whipped already at one.
I grew up in ElDo and went to school here and like many of you came back home to be close to family and live a small-town life. I lived in Kansas City, Springfield, Colorado Springs and Denver. I know small town life and city life. I have an appreciation and see the merit in both but I know the challenges that face each way of life. I want my family to grow here and leave roots that last for generations.
I want to represent you on this City’s council because I want your voice to be heard. I want to see the change that so many of you want, it’s not something that can happen overnight. I know it will take a lot of hard work as well as everyone working together. I do not have unattainable expectations for our town, I know I have been very critical in the past of how things are done but it comes from a good place. There is a lot of work to be done here and it cannot be done alone or in one day.
For too long this town has been forgotten about, left behind and passed by. I don’t want our town to become Springfield or Denver, but I do want the leaders of this city and people who own a business and live here to work towards the future and to see some growth for our town. The Swimming Pool on the ballot this April is an amazing idea and one I am fully behind. We don’t need a Wal-Mart or Academy Sports, but we do need somewhere folks can buy a pair of pants and shoes. We do need things for our youth to do in the summer and the winter months.
I have been very vocal in the past about our roads and just overall presentation of our city. The houses that need either tore down or given a face lift. The neighbors that don’t keep their yards clean and have trash piled up. These are some of the issues I will fight to improve right off the bat.
I don’t have all the answers, not even close, but I will work with the entire council and city manager to achieve these hopes and ideas.
So, I ask you, what do you want for our town? The status quo or growth and change?
I’m voting for growth and change and I hope you will too.

Alex Franks

Alex Franks, Licensed Professional Counselor
City Council, El Dorado Springs
My wife, Melissa, and I enjoy serving our community and want to help build a healthy and prosperous El Dorado Springs. We love the small town feel and activities of Eldo and want it to continue. I believe in fiscal responsibility, increasing employment opportunities, and focusing on community engagement for our youth.
While originally from a town 19 miles to the west (which shall remain nameless, and please don’t hold it against me), we are glad to have moved to El Dorado Springs nine years ago. We love the small town charm of our community, including foot-long corn dogs at the annual Picnic, ball games being streamed at the historic theater, and music always coming from the downtown park. I want to be part of continuing the traditions that make El Dorado Springs the special town it is.

Allen Hicks

My name is Allen Hicks.

I am running for City Council.

I met my wife, Goldie 12 years ago and moved to El Dorado Springs and together we have four children, one grandson and two foster children.
Since moving to El Dorado Springs, I have grown to love this town and se so much potential. I would love the opportunity to be part of a team that makes El Dorado Springs a priority. I want to see changes made in the community that will benefit local residents as well as any visitors.
I believe as a team, we need to figure out how we can reduce crime and help our homeless population. I would like to see dilapidated properties be addressed. I believe with the right team we can make this town a place where people want to live and visit.
I would appreciate your vote on April 4.

Joshua Horn

Joshua Horn, Personal Banker Mid-Missouri Bank
City Council
I’m looking at this as a opportunity to grow and become more involved in the community where I’ve spent the last 30 years of my life.

Gabby Kinnett

My name is Gabby Kinnett and I am running for El Dorado Springs city council for a three year term.
I have currently been serving on the council for one year. I have spent the last year learning about our community, it’s employees, the budget and the needs of our community. I look forward to being able to serve my community for another three years to come.
I would like to see the new swimming pool completed, new city sidewalks, a new police station and another police officer position.
I am encouraged by the progress our city is making to remove dilapidated and burned down homes in our city limits. I take hope that the community will continue to work together to uphold our current ordinances and regulations without need for more intervention by the council.
I still would be excited by another grocery store in our community, but any local businesses will be a benefit to our community by increasing our assessed value.
I am thankful for our freedom and encourage all in our community to exercise the right to vote. I am thankful for all the community members who support and pray for the elected officials and ask for them to continue seeking God’s wisdom for our community.

Nathan Murrell

My name is Nathan Murrell and I am the owner and operator of Bear Arms in our town of El Dorado Springs.
I am running for a seat on the El Dorado Springs City Council. El Dorado Springs is my home.
This small town has provided a career for me and my wife and as a part of this community, we try our best to give back and provide service that our small town can be proud of. I want to see El Dorado Springs continue to grow and maintain itself during these hard times and keep dreaming toward the future.
Several small towns similar to our age are only in maintenance mode or even dying out, but ElDo still continues to grow despite the ever changing economy. I believe in our small town and how we can support one another.
It’s exciting to see new businesses, new festivals, new activities, new clubs and new ideas come into our small town which show the true spirit of El Dorado Springs. Instead of a townsquare, our downtown gathers itself around a bandstand reminding me of how a community is based on love, family, friends and passing down those qualities to future generations.
I’m very thankful for the members active in preserving our past so we can look confidently into our future. If elected, I will do what’s best for the community and push for it to grow and bring parts of it back to life. I believe in working together to keep this small town community united, stronger and healthy.

School Board

Mark Burley

Hello, my name is Mark Burley. I am employed by UPS in Appleton City.
I am running for school board at the El Dorado Springs R2 School District.
I am married to Jana (Englund) Burley, and we have four children. Our daughters have both graduated from Eldo, and our two sons are still in school. I attend church at Blue Ridge Church north of town. I’ve been on the board there for 20+ years.
I have a great desire to see kids succeed in all of their school endeavors. I will do my best to be a voice between the community and school, and help make decisions that benefit our kids and support our staff. We have a great group of administrators and quality teachers in our buildings, and my goal is that it stays that way. I encourage you to get out and vote.

RJ Kinnett

My name is RJ Kinnett. I was raised and went to school here in El Dorado Springs. After graduating, I obtained a bachelor’s of science degree in Biology from Missouri Southern State University.
I currently work for Dairy Farmers of America in the research and development department. I am a member of the Optimist club where I currently serve as the secretary/treasurer.
In my spare time, you can usually find me volunteer coaching in one of my kids many sports. I am running for my second term for school because I enjoy serving my community. My only agenda is to try to make our school the best it can be. We need to make sure kids are prepared and equipped with the knowledge they need to be successful in life. To achieve this, we need to make sure that we have the best teachers and staff in place. This includes administration that will help build and develop these teachers.
The past three years have been difficult to say the least. COVID has really changed the landscape of education and how instruction looks now.
In closing, I just want to say thank you to the voters for allowing me the chance to serve our school district.

Dave Leonard

Dave Leonard, maintenance worker for MODOT for 19 years.
El Dorado Springs School Board
I want to run for the school board because I want what’s best for the kids of our community. I do believe that doing what’s best for the kids involves taking care of our teacher and staff as well. Coming into this election, I think it’s important not to have a personal agenda or “a bone to pick.” In my opinion, that’s the wrong reason to run. Keeping it simple, I simply want to make the right decisions for our kids and staff, decisions made according to morals and values. I am an avid sport supporter, but I feel very strongly that academics and fine arts often get overlooked. I am also extremely concerned about our lack of ability to retain good, quality teachers. I fear that until we work together to offer solutions, this problem will only continue to get worse. If elected, I will do everything in my power to create incentives to obtain and retain valuable teachers, while equally supporting sports, academics and the fine arts.
I was born and raised here in El Dorado Springs and have never lived elsewhere. This is truly my home. I graduated from El Dorado Springs RII, as did my parents, my wife and my son. This gives me a personal investment into this school district. I am proud to be a hometown guy. Throughout the years, I have been very active in our community, mostly focusing on providing safe, positive environments and mentorship for the youth of ElDo. I was vice president of the Jaycees when they had an active group in town. My wife and I ran the Vault downtown for many years, often having as many as 100 teenagers on an average Friday night. After the Vault building was sold, I became president of ElDo Youth Inc, thus helping to turn the historical Liston School into a youth center. I ran the Youth Center for several years. I have also been active in the youth and bus ministries and the Church of God (Holiness) for over 25 years. Finally, while our son was in school, I helped in any capacity I could, such as chaperoning and transporting the wrestling team, being president of the Booster Club and volunteer coaching. As you can see, I truly have a personal investment in the success of our school.

Rachel Stauffer

Rachel Stauffer, Biology Instructor at Fort Scott Community College
El Dorado Springs School Board
I am running for school board because education is my passion and my calling. I am running for school board as a uniquely qualified candidate that has taught in the district for 10 years; 7 in the middle school and 3 in the high school. I want to help the district maintain fiscal responsibility while providing a quality education for students. I have a vision of assisting in looking for ways to make El Dorado Springs School District a place where teachers want to work and students excel.
I have lived in the district for 21 years and was raised in Cedar County. I have two children that attend high school at El Dorado Springs. I believe it is important to foster positive relationships with students, staff and administration. We have an obligation to taxpayers to be fiscally responsible and provide a sound financial foundation for the district while providing a quality education for students. As board members we also have a duty to examine evidence and data provided to us in order to make sound, unbiased decisions that are in the best interest in the district as a whole. We also have to be willing to ask questions to fully understand the decisions we will participate in making.

Andrew Wyant

My name is Dr. Andrew Wyant. I am a family physician and hospitalist at CCMH.
I have lived in El Dorado Springs since 2019 when I moved here from Kentucky to practice medicine.
My wife Krystal and I have three children together, Juliet, 18, Jude, 16 and Josie, 11.
As a community minded person, I chose to run for the school board several months ago to serve this community whom I have grown to love. My son, Jude is a junior at R2 High School thus I have a vested interest in his academic and scholastic success.
I have always had an interest in education and if elected would do my best to serve as a steward of the taxpayers, and a visionary for our children’s education.