Municipal elections are next Tuesday.

In the Springfield Public Schools (SPS) district and many surrounding areas, school board elections will be on the ballot.

School board members connect their local communities to the public schools. Who we elect to school boards has a direct impact on the curriculum taught, student achievement and outcomes, composition of the faculty and staff, and facility and financial management of our public schools.

In short, school board elections are very important. I hope you will take time to research the candidates for the school district you live in and vote next Tuesday.

Review candidates

In SPS, we have five candidates running for two spots on the seven-member board.

The Springfield Daily Citizen interviewed and published articles about each candidate:

• Charles Taylor.
• Steve Makoski.
• Chad T. Courtney.
• Brandi VanAntwerp.
• Kelly Byrne.

The Daily Citizen also published a Q&A series titled “Which Springfield school board candidates do you align with?” that provides information about each candidate’s stance on several critical issues, including:

• COVID mitigation.
• MAP and ACT scores.
• Staggered start times.
• Teacher staffing issues.
• And more.

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has announced its endorsement of two candidates. The Springfield NEA has also announced its endorsement of two candidates.

Vote April 5

Please take a look at the materials linked above and other information you have at your disposal. Educate yourself and vote next Tuesday.

The Davis-Harrington Welcome Center will once again serve as a central polling location for the April election. If you are registered to vote anywhere in Greene County, you can vote in the Welcome Center or at your regular polling location.

The Welcome Center will be open for voting 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. April 5.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

On April 2, 2019, we will have several important candidates and issues to vote on. I urge each of you to research the candidates and issues and put the public affairs mission into practice by voting.

Learn about the local candidates

Municipal elections are on the ballot for several southwest Missouri cities. In Springfield, we have two contested council races. We also have uncontested races for mayor and three other council seats. You can learn about the candidates through the News-Leader’s January article.

Tax to fund priority projects

Voters in the City of Springfield will also decide whether to renew a ¼-cent sales tax to fund capital improvements. City leaders utilized a citizen survey to help them identify 20 high priority projects to complete in the first five years if the tax is renewed.

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the tax renewal. You can find more information about this ballot measure online.

Thomas-Tate among SPS board candidates

School board elections are also on the ballot. Springfield Public Schools has three candidates running for two available seats on the board. Two of the candidates are incumbents. The third candidate is a new voice in local politics, Dr. Shurita Thomas-Tate.

Dr. Thomas-Tate is an associate professor in our communication sciences and disorders department. The Springfield News-Leader ran an article in December highlighting Dr. Thomas-Tate and why she decided to run for school board.

You can learn about the candidates for Springfield Public School board through Claudette Riley’s News-Leader article published earlier this month.

Improving local schools

Voters in the Springfield School District will also decide whether to finance 39 high-priority school improvements with an 18-cent increase to the property tax debt-service levy.

Projects include:

• Secure entrances at 31 schools, with double-entry points, intercoms, cameras and electronic locking controls
• Extensive renovation of Hillcrest High School, Sunshine Elementary and Williams Elementary
• New facilities for Boyd Elementary, Delaware Elementary and Jarrett Middle School
• Expanded classroom space for preschool education throughout the district

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the proposal. You can find more information about this proposal online.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Today is Election Day. We are faced with several important decisions at the local, state and federal level. I voted this morning, and Gail voted absentee last week as she is having minor surgery today.

Take time to vote

At the federal level, we will elect a new President and Vice President. We will also elect our United States Senator and United States Representative in Congress.

At the state level we will elect the following offices:

• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Secretary of State
• State Treasurer
• Attorney General
• State representatives in all districts
• State senators in some districts

In Greene County we will elect two commissioners as well as the sheriff, assessor, treasurer and public administrator.

We will also vote on six ballot measures, five of which are proposed state constitutional amendments.

Highlighting two ballot areas

I want to take a moment to focus on two of these ballot measures: Constitutional Amendment No. 3 and Proposition A.

Each of these measures seeks to increase tobacco taxes to finance particular state and local services. These measures have proven controversial, largely because they are financially supported by different players in the tobacco industry and because many believe the measures are designed to protect cigarette manufacturers and retailers and not encourage smoking cessation.

I have not been shy about my personal view on these ballot measures (I oppose them), and I, along with other members of the Healthy Living Alliance, signed an opinion statement opposing these measures that was published in the Springfield News-Leader.

That being said, reasonable minds can differ on how to vote for each of the candidates and issues on today’s ballot. I would encourage everyone to fully research the candidates and issues and cast an informed vote – whatever it may be. Regardless of the decision each of us makes, we put the public affairs mission into practice when we participate in the well-being of our community, state and nation by voting.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!