Chamber to host Ballot Issues luncheon
March 11, 2015
Charlea Mills
The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce is once again helping Barry County’s voters get informed about the issues and candidates with their annual Ballot Issues event. This year, the event will be held as a luncheon on Thursday, March 19, at noon at the Cassville United Methodist Church.
Each year, the Chamber hosts the event to discuss any issues on the ballot and also give candidates the opportunity to discuss their platforms and why they are running for office. The event is not a debate, but questions are submitted to the Chamber office and asked by a mediator during the luncheon.
This year, the luncheon will feature the Cassville School Board election candidates, Cassville City Council candidates and a representative of the South Barry County Ambulance Board regarding a proposed sales tax.
In the Cassville School Board Election, four names will appear on the April 7 General Election ballot. The incumbents of the race are John Sullivan, who has served on the school board for 27 years and is the current Board President, and Carolyn Bowen, who has served on the board for six years. Challengers this year are Wade Hermansen and Dale Phelps. All four candidates will be present at the event to answer approved questions. Each of the terms for school board members is three years.
In the Cassville City Council election, two seats are up for election, the North and South Ward alderman positions. Incumbent for the North Ward seat Ann Hennigan is facing challenger Jon Horner. Hennigan has served on the City Council for three years. In the South Ward, incumbent Jan Anthony is facing challenger Cindy Carr. Anthony has served on the City Council for two years. Hennigan, Horner and Carr are all sated to attend the event, but Anthony will not be present. Terms for Cassville City Council seats are for two years.
Representing the South Barry County Ambulance District Board, Chairperson Ken Cieslinski will be at the luncheon to ask question about the district’s proposed sales tax. The board is asking for voters to change their funding from a real estate levy to a half-cent sales tax instead to generate more revenue to replace aging equipment and meet demands of the district.
Chamber Director Mindi Artherton stated, “Our goal is to make sure Cassville voters go to the ballot educated on their decision. We created this event to give our members a place where they could meet all those running on the ballot and have the opportunity to network with the candidates in a comfortable atmosphere.
“We will also have a more formal program where candidates can introduce themselves and answer a couple of questions that have been submitted to the chamber. The bottom line is it is important for voters to make an educated, informed decision when casting their vote and we want to provide an avenue for to do just that.”
While the event is not a debate and attendees will not be able to ask questions during the luncheon, chamber members are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by Monday, March 16. The final questions will be selected by chamber volunteers prior.
The Cassville Chamber of Commerce will provide a light lunch of pizza and salad at the event with donations taken to help offset costs. The Chamber is asking for anyone planning to attend to RSVP by emailing chamber@cassville.com or calling (417) 847-2814.
Charlea Mills
The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce is once again helping Barry County’s voters get informed about the issues and candidates with their annual Ballot Issues event. This year, the event will be held as a luncheon on Thursday, March 19, at noon at the Cassville United Methodist Church.
Each year, the Chamber hosts the event to discuss any issues on the ballot and also give candidates the opportunity to discuss their platforms and why they are running for office. The event is not a debate, but questions are submitted to the Chamber office and asked by a mediator during the luncheon.
This year, the luncheon will feature the Cassville School Board election candidates, Cassville City Council candidates and a representative of the South Barry County Ambulance Board regarding a proposed sales tax.
In the Cassville School Board Election, four names will appear on the April 7 General Election ballot. The incumbents of the race are John Sullivan, who has served on the school board for 27 years and is the current Board President, and Carolyn Bowen, who has served on the board for six years. Challengers this year are Wade Hermansen and Dale Phelps. All four candidates will be present at the event to answer approved questions. Each of the terms for school board members is three years.
In the Cassville City Council election, two seats are up for election, the North and South Ward alderman positions. Incumbent for the North Ward seat Ann Hennigan is facing challenger Jon Horner. Hennigan has served on the City Council for three years. In the South Ward, incumbent Jan Anthony is facing challenger Cindy Carr. Anthony has served on the City Council for two years. Hennigan, Horner and Carr are all sated to attend the event, but Anthony will not be present. Terms for Cassville City Council seats are for two years.
Representing the South Barry County Ambulance District Board, Chairperson Ken Cieslinski will be at the luncheon to ask question about the district’s proposed sales tax. The board is asking for voters to change their funding from a real estate levy to a half-cent sales tax instead to generate more revenue to replace aging equipment and meet demands of the district.
Chamber Director Mindi Artherton stated, “Our goal is to make sure Cassville voters go to the ballot educated on their decision. We created this event to give our members a place where they could meet all those running on the ballot and have the opportunity to network with the candidates in a comfortable atmosphere.
“We will also have a more formal program where candidates can introduce themselves and answer a couple of questions that have been submitted to the chamber. The bottom line is it is important for voters to make an educated, informed decision when casting their vote and we want to provide an avenue for to do just that.”
While the event is not a debate and attendees will not be able to ask questions during the luncheon, chamber members are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by Monday, March 16. The final questions will be selected by chamber volunteers prior.
The Cassville Chamber of Commerce will provide a light lunch of pizza and salad at the event with donations taken to help offset costs. The Chamber is asking for anyone planning to attend to RSVP by emailing chamber@cassville.com or calling (417) 847-2814.