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Matt BarkerPhoto courtesy REFUGE CHURCH
Matt Barker

Photo courtesy REFUGE CHURCH

Nixa council candidate drops out of race

Posted online
A candidate for Nixa City Council has canceled his campaign, citing his change in residence within the city.

Matt Barker, an associate pastor of Refuge Church in Nixa, suspended his run for the District 1 seat due to a change of address, according to a news release.

“I regret to inform the people of Nixa that due to unforeseen family circumstances, I am unexpectedly moving to a different district within Nixa,” Barker said in a statement. “Due to my move to a different district, I am now unable to run for city council. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."

Barker missed the deadline to have his name removed from the April 4 ballot. Should he receive more votes for the District 1 seat than the only other candidate, Jimmy Ledbetter, council will fill the vacancy by majority vote of its own.

Other candidates on the Nixa ballot include Darlene Graham and Connor Koch for the District 3 council seat; Mayor Brian Steele running unopposed for re-election; and Joel Harris running unopposed for re-election as municipal judge, according to the release.

In Springfield last month, City Clerk Anita Cotter certified 13 applicants for the city’s April election, according to a separate release.

They are:
    •    Ken McClure and Kristi Fulnecky for mayor;
    •    incumbent Jan Fisk, Jesse Coulter and Allen Kemper for council’s General Seat A;
    •    incumbent Craig Hosmer and Curtis Montgomery for General Seat B;
    •    incumbent Phyllis Ferguson and Thomas Quinn for the Zone 1 seat;
    •    incumbent Dr. Tom Prater and Helen Gunther for Zone 2; and
    •    incumbent Craig Fishel and Debra Brady for Zone 4.

Since McClure and Fulnecky both are current council members, the winner’s council seat will be filled via an application process by city officials.

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