Springfield Mayor Bob Stephens formally announced he will seek the post during the April 2 general election.
Stephens, who had been mayor pro tem since 2011, was sworn in as mayor on May 8 after
Jim O’Neal resigned abruptly, citing personal and professional obligations.
Stephens is the only person to have registered a candidate committee for mayor of Springfield with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The Stephens campaign had raised $11,500 by the end of September, according to a news release. City Clerk Brenda Cirtin said because Stephens was the first person to submit a petition to run for mayor and have it certified by her office, Stephens' name will appear at the top of the April ballot.
"Top placement on the ballot is very helpful, and I look forward to an aggressive, but civil, campaign during the next four months," Stephens said.
Stephens indicated his goals as mayor remain the same as when he was elected to City Council in April 2009.
“I want to bring as many voices as possible to the table on different issues, and I want City Council to try to avoid creating any unintended consequences," he said in the release.
In the May Springfield Business Journal article "
Next in Line," Stephens said economic development and bringing jobs to Springfield should be a focus.
"There are a number of things we can do, starting off with letting the world know we are open for business," Stephens said at the time, pointing to a need to eliminate antiquated ordinances.
For other council positions to go before voters in April, Cirtin said her office has certified the petitions of current councilman Jeff Siefried for the Zone 1 seat and Greg Fishel and Steve Makoski for the Zone 4 seat. Fishel is the founder of Fishel Pools, and Makoski is director of human resources for Rapid Robert's Inc.
Current councilwoman Jan Fisk and Michael Carroll, controller at Andy’s Frozen Custard, have registered a candidate committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Fisk holds the governing board's General A seat, and Carroll's candidate committee indicates he will fun for the General B seat.
The filing deadline for the April election is Jan. 15.[[In-content Ad]]
