City government candidates on Willow’s future

Candidates for municipal office in Willow Springs gathered in the upstairs of the Ferguson Building Thursday night for a voters’ forum. 

 

There are two candidates for Willow Springs mayor. Only one was present. Current alderwoman and mayor pro tem Kim Rich gave a brief personal bio including her upbringing on a Texas County dairy farm, her time in the U.S. Army, and her 18 years at the helm of Howell County News. She served as mayor from 2015 to 2017. She described a highlight of her time in public life in Willow Springs that took place in 2004. 

“The city owned a very large building. They had taken a big risk to purchase that building, and there were several of us in the community who wanted to make sure that that was successful. So, we started meeting at Hillbilly Junction for breakfast and we would bounce ideas and visit, and we tried work out those outcomes. Pretty soon, we got a good bite, and we had a company that wanted to come down and see the equipment…When they came, we made them a homecooked meal. We met with them -- members of the faith community the business community, representatives from the school and from the city. We sat and visited for a while. As we were wrapping up the president of Jasper Engines said, ‘We can buy a building anywhere. What we want is a community, and this is what you've shown us today.’”

 

She highlighted the partnerships that have brought Love’s Travel Stop, Tractor Supply, and the restoration of the McClellan Building to town.

 

“I can't take credit for any of this, but I can say that I feel proud for the leadership that has gotten us some of these things and gotten us to where we are today. I hope to continue to provide that leadership in the future.”

 

Her opponent, Adam Webb, could not be present at the forum. As the Fire Chief of the Tyrone Fire Department, Webb was on a fire scene near Raymondville for a total of ten hours on March 27. He missed the forum and did not have the opportunity to answer questions.

 

“I am truly sorry, but I wouldn’t be much of a leader if I left my guys,” Webb said. Webb has been in the fire service for 25 years and has served as Tyrone’s fire chief for 18 years. He is a Willow Springs high school graduate who has three great-grandfathers buried in Hutton Valley cemetery, he said. He describes himself as a person with experience in leadership who has served on various boards, including Willow Springs R-IV School board. In a statement to Howell County News, he highlighted his experience with financial management and budgeting on these boards as well as his well-established history of volunteerism in the community. 

 

At Thursday night’s forum, Rich answered a question about why Willow Springs would benefit from the continuity she has said she wants to provide the city. In essence, what is the city doing right?

 

Rich said the city is making good financial decisions and her statement about continuity is, “pure nuts and bolts.”

 

“We will have three new council numbers. We have one alderman who's been on less than a year. My point on leadership is, it would be easier to have a leader who understands the direction…just the basics of getting through our meeting. It would be helpful to have somebody who's experienced to lead.”

 

Aldermen candidates weigh in

 

Without her opponent present, back-and-forth between the mayoral candidates was not possible. Rich answered the same questions posed to the two candidates for Ward I aldermen, in her turn. 

 

Bryan Hogan and Luke Bartow are both running for the alderman seat. 

 

In introduction, Hogan said, “I grew up in Mountain View, but I actually lived in Willow Springs most of my adult life. I worked locally.   I've got 30 plus years working for city governments in the police department. I worked here in Willow Springs for 20 years. I retired in May 2022 as the police chief. I am the last elected City Marshal that this town will have. As the police chief, I did attend all city council meetings and interacted with the city employees. I’m pretty familiar with the city here.”

 

Luke Bartow moved his family of seven to the area from California three years ago. He owns a business in Mountain Grove and one in Ava.

 

“I want to run for city council for alderman because I love this town. I'm from a small town in Northern California. I've seen what happens in small towns when you don't have people in leadership that care about the town and care about what happens to the future generations. I would love my children to grow up here. I want my grandkids to grow up here Proverbs 13 Chapter 13, says, ‘a righteous man leaves an inheritance to his children, his children’s children,’ and I view this town as an inheritance, as a blessing…that we should protect what we have here. I have the business acumen to bring to the table. I've had to balance P&Ls for my whole career in retail, and that's why I'm here. Not to compete with Bryan or do anything like that. Just because I've, you know, we should have people on city council that they care and have the chops to do it.”

 

The first question the candidates answered from the audience was from Wendell Bailey, “What is the one most important thing that you need to be accomplished?”  

 

Hogan answered first, “For me I think it's going to be listening to the citizens -- to communicate with them and then communicate with the city employees here. When I was working here, it didn't happen a lot, but sometimes an alderman would come by the PD or I would run into one in town, or would give me a call, and that really made me feel like they were really interested in what's going on in my department. I want to do that as well. 

 

Rich answered, “I would like to provide a continuation. We have some really good things in the works -- development, for jobs for housing, and I would like to stay in place to be able to follow through with those things. 

 

Bartow responded, “The most important thing for me would be the financial side -- ensuring that the budget is balanced, but also that we're doing things to bring people into Willow Springs to produce income and whatever way that you can.”

 

The candidates addressed a question about rising mistrust in government and how they can prevent that in Willow Springs. 

 

Bartow began, “Always operating from the standpoint of ‘what is best for Willow Springs?’ And then on top of that communicate, right? Being open to questions from the community because a lot of times just trust comes from just lack of communication.”

 

Rich highlighted transparency as key, including, “Following the Sunshine Law all the time,  every time, to make sure you're always operating above board. The other thing would be talking to people in the grocery store. If somebody asks me a question, I'm going to find the answer. Positive public relations and just available and open to the community we serve. 

 

Hogan agreed, “There doesn't need to be secrets…I want to talk city politics with anybody that wants to talk. The key thing is communication and just having an open mind.” 

 

When asked about concrete ways, outside of city council meetings, the candidates see themselves promoting the city, Hogan said he hopes to be involved in programs benefiting the local youth. 

 

“That's our future. That's what we really need to focus on,” Hogan said. 

 

Bartow agreed, expanding, “I think Willow Springs is poised- we're right between West Plains and Mountain Grove -- we're poised to have some sort of draw for kids sports, maybe a park or something.”

 

Rich said, “Council is more than once-a-month meeting, but those of us who are active trying to be engaged to more than that, I would say at least once a week, I visit with somebody about a business opportunity or this or that we can do for the community. Again, I think it's just being open and talking to people and trying to figure out, ‘if this person wants to do this, how can we help?’ It's not a black and white answer. There's not one answer that's going to fit every scenario.”

 

In closing, Bartow said, “This is a beautiful town. It's something to be protected and preserved. The reason I'm running is to do that thing and work with Kim or Adam Webb, whoever is the mayor, work with the city council and preserve and strengthen this town so that future generations can enjoy it.”

 

Hogan closed, “I am retired, so I do have time to go to city matters, and I would do that. This is a great town, and my grandchildren go to school here, and I just want to make it sure they have a bright future ahead of them.”

 

In closing, Rich said, “I believe strongly that we are better together. If we all come to the table, we set ourselves aside and the axes we have to grind, if we leave those at the door, come to the table, and bring in the very best that we can, that's when we're best as a community. I believe that our best is yet to come in Willow Springs. I think we will see continued growth at the South Junction. I hope that we see some revitalization downtown as well…I think we also will see additional housing all in the near term. I just would like to be here to be able to provide that cooperative-style leadership to take us there.”