By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The turnout at a Carthage candidates forum on Thursday night could be a forecast of voter turnout for the April 6 election for City Council and school board races.
About 25 people turned out for the event in the commons area of Carthage High School.
The session featured brief presentations from some of the candidates in the city and school races, and remarks from Bonnie Earl, Jasper County clerk.
Earl lamented the typically low voter turnout for city and school elections, which often attract less than 10 percent of the county’s approximately 74,000 registered voters.
“It’s a shame, because these local elections are so important, and every vote can have a real impact,” she said.
Earl said the April election is also the most difficult to stage because it includes so many city races in which ballots must be prepared for a specific ward or zone.
“This election will have 60 different ballots,” she said. “The most we’ve ever had is 66 ballots in an April election.”
Three Carthage council candidates and one school board candidate addressed the gathering, and budget concerns were a theme in some of the remarks.
Claude Newport, a council incumbent seeking re-election to a 1st Ward seat, said work has started in preparation for a new city budget that will go into effect July 1.
Spending cuts of between 5 and 6 percent are being forecast, he said, “but the goal is to try not to cut services.”
Ron Wells, a candidate for a 5th Ward council post, noted his willingness to vote against projects he believes are not in the city’s interest.
“I’ve been known for my opposition because I’ve tried to listen and represent the residents,” he said. “Sometimes that’s even meant going door-to-door to ask them what they think.”
Wells served on the council from the 2nd Ward for six years, before deciding four years ago not to run for re-election.
John Studebaker, who is running for re-election from the 3rd Ward, said his past two years on the council have given him experience to help in dealing with budget issues.
“We want to see that things are done the right way,” he said.
Mark Westhoff, the only Carthage School Board candidate to attend the event, noted recent physical accomplishments in the district, including construction of a new high school, renovation of the former high school for use as the junior high, and construction under way on a new Carthage Vo-Tech Center.
He also cited academic improvements and gains in test scores that resulted in the district receiving the “Distinction in Performance” recognition from the state this year.
In anticipation of state funding cuts, he said, the district recently posted on its Web site a survey asking patrons to rank the importance of various programs and offerings.
“If we have to make cuts, we want to know what residents are thinking,” said Westhoff, who is seeking re-election to a third term. “And we want input from everyone, including students.”
The Carthage Emerging Leaders Series of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, Carthage Health and Rehabilitation, and The Carthage Press put on the forum.
Letters
School board candidates Justin Baucom and Alan Snow could not attend Thursday night’s forum, but they sent letters outlining their backgrounds and goals.
