By Debby Woodin
dwoodin@joplinglobe.com
Joplin City Councilman Phil Stinnett withdrew Thursday as a candidate for re-election in April. He cited health concerns.
Stinnett has served three four-year terms on the council since first being elected in 1998, and is a former mayor. He is one of three sitting council members in general seats whose terms expire this spring.
Stinnett sent an e-mail to the Globe on Thursday announcing his decision to withdraw from the race.
“Due to recent personal health issues, I have decided not to actively pursue re-election to the Joplin City Council,” Stinnett wrote.
“Unfortunately, these health issues occurred after my name was already on the ballot. It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Joplin for the past twelve years, but now I feel I need to concentrate on regaining my health.”
Contacted by telephone and asked to clarify what he would do if elected since it is too late to remove his name from the ballot, Stinnett said, “I can’t imagine anyone voting for me (after his announcement), but if I were elected, I would resign the seat.”
City Attorney Brian Head said that if Stinnett were elected and resigned, the council would appoint someone to serve for two years of the term, and the seat then would be filled in an election.
Stinnett said he will try to attend the council’s regular meeting on Monday, if his doctor permits.
He is known for promoting a professional image for the City Council, said fellow council member Morris Glaze.
“He was always open to listening to your opinion,” even if he disagreed, Glaze said, “and I respect him for that.”
Stinnett also is known for studying what he thought the impact from a council decision would be, and for encouraging the council to keep a balanced city budget, Glaze said.
Stinnett’s decision leaves one incumbent in a five-way race for three general seats on the council. Another council member whose term will be up after the election, Jim West, chose to run for state office. He has filed for the Democratic nomination for state representative from the 129th District.
Mayor Pro Tem Mike Woolston is the incumbent remaining in the race. Other candidates are Jack Golden, Kelly Maddy, Trisha Raney and Kevin York. Another candidate, Erik Wright, withdrew last month, saying a family obligation had arisen that would require him to be out of town too much to serve.
All of the remaining candidates have agreed to participate in a Globe candidate forum at 7 p.m. March 18 that will be broadcast live from the studio of KGCS-TV, the television station of Missouri Southern State University.
Questions will be posed by members of the news media and via the Internet from residents.
Questions may be submitted via Facebook or by e-mail to cstark@joplinglobe.com.
A round-robin candidate forum will be held at 6 p.m. March 23 by the Young Professionals Network of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.
That forum will be held in the council chambers on the fifth floor of City Hall, 602 S. Main St. Residents may submit questions by calling the chamber at 624-4150.
Unopposed
Two zone candidates, Mayor Gary Shaw and Michael Seibert, are unopposed in the April 6 election.
