The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

Discussion

July 22, 2008

Two more apply for council post

By Debby Woodin

dwoodin@joplinglobe.com

Joplin City Council members will interview candidates who have applied for the unexpired term of Jon Tupper during a work session Monday.

There have been 13 applicants, but one has been disqualified, bringing the number the council will have to pick from to at least 12. Residents have until July 30 to apply.

Two new candidates have nominated themselves. They are Mark Brower, 3831 Hawthorne Court, and Mary Rebecca Seidl, 2001 E. 48th St.

Brower is employed as operations planning partner at Alcan Packaging. He wrote on his application that he is a lifelong Joplin resident with “a passion for this town to become what it should be: The entertainment and business center of the Four States.”

Seidl is an assistant prosecuting attorney for Newton County. She formerly was a city prosecutor for Joplin. She listed as a qualification a familiarity with the city and its operation as a result of her employment, along with her relationship with a number of other city employees.

Earlier applicants were Justin Gilstrap, 2824 S. Kentucky Ave.; Joyce Hardcastle, 2601 S. Sergeant Ave.; Charlie James, 3322 Cedar Ridge; Veda Boyd Jones, 505 W. 34th St.; Gary McKinney, 2715 S. Kentucky Ave.; Mary Romero, 6021 W. Highland Drive; Beatrice Scott, 2717 S. Vermont Ave.; Michael Seibert, 2002 E. 48th St.; Richard White, 3424 S. Connecticut Ave.; and Kevin York, 6032 Highland Drive.

Jack Stults, 1 Ridgewood Court, also applied earlier, but he has been disqualified because he doesn’t live in the city limits.

The council has scheduled a meeting to interview the candidates at 5:45 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 602 S. Main St. Council members have agreed to make an appointment at the panel’s Aug. 18 meeting.

The council will appoint someone to fill Tupper’s term, which expires in 2010. He forfeited the seat June 23 after the council ruled that he violated two charter provisions and ethics rules related to interfering with the employment of former parks director Jerry Calvin and two of his subordinates.

Tupper represented Zone 4, and applicants must be residents of that zone and be registered voters. They also must have been residents of Joplin for at least four years.





Applications



Residents of Zone 4 may apply to fill the unexpired term on the council until July 30. Applications are available at the city clerk’s office at 602 S. Main St. or on the city’s Web site at www.joplinmo.org.

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