By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

GALENA, Kan. — One might get the impression at some Galena City Council meetings that Dale Oglesby and David Sizemore don’t like each other.

Oglesby, the mayor, and Sizemore, a councilman, said that would be mistaken. They say they simply disagree with each other, but don’t dislike each other.

Sizemore is challenging Oglesby for top city post in the April 7 election. The election ballot also includes a few other contested city races and several school board races.

Sizemore, 61, is retired as a production superintendent with a chemical plant in California. He graduated from Galena High School. He returned to Galena in 1996. He was appointed to his council position in January 2007. This is his first campaign for an elected position.

Oglesby, 55, is in the insurance salvage business. He attended Missouri Southern State University, Joplin. He has lived in Galena nearly 20 years. He is finishing his fourth, nonconsecutive term as mayor and also served on the Galena City Commission.

At a recent meeting, Sizemore accused Oglesby of deliberately not informing him of a meeting with Missouri American Water Co. officials until just before the meeting was about to start. Oglesby said Sizemore’s claim was a political stunt, and that Sizemore had been informed of the meeting several days beforehand.

Oglesby said if he’s given another term as mayor, he would focus on improving the town’s infrastructure and economic development. He said that would include seeing through construction of a medical office building that has started.

“I want to keep the push on economic development that we’ve got going,” Oglesby said.

He said he also has been in talks with an environmentally friendly industry about moving to Galena.

Sizemore said he would help the city departments to work cooperatively. He said he also would emphasize equipment maintenance and upgrade playground equipment in city parks. He said he would like to start an incentive program for building new homes in town.

Sizemore said he doesn’t think Oglesby spends enough time working as mayor, though it doesn’t pay anything. He said the town needs a mayor who sometimes is in city hall.

“I just don’t think he spends the time necessary to do the job,” Sizemore said. “He doesn’t work good with the City Council. He ignores us. It’s not personal. People can’t contact him.”

Oglesby said it’s a not a full-time position and that Sizemore would be too involved with how city department heads operate.

“Probably the biggest difference between Mr. Sizemore and myself is our management styles,” Oglesby said. “I allow department heads to run their departments as they see fit. I judge them by their accomplishments. I monitor them, but I don’t personally get involved.”

He said Galena voters will determine which management style they prefer.

“The mayor really has an obligation to look long-term and try to prepare the city for the future,” he said.

Baxter Springs

There is a contested race in the 1st Ward on the Baxter Springs City Council, between Jennifer Bingham and incumbent Stan Pickering.

Bingham, 34, of 222 E. Ninth St., teaches seventh- and eighth-grade English in Galena schools. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Pittsburg State University. She has lived in Baxter Springs about 20 years. This is her first election run.

Pickering, of 628 E. Ninth St., said he was born in 1934, but age isn’t important. He works in the purchasing department for St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo. He has lived in Baxter Springs for 39 years. He was appointed to the council last June. This is his first election try.

Another contested race in Baxter Springs is between incumbent Ron Costlow and Jerry Snider in the 4th Ward. Neither could be reached by phone.

Columbus

Jamie Robinson is challenging incumbent Connie Bennett for the 5th Ward position on the Columbus City Council.

Robinson, 25, 121 N. Ohio Ave., is a mobility specialist with Mike Carpino Ford Mercury. She is a graduate of Columbus High School. She has lived in the area her whole life and inside the town for 11 years. This is her first try for elected office.

Bennett, 55, 1410 E. Oak St., is a registered nurse and is administrator at Autumn Place. She is a graduate of Labette Community College, Parsons. She has lived in Columbus most of her life. She is completing her third, nonconsecutive term on the City Council.

Weir

Dwight Hale, Jennifer Paxson and Douglas Grotheer are vying for the 2nd Ward position on the Weir City Council.

School boards

Several board of education races in Cherokee County also will be decided on April 7.

On the Riverton school board ballot, Robert Myers and Tom Wimmer are vying for Position 4. Incumbent Jerry Wilkins faces challenges from John Gaines and Nathan Spriggs for Position 6.

In Baxter Springs, eight candidates have filed for three at-large positions on the board of education. They are: Andrea Brewster, Joel Hall, Mary Kirkpatrick, Kenneth Scott Miles, Joseph Skye, Chuck Wren, Doug Puckett and Brent Brittain.

Three contested races are featured on the Columbus Board of Education Ballot. Lawrence Zahm and Kathy Schoech are challenging incumbent Bryon Spear for Position 4. Randy Brooks and Anita Walden are on the ballot for Position 5. Joyce Jones, Danny Langerot Jr. and John Lopp are vying for Position 6.