The League of Women Voters Candidates Forum for both Mexico City Council and Mexico School Board was held on Tuesday, March 26 at the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce.

There are five candidates for Mexico City Council and four for Mexico School Board elections, to be held Tuesday April 2. Here are questions and candidates’ answers, limited to 200 words each:

2024 School Board Candidate Questions

1. What are your qualifications for a position on the Mexico School Board?

2. What do you see as the 2 major issues confronting the Mexico School Board during the upcoming term? How would you recommend these issues be addressed?

Chris Williams

Chris Williams

1. I have served on the Mexico City Council since 2009. I think this has given me great experience and a unique perspective to see how local government processes work. These processes can be greatly different than how some would respond to certain situations. This perspective can only help on the school board as well.

My involvement in the community, to include business and volunteer activities has also served me well by giving me a unique perspective of the overall community. My work with youth with the Optimist Club to leading a successful Mexico business allows me to hear different perspectives from youth and adults.

With a child in the Mexico School system, I only want to see this district succeed. My son’s successful participation in the Mexico High School Academic Team is, I feel, a great testament to how important education is to our family. Through his participation, I have had the opportunity to watch some of the brightest minds in the state compete at a high level and succeed. I’ve also had the opportunity to visit other school districts, talk with their employees, and gain a unique perspective there as well.

2. The first I see is what appears to be the total disregard for the public’s opinion on school matters. To speak at a board meeting, you have to submit your issue to be included on the agenda and be approved by the superintendent and board president. Why? When I ran for council, one tenet was to have a more open and welcoming council. I did that by the council adopting a three-minute public speaking clock at the end of meetings. It’s worked well and I think could be done here.

When comparing us to other communities nearby, we rank near the bottom of every single academic category according to state metrics. Contrary to what some would have you believe, this has been the same for years even before COVID-19, so why can’t it be fixed? We have great teachers and staff who are more than capable but are frustrated and end up leaving us for employment elsewhere. Currently we have a system that does not prioritize academics and I want to create a new culture of academic success.

Michelle Stephens

Michelle Stephens

1. I previously worked at MPS for four years in the Central office Business Department. I am very familiar with the day-to-day processes of running the District and the long-term planning strategies needed to move it forward. I am the current School Board Treasurer and have enjoyed my time serving in this position. I am also a Booster Club board member and you will often find me in the concession stand serving up refreshments during games. I hold Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration and in Human Resources from Columbia College. I have worked in finance for the past 16 years and currently work at EquipmentShare in Columbia as the Insurance Verification Manager. Previously I was a Lunch Buddy and when our boys weree little, I coached soccer and T-ball at the YMCA and at the Optimists. My husband Rodger (class of 1992) and I have two sons who we are proudly raising as Bulldogs! Jacob is a junior and Kale is in the seventh grade. My working knowledge of school finance, the inner workings of MPS, as well as being an active parent, and current Mexico School Board member are all reasons that I am qualified for re-election.

2. There are also some hard decisions that need to be made to shift the culture of MPS if we are going to attract and retain quality and qualified teachers. We must think outside the box and open our minds to trying creative ways to make our school district the place to be. Education is different than it was 20 years ago and we have to adapt or we are going to continue to have with retention. Hard decisions are called hard decisions because they aren't easy, and those hard decisions are often the most purposeful and in turn they are what's best for the kids. I am excited to see what fresh ideas the new Superintendent brings to our district to help shift our culture.

I would like to see community education around how school funding works, community programs offered that impact our district, and services available to students. Many people in our community want what is best for our kids, but we must get everyone the information needed so that they can show up to support our students and staff. Hosting forums, continuing to utilize the social media platforms, radio and the newspaper to keep our stakeholders informed.

Jennifer Gore

Jennifer Gore

1. The first answer to this question is my educational background and professional experience. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and a MA in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. I am a retired middle school/high school teacher, and finished my career with the last twelve years working in Mexico Schools. I have lived in this school district for 30 years, and both of my children graduated from Mexico Public Schools. Since my retirement in 2019, I have made an effort to stay informed in education legislation and policies at the state level.

 We live in a day and age when people are looking for leadership in their local schools that can bring more to the table than a relevant list of qualifications. The electorate is looking for a person who is not afraid to ask questions, to challenge the status quo, and one who has the courage to suggest that change is needed. I believe an effective school board member needs a heart for understanding that we are failing the next generation, and that parents and teachers are passionate about finding beneficial solutions to an educational system in need of reform. I am committed to helping do just that.

2. Two major issues are the need for higher expectations, in terms of discipline and academic achievement. The lack of discipline in our schools has become a hurdle for those students who want to learn. It causes the teacher’s effectiveness in the classroom to be minimized, as he or she is often concerned with crowd control and outbursts. Our teachers and students deserve better. A number one priority has to be the Board and Administration developing a structured support system  so that our classrooms are less about being a combat zone and more about being  a place of intellectual curiosity that fosters learning.

Higher expectations with regard to academics is of particular concern at the  High School. Once again, teachers and students are negatively impacted. When  the teachers are prevented from establishing due dates, and required to follow a  standards based grading system, the students are ultimately the ones who pay a  price. Whether a student is considering post-secondary education, or entering the workforce, they need the opportunity to develop a work ethic. Responsibility is  key to success in the adult world. More responsibility needs to be placed on  students in terms of ownership for positive behaviors and academic success.

Lennette Brown

Lennette Brown

1. I have been on the school board for 7 months now after filling an empty seat, and I do not know if there are qualifications that make you the perfect candidate for being on the School Board. I have grandkids, my friends, coworkers, people I know have kids or had kids in school. I care about the students, teachers and this community. I want to help the students get the best education and try to help improve the quality of our school district. As a grandparent raising kids in the school district it is totally different from when my kids went to school and definitely different from when I went to school. This is my opportunity to be an advocate for our school district, our teachers, our administration and help them become the best people that they can be. It will also help me become the best person I can be. We have to listen to each other to help make the best decisions for the Mexico School District. We have to be transparent in our decision making. My goal is to help in the long term success by attracting and retaining the best teachers and administrators. I want our students to be better than we are, to strive for more than we have and to make sure our students have a safe place to be able to learn and be creative. I know I can’t do that by myself but I am willing to be a part of the solution. I think agreeing to be on the board of education is just putting yourself out there to try and help make a difference with a group of like-minded people, whether it’s a big difference or a small difference. Take away all the labels and let our students/teachers/administrators/and even, ourselves become the best person they/we can be.

2. Test scores are a big concern at this time. We are not the only district struggling with this issue. We need to concentrate on helping get the kids scores up. Are the kids getting prepared for the test, are they getting enough sleep, are they eating a healthy diet? Practice makes perfect, any incentives to help with learning and making learning fun. How can we make sure our parents and teachers have what they need to help these kids succeed? I think communication and working together with one another is the key to the success of our schools. We need to listen to the concerns of our administrators, teachers, parents and kids to make things work.

Retaining teachers. We have teachers leaving the district for several different reasons and not all bad but we need to offer an incentive to keep teachers in the district. What can we do as a district to assist teachers in our district? How can we make Mexico School district a landing place and not just a stepping stone? I want to see teachers doing better and moving on but I love it when you hear so many positive things about a teacher. I want them to stay. I think communication and listening to them is the key. Let’s ask the teachers what do they need to succeed. They are teaching our precious little ones and we want teachers who care because they go above and beyond for their kids.

2024 City Council Candidate Questions

1. What are your qualifications for a position on the Mexico City Council?

2. Identify two issues you would like to see addressed by the Mexico City Council during the upcoming term. How would you recommend these issues be addressed?

Josh Price

Josh Price

1. I’m a long-time resident of Mexico. I graduated from Mexico High School. I’m someone who thinks outside the box and I have a lot of experience in solving problems in ways that doesn’t involve throwing money at them. I’m also a Rotary Club Leader of Tomorrow award winner. 

2. I want to rewrite the code for our public utilities corridor so that our water mains run under our sidewalks. That way the water company is repairing and replacing our sidewalks, instead of digging up our streets. 

I also want to bring jobs to Mexico. I want to increase the wages for the people living here and for Mexico to grow. We have to start electing people who actually want these things if we want to improve the quality of life here in our community. I would also like the City of Mexico to write a letter of concern regarding the Panhandle Eastern Pipeline for Senator Hawley’s office. 

Vicki Briggs

Vicki Briggs

1. I have served on the Mexico City Council for six years, and am presently serving as the Mayor. I am very familiar with how the city operates, and with the Missouri State laws, including the Ethics laws, which regulate cities our size in Missouri.

I am an honorary member of the Mexico Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee which aids me in keeping up with business in Mexico and the surrounding area.

As far as my education and background goes, I grew up on a farm in Howard County, but have lived here since 1975. I graduated from William Jewell College with a degree in chemistry and taught school for many years and retired. Presently, I am teaching part-time at MMA.

I have served in this community in many capacities, among which have been school board, park board, and church.

2. There is always a need for new business and industries in Mexico, but along with that comes a huge need for new housing for the people who would be employed in those new jobs. This is a big concern for new industries looking to come to town. Although we are making progress with new housing, the Council needs to make sure that our ordinances are set up in a way that helps builders and contractors, but also are still satisfactory for our community standards. This also includes a willingness to address building new sewer lines and roads. The hospital situation is a huge concern for all of us and especially potential employers, and although the city’s role in this is limited, we still can promote our town as a place for a new medical facility that meets our needs.

The downtown area is a new focus in town, and especially for the city council. At this time, we are in the planning stage of its revival, but it is exciting to think about the potential we have there.

Mexico is an interesting and exciting place to be right now. We have a great town with many positive things going for us.

Chris Miller

Chris Miller

1. Nine years as a Councilman and 4 years as Mayor gives me lots of knowledge of the working of our town and our City Government. I would be coming to the Council position with no agenda- only the desire to provide the best possible decisions to support our citizens based on the funds we have to work with.

2. The Hospital is a big concern to everyone. But the hospital is privately owned and therefore the City is limited as to what we can do. I will support any persons, groups, etc. working on a hospital project any way we can.

I would like to see the Downtown District improve. Buildings, sidewalks and new businesses. The Main Street project the City and Chamber are working on is just in its infancy but it shows hope for the Downtown. The City has for the last several years applied for grants from the State for a downtown sidewalk project. I support the City to continue to apply for these grants.

Laine Chedwick

Laine Chedwick

1. What qualifies me, is that I have grown up here in Mexico, Missouri, and my family has deep roots in the community. I left briefly to attend college and gain more skills and came home because I care deeply for my community. I went to school at Culver Stockton College for Management and Marketing. After graduating college, I took a position as a large team lead in a technology manufacturing. Now, I work as a real estate agent at Century 21 in Mexico serving our community. My ties to the community, training in management, and experience leading a team have given me a unique set of skills and the ability to appreciate different perspectives. My love for my community will serve as my north star for all actions I would take in this position. I bring a young, fresh perspective that can embrace change if it is needed for the betterment of our community, while also appreciating those that have come before me and the work they have done to make this community such a great place to live. 

2. Two issues that I would like to see addressed by the Mexico City Council during the upcoming term are, first I would like to see a revitalization plan for the downtown area. For the first issue, I would recommend that we explore the viability of a potential cost matching program to assist local business owners with the upkeep of their downtown buildings. Second, I would like to see the City Council implement a plan for encouraging local business growth and opportunities. I would be interested in meeting with local business owners to hear their concerns and recommendations for business growth in our community. The local businesses have a valuable perspective on what is needed and desired in the community

Camron Bessolo

Camron Bessolo

1. My qualifications are being a middle-aged adult in the city limits of Mexico, Missouri and having lived in our community for the last eighteen years. I have experience working with different people and different points of view, whether working with buyers, sellers, agents, and closing agents as a realtor, working with landlord/tenants as a property manager and landlord, and as part of a real estate development group working with city officials, utility companies, engineering companies, and numerous construction companies in an effort to get on the same page and work through any and all issues that arise.

2. One issue I'm particularly interested in is addressing the importance of sidewalks on both sides of Lakeview Road. I believe it would be a huge advantage to the city residents to connect multiple neighborhoods with a safe way to the Lakeview Park, schools, and industrial parks. Living right off Lakeview Road on Springdale Court, I find it extremely dangerous walking my dog to the park and believe the addition of sidewalks would encourage residents to walk more safely.

Another area of interest would be working with the city to possibly enact a recycling program. As an avid recycle4 I believe Mexico could lead the way by studying and finding a way to profitably recycle in our community.