Harrisonville Board of Aldermen
Ward 1
Mike Zaring
Age: 53
Current occupation: Schoolteacher
Office you are seeking: Harrisonville Alderman, Ward 1
Why are you running for this office?
Because I am now in a position to be more involved in the community and give back to a community that has been so good to our family.
What are your qualification?
More than 25 years of leadership serving in the United States Army. This as made me extremely competent at problem solving, decision making and advising on complex issues.
If elected, what are your priorities?
To maintain our small-town values while carefully growing and improving our community.
Miscellaneous information you may want to submit including information about your family:
Married to the former Julie Jones, four children and four grandchildren.
Ward 2
Judy Reece
Age: N/A
Current occupation: Retired
Office you are seeking: Harrisonville Alderman, Ward II
Why are you running for this office?
I consider it a privilege to serve the city where I grew up, married and raised my children. I want to contribute to the quality and growth of our city for future generations.
What are your qualifications?
I have served on the city council as alderman for four years; regularly attended board of aldermen meetings and activities; co-hosted more than two dozen town hall meetings in the past four years; supported the continued improvements and safety of city services; earned the Certified Municipal Official Award, pre sented by the Missouri Municipal League; and worked with the park department and a committee of dedicated citizens to see my dream of a dog park in Harrisonville become a reality.
If elected, what are your priorities?
As your alderman in Ward 2, I will continue to support city and school district, working together to maintain school enrollment and create future opportunities for our next generation; support all efforts to revitalize our historic square; support Harrisonville’s small businesses and work to attract high paying jobs for the welfare of generations to come; focus on strengthening our sense of community through festivals, celebrations, farmers markets and other community events; support the continued improvements and safety of city utilities and services.
What is the most important information voters need to know to vote for you?
As a former teacher and school administrator, I understand the importance of working with and supporting our schools. I believe in honesty and integrity from your city leaders. In the past four years, I have been so fortunate to deal with my neighbors in Ward Two. I welcome the phone calls, messages and meetings that have kept me in touch with the problems and successes of our city. I look forward to serving another four years and promise to work hard (and smart) for you.
Ward 3
Sandy Franklin
Age: 68
Current occupation: Retired
Office you are seeking: Alderman for Ward 3, Harrisonville
Why are you running for this office?
I feel we need a fresh, new voice in Ward 3. As I have been going door-to-door and speaking with some of the residents, they have concerns and issues which they believe need to be addressed. I feel as an alderman, it
is my job to ensure that their issues and concerns are addressed in a manner that is fair.
What are your qualifications?
I am a member of the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce, Love the Harrisonville Square, Harrisonville Park Board, a volunteer at the food pantry and serve as a volunteer for Bright Futures. I believe that the knowledge and experience I have gained by my involvement in the life of my community has helped qualify me for the position of alderman.
If elected, what are your priorities?
Once elected, I will continue to familiarize myself with the issues at hand in Harrisonville, with prime consideration going to the concerns of the residents in Ward 3. I will work with the mayor, board of aldermen and community stakeholders to bring growth and jobs to our community so that all residents of Harrisonville can enjoy a better quality of life.
Miscellaneous information you may want to submit including information
about your family:
I have been married to my husband, Dale, for 27 years. We have five children, all of whom graduated from Harrisonville High School. We are proud grandparents of seven grandchildren. I have been a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church since 1981 and have been actively involved in St Peter’s fundraising efforts for charities in Harrisonville, especially with the Back Pack Program and the 1139th National Guard Armory.
It is my belief that an alderman needs to be involved and supportive of the community in which she/he resides. That is my commitment to you as your
alderman and I would appreciate your vote on June 2.
David Dickerson
Age: N/A
Current occupation: Alderman
Office you are seeking: Harrisonville Alderman
Why are you running for this office?
To keep helping the people in the Third Ward to make our city a good place to live.
What are your qualifications?
MML certified municipal official, city alderman 12 years, city committees personal and finance, public works, public safety, HPC community development.
If elected, what are your priorities?
To help citizens resolve their issues with city support, HPC and Main St. USA, help old and new businesses and fill empty buildings.
What is the most important information voters need to know to vote for you?
I always vote to keep our taxes and utilities low. I vote against what will take money away from schools. I always vote with the citizens in mind.
Miscellaneous information you may want to submit including information about your family:
I am honored to represent Ward 3 and citizens of Harrisonville for another term.
Ward 4
Matt Turner
Age: 42
Current occupation: Industrial Electrician
Office you are seeking: Alderman Ward 4 Harrisonville
Why are you running for this office?
I feel like the city has made a lot of progress moving forward in the last few years and I would like to see it continue. I think there is still a lot more that could be done with economic development, our municipal codes and financial spending.
What are your qualifications?
I am a Certified Public Official with the MGI and currently serving as Ward 4 Alderman the last four years.
I served on Public Works, Public Safety and Community Development committees for three years, as well as Park Board liaison. Also, the Planning and Zoning Board liaison for one year and on the Board of Zoning Adjustments for eight years.
I am currently serving on Missouri’s Municipal Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee and have for the last
two years.
If elected, what are your priorities?
Listening to the citizens and helping them solve their problems. Promote positive growth while keeping a hometown atmosphere by helping to bring in affordable housing and new businesses while keep existing businesses.
Keeping our tax base lower. Also working with the school district to help maintain the highest quality of education possible.
Miscellaneous information you may want to submit including information about your family:
I am a lifelong resident of Harrisonville, as well as a graduate of Harrisonville High School. I have been married to my wife, Kim, for 17 years and have two children, Kaylee and Kaden, that both attend Harrisonville schools. I am an active member of Harrisonville Nazarene Church, currently serving on the church board for the last two years.
I have also been involved in my community since a young age, starting out with volunteering with the Harrisonville Fire Department as a junior and regular firefighter. I’ve been a member of the Cass County Elks Lodge for 21 years, helping with the youth and veterans in our community. I also volunteered on a city board for eight years until I was elected to the Board of Aldermen.
Larry Snider
Age: 67
Current occupation: Retired optometrist
Office you are seeking: Harrisonville Alderman, Ward 4
Why are you running for this office?
Harrisonville has the leadership and poten tial to see some exciting growth. I want to be a part of it.
What are your qualifications?
I have been a resident and business owner in Harrisonville for more than 40 years. My wife and I raised two daughters here. Over the years I have served on the city council and the EEZ Board and Industrial Development Authority. I am past president of the chamber of commerce and have served on or chaired many committees of the Harrisonville United Methodist Church. I am a past president of the Missouri Optometric Association and
Missouri State Board of Optometry.
I have the leadership and communication skills to represent Ward 4 on the city council.
If elected, what are your priorities?
- Economic development/job growth.
- Maintain excellent community services: police, fire, roads, parks, utilities.
- 3. Address our city’s flooding issues.
Miscellaneous information you may want to submit including information
about your family:
My wife of 42 years, Jeanie, grew up in Harrisonville and is active in the community. She and our daughters, Kate and Ann, are graduates of Harrisonville High School and the University of Missouri. Watson, our dog, retrieves the newspaper every morning.
Harrisonville R-9 School District Board Member
Nancy Shelton
Age: N/A
Current occupation: Office manager for Shelton & Sons LLC.
Office you are seeking: Harrisonville School Board
Why are you running for this office?
I believe I bring a vital view-point to issues facing our district.
What are your qualifications?
My previous four years speak for itself. My concern and passion for public education and other considerations.
If elected, what are your priorities?
Financial stability; retaining and attracting quality staff; improving students’ academic success.
Miscellaneous information you may want to submit including information about your family:
I am married to Bill and we have three married children, Isaac (Sarah), Kyle (Heather), and Naomi (Mer); and three grandchildren.
Bing Schimmelpfenning
Age: 49
Current occupation: Executive Director of the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce
Office you are seeking: Harrisonville School Board Director
Why are you running for this office?
I decided to seek re-election to the school board in order to continue bringing value to our organization. As a school board director over the past three years, I have brought value to our schools. I have provided value to our students by supporting the adoption of STEM curriculum. This has helped our students excel in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. I have provided value to our teachers and staff by voting each of the las three years for pay raises. I have provided value to the district by supporting and championing the “Right Student, Right Test” initiative that has improved our ACT test scores for the first time in years. This initiative lets the students decide which of four test they will take in their junior and senior years, based on their chosen future path in life. Whether they are going to college, into the military, to a two-year community college or into a career, they now can choose the test that is the best fit for them. As a member of the school safety committee, I have provided value by always placing the safety and security of our students, staff and community as one of the highest priorities we have as a district. As a trustee of the Harrisonville Public Schools Foundation, I have provided value by helping distribute teacher grants to over a dozen teachers in all buildings throughout the district, allowing them to improve the learning environment for our students. As a member of the Cass County Corporation for Economic Development, I have provided value by connecting our school district with the Kauffman Foundation, in order for our school districts to take part in a local cohort of school districts able to receive grant money to improve our workforce readiness. This will allow our students to participate in internships and apprenticeships with local businesses, as well as externships for our teachers to improve upon their skills. And at the end of the day, I truly enjoy volunteering to serve my community as a member of the Harrisonville School Board.
Community Organization/Memberships:
Harrisonville Rotary Club, Assistant District Governor No. 6080; Sunrise Optimist Club of Belton-Raymore; Trustee Harrisonville Public School Foundation; president of Cass County Coalition of Chambers; advisory committee, Raymore-Peculiar Public Schools; special events committee, Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation; 5k walk/run committee, Cass County Health Foundation; steering/workforce ready committee, Cass County Corporation for Economic Development; and safety comittee, Harrisonville Public Schools.
What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Harrisonville Schools?
Hands down our biggest strengths are our students, closely followed by our teachers and staff and our community. We are turly blessed to be in the community we are in, it is definetly home of the Wildcats.
Miscellaneous information you may want to submit including information about your family:
My family includes myself, my sister, niece and mother.
