Surprise resignation prompts special election for mayor in April in Grandview

Grandview voters will pick a new mayor at an April 8 special election to replace Steve Dennis, who resigned suddenly late last week.

The filing deadline, which is next Tuesday for other Missouri races, is being extended to Feb. 12 with the permission of the Jackson County Election Board, said City Administrator Cory Smith.

It will take a court order to extend the deadline, but that is expected.

Brent Steeno, president of the Grandview Board of Aldermen, will be acting mayor until the vote.

The Board of Aldermen could have decided Tuesday night to appoint a replacement to serve out Dennis’ term, which ends in 2015, but chose not to.

Dennis was appointed mayor in 2010 to fill out the term of Bob Beckers, who died in office that August. Then Dennis won two elections to retain the post.

In his resignation letter, Dennis gave no hint of his reasons for his decision.

Alderman John Maloney said the FBI approached him and Steeno about six months ago concerning Dennis, but he declined to discuss the line of inquiry. Steeno confirmed the FBI questioning.

Former Alderman Tony Preyer told reporters that “this story is a political witch hunt” that is damaging “a wonderful man.” Earlier, Preyer told the board that the loss of Dennis was “a catastrophe” for Grandview.

This story was originally published January 14, 2014 at 8:56 PM with the headline "Surprise resignation prompts special election for mayor in April in Grandview."