Nine have filed so far in Lee’s Summit to run for city office in 2018

Two races have developed so far in the upcoming 2018 municipal election in Lee’s Summit.

Bill Baird and Ron Williams are vying to become the next mayor at-large of Lee’s Summit. Both candidates filed to run for office Dec. 12, the opening day of the filing period, in hopes of taking over for Randy Rhoads, who has reached his term limit after being elected to consecutive terms in 2010 and 2014.

Candidates seeking office in Lee’s Summit have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 16 to file an application in person with the city clerk’s office at Lee’s Summit City Hall, 220 S.E. Green St.

In addition to an election for mayor at-large, Lee’s Summit City Council seats are up for grabs in each of the four districts along with an election for a municipal judge in Division 263. All positions, including mayor, serve four-year terms.

There will be an additional seat up for election in Lee’s Summit’s District 4 for a two-year term.

The election will be April 3, 2018.

Baird, a real estate broker and former Lee’s Summit school board member, and Williams, a former councilman and owner of a general contracting and construction management firm, previously announced their intentions to run for mayor in August.

Williams announced his filing for the mayor’s office and touted his previous experience on city council and on various commissions and boards in a news release this week. He said he hopes to use that experience “to lead a refocus of the city’s economic development priorities and leadership in regional issues.”

“We have to retain the values that make our community great by avoiding polarization and gridlock,” Williams said in a statement. “Lee’s Summit has great assets. As representatives of the people, it is the responsibility of the mayor and council to solve problems and initiate an intentional agenda that will build on those considerable assets and maintain the best of Lee’s Summit. I want to be our next mayor to help lead that effort.”

Baird announced on his campaign’s Facebook page in August that he would be running for mayor. In the initial social-media post, Baird said he’s spent nearly half his life in Lee’s Summit and that he’s dedicated to serving the community.

After serving for one term on the school board in the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, Baird said he decided to “raise (his) commitment level” to the city of Lee’s Summit.

“I promise to help bring direction, collaboration, transparency, and accountability to our local government,” Baird said in a Facebook post. “In addition, I will make you proud with how our city is represented and the inspiration that this office can reflect. I will work tirelessly to earn and keep your trust. The challenges to our city deserve pragmatic and cooperative solutions. I am grateful for your support.”

As of Wednesday morning, the Journal’s copy deadline, Baird and Williams were the only candidates to file for the office of mayor.

Two people also have filed to run for a four-year term in District 4 on the Lee’s Summit city council — Donna Gordon, a local business owner and a newcomer to politics, and Bob Johnson, a former District 4 councilman and a former state legislator.

Dave Mosby, a current city council member representing the fourth district, will not be seeking reelection due to term limits.

Also in District 4, Fred DeMoro, who was appointed to the city council in May following the recall of former council member, Chris Moreno, has filed to run for a two-year term.

DeMoro issued a news release this week describing himself as “a team player” interested in maintaining and supporting capital improvement projects as well as the city’s future growth in economic development. He also pledged to work closely with homeowners organizations and other community organizations within the fourth district.

“I am very proud of my experience, and would like to continue serving the residents of District 4 and all the residents of Lee’s Summit,” DeMoro said in a statement. “I want to continue to work on the important projects that have been started and see the implementation of infrastructure improvements, classification and compensation studies and a modified comprehensive plan for the city of Lee’s Summit.”

There also will be an election for city council seats in Districts 1, 2, and 3 in 2018. Incumbent city council members Diane Forte, Trish Carlyle, and Diane Seif have filed for reelection in their respective districts.

Dana Altieri, the current municipal judge representing Division 243, also has filed for reelection. Altieri was elected as municipal judge of the Lee’s Summit Municipal Court in 2010 and was reelected in 2014, according to her bio.

For more information about the next citywide election in Lee’s Summit or to keep up with the latest filings, visit cityofls.net.

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 7:30 AM with the headline "Nine have filed so far in Lee’s Summit to run for city office in 2018."