All Elections Matter

Hello everyone.  I hope all is well.  Things at the City are moving along smoothly.  The holidays are just around the corner.  Fall is in the air.  We live in a wonderful place!

With less than two weeks remaining before the November 8^th elections, many people are focused on the candidate races and ballot issues that will be decided that day.  Rightfully so.  Many things hang in the balance with this election – I’m certainly watching it with great interest.

But the November election isn’t the only election that I’m following.  While it’s received almost no attention, the results of the April 2016 board election for the Neosho TDD are still in dispute and little has been done to resolve the issues.  What are those issues?  Well, there are two of them.

Issue one:  there is a question of how many “votes” the Neosho R-5 School District was entitled to cast in that election.  The court has previously ruled that landowners inside the TDD get to cast 1 vote per acre.  The question then becomes “How many acres does the Neosho R-5 owns inside the TDD?”  The City believes (and others have affirmed) that number is around 24 acres.  Those advising the TDD (and printing the ballots) believe it is closer to 29 acres.  29 “votes” were cast by the Neosho R-5 in the April election.  The school district voted for the two incumbent TDD board members and those two candidates were declared the winners – but both by less than 5 votes.  Said another way, getting an answer to the question of 24 vs. 29 could change the outcome of the election.

Issue two:  as part of the construction process, MoDOT took ownership of an additional 20+ acres inside the TDD between December 2015 and January 2016 – months before the April ballots were cast.  However, it is unclear whether or not those 20+ acres were deducted from the voting acreage that was used to cast “votes” in the April 2016 TDD election.  As a reminder, the courts have also ruled that land owned by MoDOT isn’t allowed to be voted.  Those votes could also change the outcome of the election. 

That brings forward the bigger question – Should election results of the Neosho TDD be subject to review?  More importantly, when irregularities such as vote counts are raised, is that something courts should act on quickly?  Don’t forget, those “elected” board members are responsible for imposing, collecting, and spending millions of dollars in taxes?  That requires oversight!

The City of Neosho City Council months ago challenged the results of the April 2016 TDD election seeking clarification on the acreage.  The TDD’s written response to the court indicates their position that the TDD election cannot be challenged or reviewed - period.  I’m no attorney, but would it ever make since that Missouri laws would NOT allow a challenge to an election if improper votes were possibly cast – especially if those very votes could change the outcome of the election?  Don’t forget – the TDD board members are the ones spending millions in taxpayer funds paid by local citizens?  Where is the oversight?  It certainly makes no sense to me!

As to November, I hope all of you will show up at the polls and cast your ballot for the candidates of your choice.  As to the April TDD election, I hope common sense prevails sooner than later.  There are many questions that need answered.  Taxpayers deserve a voice.  I’ll certainly be pushing for those answers and to protect that voice.  As more information comes to the surface, I’ll keep you posted!

Until next time:  stay the course, keep the faith, and may God continue to bless Neosho!