Four people, including incumbent Todd Mahn and former Councilwoman Autumn Blanchard, are running for two seats on the De Soto City Council. Other candidates are Tonia Pierce Schmitt and Mike Bone.
Both terms are for three years. Council members are paid $800 a year.
Bone did not return a Leader candidate survey.
Blanchard is the vice president of De Soto Green Team and is a board member of Get Health De Soto/Farmer’s Market and the Mel Bay Foundation. Previously, she was mayor pro tem, mayor and councilwoman of De Soto, DHS Safe Prom organizer, division leader and coach of De Soto soccer team, library board member and president, vice president and volunteer for Vineland Parent. Blanchard and her husband, Paul, have three children.
Schmitt, 39, is a Realtor with Heartland Realty and co-owns Holy Schmitt Construction with her husband, Mike. She is also a graduate of the Jefferson College nursing program and a proud former Girl Scout/Adventure Scout. She was an organizer of the Main Street alleyway cleanup in late summer 2025 and spends her free time cleaning up the area and removing graffiti from the railings on the Mineral Street stairs behind Main Street. She has one son and one stepson.
Mahn, 55, is the owner and operator of Mahn Funeral Homes and Peaceful Ridge Cemetery/Mausoleum. He attended the MidAmerica College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Ind., and has been a funeral director since 1991. He has been a member of the De Soto City Council since 2023 and mayor pro tem of De Soto since 2025. He was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors in 2007 and served multiple terms, including as chairman from 2011-2012 and vice chairman in 2010. He has been chairman of De Soto Memorial Day Service since 2006 and is a member of Elks Lodge 1721 and AMVETS Post 48 Sons of De Soto. He is a fourth-degree knight for the Knights of Columbus 1185. He served as chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Memorial Wall to Festus in 2016 and co-chairman in 2006. He was a member of the Jefferson County Bicentennial Committee in 2018 and a volunteer for community restoration projects, such as the preservation and restoration of the historic De Soto Caboose and the Texaco Station Landmark in 2008, and an organizer for various charitable events, such as Clip Chris for Charity in 2012. In the past, he served as president of the De Soto Rotary Club, was a board member for the De Soto Chamber of Commerce and the De Soto City Cemetery. He was president of the Mount Zion Cemetery in Festus and a board member of Calvary Cemetery in De Soto. Mahn has one child.
How should the De Soto Fire Department be managed?
Blanchard: I hate that we lost such a great fire chief and firefighter. He brought great leadership, valuable certifications and a vision for improvement. It truly felt like he had just begun making meaningful progress for the department and the community. I would like us to focus on recruiting more highly certified firefighters and, just as importantly, creating an environment where we can retain them. Investing in training and support will help ensure we don’t lose dedicated professionals.
Schmitt: I think the one-year management contract between the two departments is a good idea. The management contract could help with the ISO rating for our taxpayers, which would in turn save the homeowners in the city of De Soto on their homeowners’ insurance rates.
Mahn: The De Soto Fire Department provides one of the most critical services in our community and should be managed with strong leadership, accountability and a clear focus on public safety. The firefighters deserve the proper training, equipment and support needed to respond effectively to emergencies and protect our residents.
Management should emphasize cooperation between the fire department, city leadership and the community. Open communication and transparency help ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of public safety while also being responsible with taxpayer dollars.
As a City Council member since 2023 and currently serving as mayor pro tem, I believe it’s important to support our firefighters while also maintaining responsible oversight and long-term planning. My goal is to help ensure the department continues operating professionally and efficiently so the citizens of De Soto can feel confident their fire department is prepared to serve them when it matters most.
What is your assessment of the City Council’s performance in the past year?
Blanchard: I believe the City Council has done a good job overall. While there have certainly been some challenges along the way, I’m hopeful that we can work through those struggles and stay focused on what truly matters -- doing what’s best for De Soto and meeting the needs of our community.
Schmitt: I believe they did a great job, along with the city manager, to manage the budget. Over the past year, a lot of big projects for the city’s infrastructure have been set in motion along with the city doing an amazing job with applying for grants to save the city money. I do think one area that was lacking is a boots-on-the-ground approach. I think there has been a disconnect from the everyday concerns that the De Soto residents have.
Mahn: Serving on the De Soto City Council this past year has involved addressing a number of important issues that impact our residents and the future of our community. Like any governing body, there are times when challenges arise and different opinions are expressed, but those discussions are part of making thoughtful decisions for the city.
Overall, I believe the council has continued working to address the needs of the community while balancing responsible budgeting, infrastructure priorities and public safety. There is always room for improvement, particularly in communication and making sure residents feel informed and heard.
My focus has always been on listening to citizens, working respectfully with fellow council members and making decisions that are in the best interest of De Soto. When we stay focused on the community and work toward practical solutions, we can continue moving our city forward in a positive direction.
Why should voters elect you to this position? What are your goals?
Blanchard: I want to continue making important infrastructure improvements and keep working toward bringing our Amtrak stop to De Soto. At the same time, I want to stay focused on strengthening our community and making De Soto a town people are proud to call home -- a place that reflects growth, opportunity and community pride.
Schmitt: My grandparents Claude and Betty Pierce used to run the drive-in and Melba here in town. They raised their family here, including my dad, Ronnie Pierce. I grew up here, and I moved back to De Soto a little over a year ago. I started going to the council meetings when I moved back to see if there was anything I could do to make De Soto what it used to be. My goals are to make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely. I have some community revitalization projects that I think could be a benefit for the city. De Soto deserves proactive leadership.
Mahn: I have spent much of my life serving the De Soto community through both my profession and volunteer work. Through my work at Mahn Funeral Home and my involvement in many local organizations, I have had the opportunity to work closely with families and neighbors during some of the most meaningful moments in their lives. Those experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the people who make this community special.
Since being elected to the De Soto City Council in 2023, my focus has been on listening to residents and making responsible decisions that benefit our city as a whole. I believe in practical leadership, working cooperatively with others, and always keeping the community’s best interests first.
My goals are to support public safety, encourage responsible growth, maintain strong city services and ensure De Soto continues to be a place where families are proud to live and work.
One-year term
Incumbent Kathy Ingram Smith and Danny Manning are vying for a one-year term on the De Soto City Council. The seat was vacated in February by Rich McCane, who moved out of the city.
Manning did not return a Leader candidate survey.
Smith retired from Mercy Jefferson, where she worked for 21 years. She is of the Christian faith and has served on the De Soto City Council for six years and volunteers with Meals on Wheels. She also participates in the De Soto Farmers’ Market and is a Friend of the De Soto Public Library, serving five years as the president. Smith is widowed with one daughter, two granddaughters and a great-grandson.
How should the De Soto Fire Department be managed?
Smith: Currently, we are in a contractual agreement with the De Soto Rural Fire Dept. Chief Tom Fitzgerald with De Soto Rural will now manage the De Soto City Fire Dept. In agreement with De Soto Rural, we will have access to a fire marshal, one certified training officer, command staff and support personnel. Each entity will keep its own firetrucks and equipment, and there will be no extra taxes for residents in or out of town. I appreciate Chief Fitzgerald and their board for helping us out at this time.
What is your assessment of the City Council’s performance in the past year?
Smith: We have had several requests for properties to be annexed into the city and were able to complete the process. We now have sidewalks and streetlights at the north end that are new to our town. We resurfaced Clark Street from Highway 21 to Main Street, and we are working to complete St. Louis Street from the high school to Main Street. Our city manager obtained 80/20 grants for most of these projects through East-West Gateway. There are several more street and bridge projects in the process of being completed. We will continue to work on the flooding issue of the Joachim Creek and get our Amtrak project completed.
Why should voters elect you to this position? What are your goals?
Smith: I focus on listening to residents and will represent all voices at the table. I believe in honest leadership, thoughtful decision-making and doing what is best for the community, even when the answers are not easy. This position is not about accolades. I support all efforts to strengthen infrastructure, improve streets and promote long-term economic growth and future development tied to Amtrak. My goals are to continue to move forward and serve the residents who trusted me for six years with their vote to be their voice, and I will continue to serve with experience, integrity and a shared vision for the city’s future.
