Five people are seeking a pair of three-year terms on the De Soto City Council in the April 4 election.
Kathy Ingram Smith, the only incumbent in the field, is the current mayor. Under De Soto’s form of government, the mayor is chosen each year from among the five members of the council. She is seeking her second term.
The other seat up for election this spring has been vacant since Clayton Henry resigned in the middle of his second term in October 2022.
Dirk Helms, Shaun Brooks, Marvin J. Campbell and Todd Mahn have filed for the two available seats.
Helms and Campbell did not return Leader candidate questionnaires.
Council members are paid $800 a year.
SMITH, 70, is a retired secretary at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Jefferson Regional Hospital and Mercy Hospital Jefferson. She has two granddaughters and is a 1971 graduate of De Soto High School.
BROOKS, 44, is a department manager at McClure Engineering. He and his wife, Amy, have two children. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer visualization technology from ITT.
MAHN, 52, owns Mahn Funeral Homes locations in De Soto and Festus, as well as Mahn Cemetery and Mausoleum in De Soto. He has a son. He attended the Mid-America College of Funeral Service.
What experience do you have that might serve you in this position?
Smith: I’m currently serving as mayor and finishing my first term on the council and have learned a lot of what voters expect. I am president of the Friends of De Soto Library, have volunteered with Meals on Wheels and De Soto Farmers Market.
Brooks: I have been a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board and Board of Adjustments for at least a decade.
Mahn: I have lots of experience that will serve me well in this position. In addition to owning my own businesses for more than 30 years, I was appointed by the governor to the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, serving 2 1/2 years as its chairman. I was president of the De Soto Rotary Club and am a member and have held various positions with other organizations.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Smith: With any town there are problems. For De Soto, it is a lack of job opportunities, at a livable wage, for adults and teenagers. Through Ameren, the city is working with a marketing-enterprise promotion called NextSite with a consumer development advisory firm that promotes rural towns. With this marketing and possibility of an Amtrak stop, this should bring some jobs to our community. We must have a vision for our future.
Brooks: I think the city is moving in the right direction. The current City Council is doing a good job and I’m ready to come aboard and continue to help the city grow.
Mahn: I don’t see major problems, I see wonderful opportunities. We have a great city with a great City Manager, Todd Melkus, along with other vital pieces. We have an excellent Police Chief, Jeff McCreary, who I personally feel responsible for bringing to De Soto. With the bonus of his wife, Dana, they are two of the best assets that we will ever see serving this community. With all the historic buildings in town, we have a great opportunity to apply for grants to bring them back to their original beauty.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected. (100 words):
Smith: During my term, I believe I have proved to be an honest voice for all residents. Sometimes the answer is not what they want to hear, but they know that I listened, did my best and didn’t ignore their concerns. My goal is to continue to help any resident to the best of my ability and help with the betterment of De Soto. Our city is going forward with new streets, sewer updates, sidewalks and recreation for all ages.
Brooks: I've volunteered at City Hall for a least a decade. I enjoy being there and coming up with solutions to issues. I’d like to be a part of the continued growth of the city.
Mahn: I am a voice for the residents, as this is their community. I will not take any pay from the city but will donate it to food pantries, animal shelters, beautification projects and other things. I was born and raised in De Soto; I bleed green. My goals are to bring growth in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. One of the major projects contributing to that growth is getting the Amtrak station, and I will help in every way possible to make this happen.