Category: kmiz-local-news

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The election for the Columbia Board of Education has been decided.

Board President Suzette Waters won her reelection bid, while Erica Dickson will join her on the board. The two ran in Tuesday’s election for two seats, while Ken Rice finished a distant third. Two-term board member Blake Willoughby did not seek reelection.

Waters totaled 17,698 votes in Tuesday’s election, while Dickson had 16,885 and Rice came up with 10,423, according to the unofficial results from the Boone County Clerk.

“One of the things that I’ve highlighted that I’m bringing into the space is the unique quality of having worked within the system in various capacities. I started in CPS as an attendant secretary. I’ve served as an instructional aide, a homeschool communicator, and most recently in an administrative capacity to serve all of the students in our district. So I’m bringing that into the space. I’m bringing up parental perspective in this space. As a mother of three children,” Dickson told ABC 17 News.

Dickson got emotional as she addressed the crowd of people at her election watch party at 50 Yard Line sports bar in downtown Columbia, saying that win or lose she it was nice to see people engaged in the political process. Dickson said that local government is “one of the things that affect us the most but people engage in the least.”

Dickson also said the lack of representation among certain student groups is concerning, something that she believes can help make the district a more welcoming place that people want to stay in long term. She received an endorsement from Boone County Democrats and spent the days leading up to the election canvassing. On Sunday, she hosted a block party and knocked on 399 doors. 

Rice was endorsed by Ward 2 Councilwoman Lisa Meyer. On Tuesday, he posted a message in front of the district’s administrative building urging voters to vote for “integrity, transparency and accountability,” which have been his main talking points throughout the campaign. 

Rice hosted an election watch party at Shakespeare’s Pizza South Location in Columbia, while Dickson hosted one at 50 Yard Line in Downtown Columbia. Waters stated that she would attend her daughter’s concert and would not be hosting a public viewing party, however, she posted a photo on Tuesday morning with nine current and former educators who have her support. 

Waters ran for a second term. She said her passion for public education motivates her to continue serving.

During her tenure, Waters played a role in hiring Superintendent Jeff Klein and has praised the district’s state-recognized career center program, which focuses on workforce development and equipping students with competitive job skills.

She said she believes educating all students is essential for society’s success and has been committed to that mission during her time with Columbia Public Schools.

After serving as board president, Waters said she plans to focus on improving student attendance. She also aims to address achievement gaps, an issue she said has been a frequent topic on the campaign trail and a long-standing challenge in education.

Dickson began working for Columbia Public Schools in 2016 as an attendant secretary. She has since served as an instructional aide, homeschool director and, most recently, assistant director of student services.

She left that role in August to help establish what she calls an “Educational Doula Pilot,” a program designed to help families navigate the education system. However, after reviewing recent test scores, Dickson said she was motivated to run for the school board.

Dickson said her experience in multiple roles within the district gives her an advantage.

She briefly worked with Klein during her time with CPS and said she is excited about his hiring. However, she added that if elected, one of her priorities would be implementing innovative approaches to help students with unique needs succeed.

As a CPS parent, Dickson said she would bring multiple perspectives to the board.

Rice said his interest in the school board race was sparked by a message from a teacher.

Rice, who served as a director at the same Sunday school where the teacher worked, said he initially dismissed the idea when she suggested he run. After discussing it with his wife, he decided against it—until he received an email from the teacher.

After learning more about former Superintendent Brian Yearwood’s departure, Rice said he believed the district lacked integrity and transparency. Rice, who is the chief operating officer for Pickleman’s Franchising, said his leadership experience has prepared him for the role.

Improving transparency is one of his top priorities after hearing concerns from people on the campaign trail. He hopes to make meeting records more accessible and digestible for parents and stakeholders. He also wants more information to be made available about meetings held under closed executive sessions that do not involve personnel issues or contracts.

Rice also proposed creating a parental advisory committee made up of parents, teachers, students, staff, administrators, and taxpayers. Each school would have a group advising its principal, with one representative from each group serving on a superintendent advisory committee.

While members could volunteer for the committee, Rice said he wants to examine similar models in districts in California and Atlanta.

Watch ABC 17 News’ full interviews conducted with each candidate last month below:

Suzette Waters

Erica Dickson

Ken Rice

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Fourth Ward voted to retain its city council member Tuesday.

Nick Foster held onto his seat with 4,570 votes to challenger Ron Graves’ 2,775. Graves’ campaign had partnered with that of Blair Murphy, who lost in a challenge of Mayor Barbara Buffaloe. Graves and Murphy’s campaigns placed signs side-by-side in the Fourth Ward.

Foster said his win was the culmination of a lot of hard work.

“Not just mine, but by a lot of folks who helped me with the campaign,” Foster said. “I’m incredibly grateful to them and very grateful to those who voted for me. The trust they put in me, I don’t want that to be misplaced and I want to be the very best I can.”

He believes his experience gave him a leg up in the race.

“I think that I’ve proven myself as someone who works hard and who manages to get results,” Foster said. “So I hope people see that. I suspect that they do and I appreciate that. It just causes me to want to do all the more as I can for my ward and for the city as a whole.”

Foster went to Mayor Barbara Buffaloe’s watch party after his.

“I’m really grateful that Barbara won,” Foster said. “We’ve worked well together. I think she’s done an outstanding job, and I look forward to working the next three years with her again.”

Graves said a lot of work went into his campaign for the result.

“But, you know, it is what it is,” Graves said. “The voters have spoken and obviously the city of Columbia, the voters in the Fourth Ward, didn’t feel like they needed a change.”

He said he was disappointed with the outcome but the loss allows for other doors to open.

“I have a son in college, now I’m not going to sports 52 weeks out of the year,” Graves said. “So I plan on getting a little bit more involved now that this didn’t happen.”

He also said he plans to possibly do more volunteering with the university and city. Graves thanked his supporters in his concession.

“I really appreciate everything that they’ve done,” Graves said. “I mean, it was a great campaign. It was a quick campaign. But I really appreciate everything they did. Everything. Everybody that helped me. It was great.”

Foster addressed his critics when he spoke with ABC 17 News Tuesday.

“I know that not everyone voted for me,” Foster said. “And even though I think I had a convincing win, there are some people who chose a different direction. I’m fully aware of that, and my hand is out to everyone in my ward. I feel a sense of responsibility to all of them. And though we may not agree about everything, I’m interested in having conversations with everyone who’s interested in having a conversation with me, and I want to hear from everyone.”

Foster previously told ABC 17 News he feels he and the council have accomplished a great deal during the past three years.

“It’s been a good experience and I feel like I’m even more qualified than I was the first time around,” Foster said. He said he ran because he wants to build on those accomplishments.

Ron Graves previously told ABC 17 News the impetus of him running was hearing about a young woman who was shot in Downtown Columbia in November.

“I just decided I really needed to do something,” Graves said.

Public safety was a top priority for both candidates. Graves had said that part of his campaign focused on police officer and firefighter retention.

Foster also says policing has been an issue, but one that’s seen improvements. He said the Columbia Police Department had about 29 vacancies in September but got that number down to about 14 by March. Foster said policing is moving in the right direction and he hopes to continue being a part of positive changes.

Affordable housing was another crucial issue for both candidates.

Graves believes financial incentives could be a solution. He works with a homeless veterans program at the VA hospital. He told ABC 17 News there are 40 homeless veterans that he knows are looking for housing in Columbia and Jefferson City who can’t find available or affordable options.

He said the city has the resources and ability to use financial incentives to bring more contractors in for more housing projects in the community.

Foster is passionate about creative and innovative housing units.

He mentioned Kinney Point in a previous interview with ABC 17 News, which are affordable housing complexes that were built in Columbia in 2024. Foster said they have side-by-side duplexes that are built like a tiny home concept. He said those housing units are something Columbia could replicate in other parts of the city.

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City Council’s Ward 3 and Ward 4 races were called at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday with the Ward 3 seat going to Derek Thomas and Ward 4 seat going to Julie Allen.

The Ward 3 totals were 458 for Derek Thomas and 406 for Erica Choinka. Ward 4 totals were 563 for Julie Allen and 405 for Kathi Harness.

Hot topics for April’s election in the Capitol City include how candidates plan to address the area’s affordable housing shortage and candidates’ thoughts on the conference center project.

Another major topic has been how the City Council plans to handle potential budget cuts to cover health care expenses, which includes talks of possible cuts to the city’s parks, public service and public works programs.

Ward 3

In a statement, Derek Thomas said Tuesday afternoon that he had already voted and will spend the beginning of the evening at the Downtown Business Association’s farewell to Jefferson City Public Works Director Britt Smith. Thomas will also host a watch party at the El Frison Mexican Restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Erica Choinka announced online Tuesday morning that she cast her ballot.

“From the beginning, this campaign has been rooted in something bigger than politics. It’s been about building a community where families thrive, where common sense leads, and where the next generation can grow up proud to call Jefferson City home,” Choinka said in the post.

Choinka adds that she expects to be at work when the results come in.

Ward 4

Julie Allen also announced online Tuesday morning that she voted. She also stopped by the library and attended bible study.

Allen plans to host a private party with her family at home.

Kathi Harness told ABC 17 News that she plans to work at the Capitol and has no major election plans for Tuesday night.

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s mayor started Election Day at her polling place as she tried to fend off a challenge from three sides.

At the end of the day, she won reelection easily.

Barbara Buffaloe won her second term by getting 14,073 votes compared to 10,663 for her closest challenger, businessman Blair Murphy. Buffaloe told supporters gathered at a watch party that the victory was validation.

“I was a little bit anxious coming into tonight in part because we had a lot of money spent and when we have a lot of money spent it means that that creates a barrier supporting their community, running their local government,” Buffaloe said.

Buffaloe also ran against Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy.

In her victory speech, Buffaloe told supporters in her second term, she plans to continue focusing on public safety, infrastructure, and supporting the Office of Violence Prevention in tackling the root causes of crime. She also emphasized the importance of investing in the city’s core values.

Buffaloe said she wants to keep the city’s momentum going.

“It was because of this, our momentum of what is Columbia, is why I think we succeeded at the polls because Columbia is about caring for one another, its about focusing on the vibrancy of our community, and our progressive nature and how we protect one another,” Buffaloe said.

She added, “People recognize in Columbia our values matter regardless of what has happened at the federal and state level and we’re going to continue to invest in that and continue the momentum going forward,”

Buffaloe posted a photo on social media Tuesday morning saying she voted at her polling place — Campus Lutheran Church — at 7:30 a.m.

She was first elected mayor in 2022 after defeating Randy Minchew 8,528 to 7,728.

Buffaloe sat down with ABC 17 News prior to the April election and said that being Columbia’s mayor for the past three years qualifies her for reelection. She said she wants to continue the momentum on several projects in the city.

Buffaloe highlighted the implementation of trash roll carts in March 2024, improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and electric transmission lines and improving compensation for city employees.

She also highlighted the creation of the Office of Violence Prevention, with a goal to go beyond police responses and address issues such as poverty and youth violence. In previous reporting, Buffaloe told ABC 17 News she created the office after a 3-year-old boy was shot in Columbia.

Homelessness remains a key talking point in the city, and Buffaloe said addressing it will continue to be a top priority if reelected. She called it a complex issue that goes beyond increasing housing. Investments in social services and having support for mental health, drug addiction recovery and more will help people get on their feet, Buffaloe said.

Buffaloe moved to Columbia from Illinois in the late 1990s to attend the University of Missouri, where she received her bachelor of science in environmental design and a master of science in environment and behavior. She then worked for MU Extension before becoming the city’s first sustainability manager.

She serves as chair on the Environment Standing Committee and has seats on the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Regional Economic Development and Missouri Innovation Center.

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Despite feeling confident Tuesday morning, Blair Murphy fell short of ousting Columbia’s incumbent mayor despite a well-funded campaign.

Incumbent Mayor Barbara Buffaloe defeated Murphy by more than 3,000 votes. When all the votes were counted, Buffaloe garnered more than 14,000 votes to Murphy’s 10,663, despite Murphy’s campaign taking in more than a quarter-million dollars.

Murphy told supporters at D. Rowe’s restaurant that he would not run again.

Murph also told supporters that the outcome of this election will sting because of the confidence he had heading into the night. He attributed much of that confidence to the many endorsements he had received and the endless hard work of his campaign.

“I never really showed it because I knew I had to keep my foot on the gas the whole time and not act like we had it,” Murphy said. “But, I mean I got to be 100% honest. …I felt very, very positive about this and so again, you won’t see me in 3 years doing it.”

Murphy made his speech alongside his wife and daughter. His daughter told his supporters that they did not view the night as a loss because they did everything possible throughout campaigning to get the win.

Murphy started his Tuesday morning voting at Woodcrest Chapel in southwest Columbia alongside his wife Melissa. He planned to spend the final hours before the polls close at 7 p.m. visiting more than 30 city voting precincts, according to his campaign manager, Scott Charton.

“Murph is feeling confident with the team’s efforts, which are going strong until the polls close at 7 p.m.,” Charton said. “He’s also both humbled and inspired by the support he has received as a first-time candidate.”

Murphy is a Columbia native, member of the Crimestoppers board and owner of Johnson Paint and Decorating in south Columbia. He told ABC 17 News in a sit-down interview before the election, he felt his many years of living in the city made him qualified for the job.

Murphy ran a campaign with a heavy focus on public safety and preventing crime and said that would be his No. 1 priority. He told voters outside the Woodcrest Church on Tuesday that he planned to support the police department.

He told his supporters Tuesday night that he doesn’t think there was much more he and his campaign team could have done, and he doesn’t have many regrets.

“We worked every day, every day but Sunday and we took that for our families and for other things,” Murphy said. ” We couldn’t have done anymore I mean at all and I’ll forever be grateful for all the support from all you guys.”