In the small towns around Springfield, residents are demanding more accountability from elected officials. By organizing online groups, filing petitions, and documenting meetings, these citizen advocates have become increasingly important players on the local government scene.
Although the way city dwellers organize themselves and the actions they take vary, one thing remains the same: dissatisfaction with local leaders and the way their cities are run. When things go wrong at City Hall, the collective action of residents is often what forces new direction.
“Maybe it’s easier in a small town, because you can’t look around and say someone else will do it for a very long time before realizing no one else will and that someone has to be you,” Dayna Ault said. , who led the reorganization of a citizens’ group in Fair Grove. “You’re the one who has to step in. You can’t wait for someone else to do it.”
Willard aims for trust and responsibility
Willard made headlines in the fall as city government gained momentum: A former mayor, Corey Hendrickson, pleaded guilty to criminal charges as the Board of Aldermen moved to remove the mayor current at the time, Sam Snider, who announced his resignation hours before the hearing.
As the drama unfolded, residents Angie Wilson and Megan Applegate recognized the need for a forum where residents could learn about the situation and discuss what was happening. Met at times with dismissive attitudes from local leaders, both men were further motivated to continue attending meetings and delving deeper into how the city was run, with the common goal of making Willard more transparent, consistent and dignified. of confidence.
Even before Willard’s board conflicts erupted, Brad Mowell, known online as the Man of Missouri (MoM), was documenting events inside City Hall and interviewing leaders local people and their motivations regarding their project. Mom’s Blog. Mowell, who now lives in Strafford but still owns property in Willard, grew up in the Willard area and said the town is always close to his heart.
When he began writing about Willard’s local politics in the summer of 2022, he planned to focus on how financial systems beyond local municipalities shape policy decisions that people tend to take for granted . But local government soon took up more and more of Mowell’s time, and he eventually became known as a de facto community journalist and self-described “rabbit hole explorer,” submitting open records requests and informing residents of what that was happening in the city.
“It really wasn’t a decision,” he said. “It just kind of felt like people should really know, no one else is telling them, so you know, I guess I should tell them.”
Although he sometimes considered leaving the world of journalism, as Willard’s leadership struggles persisted, Mowell decided he had to continue, despite the criticism he received from some residents.
With the new year, Mowell finally moved away…
