Branson alderman won't seek reelection 

Courtesy Marshall Howden campaign Facebook page

Marshall Howden has been a member of the Branson Board of Aldermen since 2022.  

Marshall Howden, a member of the Branson Board of Aldermen since 2022, said he will not seek reelection at the end of his current term. 

Howden announced the decision in a public post on his campaign Facebook page yesterday. 

"After a lot of reflection and prayer, I have decided that I will not be seeking reelection to the Branson Board of Aldermen when my current term concludes in April 2026," Howden said in the post. "Serving the people of Branson has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together – from strengthening our partnership with the chamber of commerce to keeping Branson’s heart for live music front and center." 

Howden said he and his wife are preparing to take ownership of Branson's A&W Restaurant. He also cited plans to continue operating his Song of Hope historical and social movement for the live music industry.  

In an interview with Springfield Business Journal today, Howden said, “It was a really tough decision, and my family wrestled with it for a few months. But ultimately, just with the time commitments and everything that it takes to run that successful business, this is what I had to do.”  

He said he expects the restaurant deal to close in January or February for undisclosed terms with his father-in-law, Steve Onoh, who has run an A&W Restaurant at Branson’s Tanger Mall since 1992. 

Howden said 11 years ago he met his wife, Kendra, who worked at the Tanger A&W while Howden ran a nearby business at the mall. Howden’s brother-in-law, Johnny Onoh, owns an A&W store in Colorado, Howden said.  

“It’s really the family business,” he said, noting he would soon attend A&W University in Kentucky to learn more about the business. 

Howden added at age 33, he retains his interest in politics.  

“I ran six times before I actually made it to public office, so my intention is certainly to run again, and if the citizens will help me, I’ll be back, but for this season, I’m going to step away and focus on the business,” he said. 

In his social media announcement Oct. 30, Howden said he hoped to make the restaurant a “community partner” with a 501(c)3 organization Howden founded, Song of Hope Historical Society. The nonprofit was founded in 2022, according to Missouri secretary of state records, and Howden said he wants to focus on heritage projects, supporting monuments, exhibits and concerts to celebrate Branson reputation as a live music destination. 

Howden said he wants to support proclamation days and a series of statues erected in Branson celebrating musical entertainers like the late Shoji Tabuchi and the late Mel Tillis, who is Howden’s grandfather. 

“Usually if you want to accomplish things and do things like that, you’ve kind of got to have your organization pay for them,” he said, noting that statues could cost $40,000-$50,000. 

Representing Ward I on the Branson board, Howden's current term started in April 2024.