Council to interview top Zone 3 candidates Monday

Springfield City Council heard presentations Wednesday from the applicants for council's Zone 3 seat and will hold interviews with the top candidates on Monday.

The nine applicants are: Chris Bell, a supervisor at St. John's Hospital; Jeremy W. Cady, Web/graphic manager at Damar Worldwide in Aurora; Jerome W. Compton, owner and principal architect of JWC Architecture; Perry J. Elkins, a self-employed mediator; Carl E. Herd, a retired teacher; Frank E. Howey, president of Mechanical Services Inc.; Brian W. Johnson, a field engineer with Lockheed Martin; Mike Schilling, a teacher at Ozarks Technical Community College and Missouri State University; and Daniel E. Scott, architect and owner at Design Agency and Jericho Development Co.

A 10th applicant, History Museum for Springfield-Greene County Executive Director John Sellars, withdrew his application citing a potential conflict of interest related to his job, according to a city news release.

The applicants' presentations will air on the city's government access TV channel, Mediacom channel 23, at 3 p.m. Friday and 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The city also will be posting them on its Web site at the link below.

Mayor Jim O'Neal asked council members to submit their top four choices for the position to the city clerk's office by noon Friday, as well as their questions for the candidates. The three applicants with the most support will be invited back for second interviews at 6 p.m. Monday, preceding council's regular meeting. The interviews will air live on channel 23 and on the city's Web site.

Councilman Ralph Manley resigned from the Zone 3 seat last week, citing a lack of council support for his candidacy for mayor pro tem.[[In-content Ad]]