Ferguson won't seek reelection on council

Phyllis Ferguson has represented Zone 1 on council since 2015.

Springfield City Council member Phyllis Ferguson announced she won't seek reelection when her term expires.

The city's Zone 1 councilperson, Ferguson has nearly five months left in her term. Her plans to exit the governing board were made public yesterday in a post on the "Zone 1 - Northwest Springfield, MO" Facebook group.

"I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to get more done to improve the problems with nuisance properties and dangerous buildings. Even though I’ve probably spent more time working in that area than any other, I do not believe that we are much more ahead today than when I came to council five and a half years ago," she said in the post. "We have a steep hill to climb, and until there is more staff hired to work on this problem then I don’t know how we will see any significant progress.

"The fate and future of the (north side) hangs on it."

Ferguson also pointed to the ongoing need to address crime in the area. She applauded some $2 million invested into north-side parks in the last four years.

Ferguson represents an area that includes the Grant Beach and Heart of the Westside neighborhoods. Zone 1 has been at the center of such initiatives as the Northwest Project to reduce poverty in the area in recent years.

Ferguson was appointed to represent Zone 1 in April 2015 and elected in 2017 to the same seat, according to the city's website. She also serves as chief operating officer and treasurer for Mexican Villa restaurants.

The Zone 1 seat is one of five council spots scheduled to be on the election ballot in April 2021.