Two certified to run for Ozark mayor

A Metropolitan National Bank board member is in the running against an incumbent for the post of mayor of the city of Ozark.

Elise Crain, whose roles include serving on the bank's board of directors, is certified to run against businessman and current Mayor Shane Nelson in the April 2 election, according to Ozark City Clerk Lana Wilson. The filing deadline was Jan. 15.

Crain, who serves as chairwoman of the Public Funding Corp. and co-chairwoman of the Historic Preservation Commission, previously served as a member of the Ozark Board of Aldermen and the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. A member of Springfield Business Journal's inaugural class of Most Influential Women in 2000, Crain also serves as treasurer of Springfield nonprofit Women In Need of the Ozarks and as a founding member of the Finley River Community Foundation, according to a news release.

Elected as mayor in April 2011, Nelson is the owner and managing member of Ozark Abstract & Title, a more than 100-year-old land title and closing business offering services including escrow closings, title insurance, exchanges and property profiles. According to his biography on the city of Ozark's website, Nelson also worked for Ozark Chrysler Plymouth/Heritage Chrysler Jeep, the last nine as general manager of Heritage Chrysler Jeep. He also is a past chairman of the board of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce.