It could be open season in November when it comes to obtaining a spot on McMinnville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Two incumbents are calling it quits and a third is thinking about it.
The seats that will be available in this year’s election are currently being held by Aldermen Rick Barnes, Billy Wood and Ken Smith.
Barnes and Smith say they are definitely not seeking office again. Wood has said in the past he would not run again, but he is now softening that stance.
“I’m leaving office disheartened,” said Barnes. “In 10 years, I haven’t been able to get any of the big items that I wanted accomplished. I wanted to freeze property taxes for senior citizens. That didn’t happen. I can’t hire locally. I can’t buy locally and apparently I’m wrong in trying to do either of those things. So, I’m going to leave office and allow someone else a chance.”
Barnes was elected to four-year terms in 2004 and 2008, and was elected in 2012 to fill the remaining two years of Junior Medley’s term.
Barnes announced in 2012 that he would not run for election. However, he changed his mind when Medley resigned leaving two years of his four-year term available.
“I don’t consider the 2012 election as me running for office,” said Barnes. “I was elected, but I didn’t put up one political sign. I didn’t campaign at all. This time, I’m out.”
Smith was appointed in 2012 to fill the remaining two-year term after Jimmy Haley, an alderman at the time, won his bid for mayor in 2012.
When contacted, Smith said he is standing by what he said two years ago in that he would not seek election in 2014.
“I will not be seeking office this year,” said Smith. “I agreed to two years.”
Wood, who has completed three terms in office, is somewhat undecided.
“I just don’t know at this time,” said Wood. “If I had to decide today, the answer would be no.”
Wood says he has been receiving encouragement from some people who want him to run for re-election so he may change his mind, but he feels frustrated with the current state of the city board.
“We have no public plan that can be commented on by the public,” he said. “Too many decisions are made behind closed doors and protocol has been thrown to the wind.”
The Warren County Election Commission will begin issuing qualifying petitions for the alderman seats May 23. The qualifying deadline is Aug. 21 at noon.