Sparse Attendance at Candidate Meet and Greet Highlights Civic Apathy

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO—The Excelsior Citizen hosted a candidate meet-and-greet at the Excelsior Springs branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library on March 23, 2024. The event provided a platform for candidates running for office in Ray and Clay counties to interact with community members. Despite the opportunity for engagement, the event saw a low turnout, with approximately ten citizens in attendance alongside a select group of candidates.

Among the candidates present were Courtney Cole and Emma Shankland, two of the five candidates vying for three open seats on the Clay County Health Board; Stephen Spear, running unopposed for the Excelsior Springs City Council; and Matt Nolker, running for the Ray County 911 Board. Also in attendance were Kristi Shewell, Troy Snelling, and Traci White, each seeking election to the Excelsior Springs School Board. Another school board candidate, Russell Wenz, was committed to coaching a soccer game that afternoon.

This modestly attended event reflects a broader trend of low public engagement in municipal government opportunities despite repeated efforts to foster interaction between citizens and their potential elected officials. Events like these, along with public listening posts, often struggle to draw significant attendance. However, organizers such as ourselves remain committed to these initiatives, emphasizing the importance of providing the public with opportunities to engage with their government representatives.

What suggestions do you have for increasing participation in these types of events? Leave your comments below to help us better organize future efforts.

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*Disclosure: Candidate Courtney Cole is also a co-founder of the Excelsior Citizen.