Iolans are guaranteed competitive races in three of Iola’s four voting wards when voters decide who will be a part of the new city council in April.
Beverly Franklin filed Tuesday for a council seat to represent Ward 2, in the northwest quadrant of the city. Franklin is the third from Ward 2, joining Melinda Luttrell and Dana Moodie. She is the 11th candidate overall to file for a spot on the eight-member city council.
Voters will pick two candidates from each voting ward, as well as a mayor and city treasurer at large April 5.
“I’ve always had an interest in the city and I feel like I have something to offer,” said Franklin, who runs B & J Homes with her daughter, Jackie McIntyre. B & J Homes has built 10 homes in and around Iola over the past 10 years. Prior to that, Franklin worked for 43 years at what formerly was known as Iola Bank & Trust and then TeamBank, today’s Great Southern Bank.
“I was pretty satisfied with a three-member commission,” Franklin said, referring to the series of votes by Iolans first to disband the existing three-member city commission, then later rejecting a charter ordinance that would have installed a five-member commission. By default, the city will be governed starting in April by the eight-member council.
As talk of the new council’s formation spread, “I decided that maybe this was something I’d like to do,” Franklin said.
She noted one of the city’s goals should be to find a new tenant for the recently closed Haldex Brake plant and to attract other new businesses in Iola. She also, obviously, has a keen grasp of real estate issues and construction projects.
While this is Franklin’s inaugural foray into elective politics, serving the city is familiar to her family. Husband, Jack, is a former city commissioner and USD 257 Board of Education member.
“He just told me to do what I want to do,” Beverly said with a laugh.
Iolans have until noon Jan. 25 to file.
Other candidates are: from Ward 1, Steffen Centlivre, Nancy Ford and Scott Stewart; from Ward 3, Jim Kilby; and from Ward 4, Richard Gilliland, Jerod Kelley, Ken Rowe and Jim West. John Smith is the only declared candidate for mayor.
Also in Tuesday’s Register, candidate Dana Moodie’s name was misspelled. The Register regrets the error.
Another joins race
