Candidates highlight strength of past experiences
By Marcus Clem
Two people who got their foot in the door just before St. Joseph Board of Education candidate filings closed in December may be familiar to constituents.
Jacob McMillian served on the 2022 Vision Forward community engagement team and has contributed to various school board committees, ultimately interacting with hundreds of residents on the district’s future. Tami Pasley appears to be the first person in local history to have completed more than one elected term on the school board, before stepping aside, only to now return and seek a new mandate for governing the St. Joseph School District.
“Getting people involved is how you build trust,” said McMillian, who pastors a church in his day-to-day life. “And so, you know, in encouraging people to attend board meetings, encouraging people to follow up on the news and the articles that are written, I think we just need to be open and honest about the decisions that are made.”
McMillian and Pasley are challenging incumbents LaTonya Williams and Kenneth Reeder, along with six other challengers: Ronda Chesney, Mike Moore, Sean Connors, Kim Dragoo, Steven Carrillo and Warren Ingram III. Each of the candidates has given an interview so that at this early stage, people can know who they are and what they think about the state of the district, with the exception of Dragoo, who has not responded to interview requests.
Pasley, a retired math teacher, continues to work in the classroom part time at Savannah High School. She previously held office from April 2016 to April 2022, giving way then to newcomers Isaura Garcia and Kim Miller.
“Probably the biggest thing (about me) is that I’ve served before, for six years and two years as board president,” Pasley said. “So, when April 2 comes, I will hit the ground running … There’s often a huge learning curve for new members, which is very understandable, but I will be ready to serve.”
All voters will be able to choose up to three names, but they can choose only one or two, if they prefer; any ballot with four or more selections will be invalidated. The State of Missouri deadline to register for the April 2 election is March 6. Those who remain unregistered can get it done via the Buchanan County Clerk or the Missouri Secretary of State.
