Williams, Chesney, Moore prevail for school board

By Marcus Clem

LaTonya Williams, Ronda Chesney and Mike Moore secured seats on the St. Joseph Board of Education on Tuesday night, according to unofficial election results.

Williams, the incumbent board president, secured first place from the start of counting in Buchanan County and never fell from that position. Moore was in second, and Chesney was in third. Turnout exceeded 22%, higher than normal for a local school board race. A total of 11,721 people cast ballots, out of 52,000 registered voters.

“I think that everyone knows me by now, everyone knows that I’m genuine, I’m real, I’m all about the educators and the kids, and there’s no other agendas,” Williams said.

Moore said his message of needing to do what it takes to help kids achieve was key to his success.

“The community recognized that the school district is a positive asset,” he said. “I think that resonated with people, and I really look forward to looking towards those goals.”

Chesney cited her record as a teacher for 29 years in the district as an appeal voters seemed to have understood.

“So, I’m familiar with the operations of the district,” she said. “I’m also a teacher at Missouri Western of education students, so that also was another key to being in classrooms and knowing the every day workings of the district.”

Results were not immediately clear because of a relatively late decision to have all Sojourn Church precinct vote at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Therefore, unofficial results indicated that about 95.8% of the vote had been counted late into the evening. In fact, however, all results were in prior to 9 p.m.

Williams has earned a second consecutive term on the board. She will be sworn at 5:30 p.m. April 15 at the Troester Media Center, 3401 Renick St., alongside Moore and Chesney, enabling the three to serve until at least April 2027.

The board will elect a president, vice president and treasurer at the same time oaths of office are taken. Williams has served as president to date. Current vice president Kenneth Reeder and past president David Foster will depart from the board after three years of service. The board will next meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Troester Media Center, to consider matters from the previous term; Reeder and Foster will be able to vote as their terms do not end until April 15.

The final results saw Williams achieve first place at 14.96% of the vote, Moore secure second with 14.31%, and Chesney obtaining the final available seat with 13.69% of the vote. Candidates who did not obtain a seat are Jacob McMillian, who had 12.93%, as well as Tami Pasley, who received 11.88%, and Reeder, on 10.05% vote share. Sean Connors (8.75%), Kimberly Dragoo (7.16%), Warren Ingram III (3.99%) and Steven Carrillo (1.81%) also contended.