OZARK, MO — Ozark Mayor Brad Jackson will replace Lynn Morris as Eastern District Christian county commissioner come January.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (that’s NOT a plural name, guys, so stop calling him “Parsons”!) appointed Jackson to the position now that Lynn Morris is officially taking the Presiding Commissioner job.
For those of you who work a lot, or play video games a lot, or just do other stuff beyond follow local politics, here’s the scoop:
WHAT IS THE COUNTY COMMISSION?
The County Commission is responsible for handling the (appx.) $35 million Christian County budget. They distribute tax dollars to various county offices. They also help maintain county roads and bridges.
Basically, the Presiding Commissioner is in charge, the Eastern Commissioner represents the eastern side of the county (Ozark, Sparta, Chadwick, Oldfield, Bruner, etc.)
The Western Commissioner has, you got it, the west side (Nixa, Clever, Billings, Spokane, Highlandville, etc.)
Each position is elected. Lynn Morris was elected Eastern Commissioner in 2020 and Presiding Commissioner in 2022. He moves from Eastern Commissioner to Presiding Commissioner at the beginning of 2023.
That left a vacancy, so the governor appointed Brad Jackson. That’s good news for Lynn Morris, who, as newly elected Presiding Commissioner, is open about wanting to work with Jackson (who came in second place in 2020 to Morris in the Eastern Commissioner race.)
Politics aside, this arrangement appears to be the best yet for the communication and interest Morris has in unifying the county. Hosea (not Hosea like the Bible, but HOSE-EE) Bilyeu remains on the Western Commissioner post.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OZARK MAYOR POSITION?
Jackson told the CCT that his position will be filled by someone appointed by the Ozark Board of Aldermen at its Jan. 3 meeting. Voters will officially elect a new mayor in April.