OttawaHerald.com -- Community News. Community Connections.

	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

Subscriber Services Home Delivery Gift Subscription Stop-Start Delivery Missing Paper Back Issues Newsstand Locations Shopper Locations

Advertising Services Manage Your Account Place a Classified Ad Place a Display Ad Advertise Online Business Finder Directory

Other Services Submit News Laminated Items Photos & Keepsakes Article Archives Contact Us History of the Herald Our Policies

Suggest a poll topic

2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 11:47 AM

Write-in vote to determine final Princeton council official

By COURTNEY SERVAES, Herald Staff Writer

Even with four incumbents vying for spots on the Princeton City Council, the open spot for the fifth seat could draw the most attention Election Night.

After all, it will be a write-in vote that determines who will represent the community in the final spot.

Incumbents Chris Hutchinson, Kathy Jones, Ronnie Lee and Carol Lingo are seeking re-election on the city council, while Mayor Donna Magee will run uncontested for re-election.

Chris Hutchinson

Serving on the city council has been a learning experience for Hutchinson.

“I’ve been seeing how things are working,” he said. “I’ve been learning things, learning how the city is run.”

One of the problems that Hutchinson has learned the most about is the city’s waste system. If re-elected, he wants to make sure the city’s sewer lines are redone and repairs to many of the streets are taken care of.

Hutchinson is married and has five children. He is employed by Sysco Food Services in Olathe.

“I enjoy being on the city council and learning more,” he said.

Kathy Jones

For Jones, city cleanup is one of the top concerns this election year.

Not only does Jones want to repair some of the streets, she also wants to make sure there aren’t any inoperable vehicles cluttering up the city.

“I’d like to see some cleanup,” she said.

Jones, who is a medical records analyst at Ransom Memorial Hospital, and her husband have lived in Princeton for 26 years. During that time, she’s served on the city council for 18 years.

“I enjoy being on the council,” she said. “I consider it an honor.”

Ronnie Lee

Lee knows a lot about road construction and repairs. Lee, who drives a delivery truck for Sysco Food Services, has experience working on city roads in Texas.

For this reason, he thinks he’s been pretty helpful to the Richmond City Council during the past year.

“I just wanted to go in there and help out the community, and this is the best way possible,” he said.

Lee said some of the city’s roads need repair, but he’s happy to have been on the council to help with the sewer pond project.

“We’re looking to get new main sewer lines in here,” he said.

Lee and his wife have lived in Princeton for two years. He has three sons and two stepchildren.

Carol Lingo

For Lingo, Princeton isn’t just a city, it’s the place she hopes to live for the rest of her life.

Because the city means so much to her, Lingo has been involved with the city council for about seven years. She first attended meetings and now is running for her second term on the council.

“I’ve mostly wanted to see what kinds of things were going on,” she said. “When I first started attending meetings, I wanted to see what kinds of changes were being made.”

Lingo said she is interested in cleaning up the community.

“We do have a city-wide cleanup coming up,” she said. “I am more than willing to help — especially senior citizens that need assistance.”

Lingo and her husband have lived in the city for more than eight years.

Donna Magee

Political activism runs in Magee’s family.

Her father, Robert Falconer, served as the city clerk and treasurer in Sibley, Mo., for 50 years.

In 2001, Magee took a shot at city government when she was elected to her first term as mayor. She’s lived in Princeton since 1972.

Magee serves on the Ransom Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Board and previously worked in the kitchen for the Central Heights School District.

Magee has said improvements to Princeton’s streets will be a priority for the city in the coming years.