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2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 11:46 AM

Uncontested races fill Richmond ballot

By COURTNEY SERVAES, Herald Staff Writer

Richmond residents probably know what to expect Election Day.

All races are uncontested as Mayor Mary Ann Platt and Council Member Shelden “Scott” Snow are seeking re-election, and newcomer Betty Bowlby hopes to fill an open spot on the Richmond City Council.

Mary Ann Platt

For Platt, running for re-election was a no-brainer.

Platt, who has served as mayor for the last two years, said she wants to make sure the projects she started are followed through. The economy and budget concerns also rank high on her list of priorities, she said.

“I really feel that this next year is going to be a rough year with the economy the way it is, and I really think I have a very good understanding of the budget,” she said. “I will be able to do this better than most would.”

Some of Platt’s projects include increasing the size of Richmond’s water district and repairing multiple streets in the city.

During Platt’s 20 years in Richmond, she’s been involved in the Richmond Christmas Festival.

She’s employed by the Franklin County Health Department, and she and her husband have been married for 20 years and have two children and seven stepchildren.

“I really enjoy doing this,” she said. “I’ve got a great bunch of employees that have really worked hard for me and have never said no to me for anything I’ve asked them to do.”

Sheldon ‘Scott’ Snow

Snow wants to keep the city budget numbers in the black.

His main concerns, though, are with the city’s water supply and the economy.

“I just want to take care of all our residents,” Snow said.

Snow has served on the council for one term, and he said he’s running for re-election because he wants to continue serving the community.

He is employed by Beachner Grain. He and his wife have three children, and the family has been a member of the Richmond community for six years.

“It’s a nice community,” he said.

Betty Bowlby

Bowlby can count on one hand the number of times she’s missed a city council meeting in the last three years.

For this reason, Bowlby, who has lived in Richmond for the last four years, decided to run for a position on the Richmond City Council.

“I know a lot about what people want,” she said. “I want to help.”

Some of Bowlby’s main concerns are with the city’s water and sewer systems. She also wants to help improve the streets.

Previously Bowlby served on the city zoning board.

“I think I’m qualified to be on council,” she said.

Before moving to Richmond, Bowlby and her husband lived outside the city for more than 10 years. They have eight children.

“I just hope I can be elected and help,” she said.