Three new faces elected in Blue Springs

An election upset during a stormy night in Blue Springs.

A radio personality who launched his campaign during a storm – way back in 2009.

And two candidates who campaigned against each other through some stormy issues and who eventually became closer friends.

Chris Lievsay knew the race in District 2 would be close, but defeating incumbent Sissy Reed, who has served since 1993 – that was a shocker.

“I thought from the beginning that I had a good possibility,” Lievsay said. “I’ve been involved in many city committees and functions, and I’m sure that helped.”

Unofficial election results show that Lievsay garnered 430 votes, or 52.12 percent, of the 825 votes cast. Reed garnered 388 votes, or 47.03 percent.

Lievsay attributed his upset to an overall desire among voters for new blood and fresh ideas.

“There may be some sort of attitude for fresh blood, change,” he said. “I think I have a lot to offer.”

When he and the other winners take their seats April 19, Lievsay said he’ll take it slowly, but he said he will soon focus on specific issues, including making sure that plans for the Woods Chapel Road corridor are finished, that road improvements in the older parts of the city are completed and that police issues are discussed and implemented.

“It was definitely a good race, no contention between myself and Sissy,” he said. “She’s been a great council member.”

The District 1 race was, by far, the race with the largest winning margin. Dale Carter garnered 847 votes, or 77.92 percent, of the 1,087 total votes cast, while his opponent, James L. May, garnered 237, or 21.80 percent, of the votes. Carter replaces Lyle Shaver, who had been on the council since 2007.

Celebrating at Joe’s Standard Bar, Carter said it was fitting that he should celebrate during a downpour. When he kicked off his campaign last year (he was the first of the six to start campaigning), it was during a hard rain.

“It’s fitting,” he said.

Carter said he wants to dive into his term full force, focusing on issues that he and residents both feel are crucial to the city. He wants to ensure that the Police Department will be able to convert to its mandated radio system, replacing the system rather than “putting a Band-Aid on it.”

He also wants to focus on the 1997 decision by the city to place the full financial responsibility of dredging and caring for retention ponds on the homeowner associations and neighborhoods throughout the city.

“I’d like very much to get to the bottom of that issue,” Carter said. “To see if it’s the city’s legal or moral obligation to do so.”

But Carter concedes that he’s new to the election process, to government service. A radio personality, yes, but never a city councilman – until now.

“I’m new at this, and it’s been a learning experience,” he said. “I’d just like to help make this city, one I’ve lived in the last 15 years, the best it can be.”

Grant Bowerman of District 3 won by a large margin. He garnered 712 votes, or 67.42 percent, of the 1,056 total votes filed, while his opponent, Michael Freeman, garnered 341 votes, or 32.29 percent. He replaces one-term Councilman Sheila Solon, who is leaving the council and running for the state legislature.

Bowerman said he wants to focus immediately on getting police data terminals inside each cruiser, as well as focus on issues relating to the Prairie Township Fire Protection District and the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District.

Most of all he wants to listen the first few months.

“I’m going to do a lot of listening, not only to the residents in my district but to other council members,” he said, adding that he had a chance to talk to Freeman earlier in the day Tuesday.

“We talked about a lot of things, but not so much the elections, or the issues, any of that kind of thing,” he said. “I came to understand him more.”

Freeman said after the final results were released that he hasn’t ruled out running again. Until he does, he said he would support his one-time opponent.

“I went from being someone barely anyone knew to someone a lot of people knew,” Freeman said. “It was a learning experience.”

Candidates Sissy Reed and Jim May could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.