Third candidate certified for council race

Jan. 10—There is officially a three-way race for general seats on the Joplin City Council.

Natalie Klue-Michael, was certified Wednesday as the third candidate for two general seats on the council in the April 2 election.

The other two are incumbent Keenan Cortez and Joshua Bard.

City Clerk Holly Nagy confirmed Wednesday the verification of Klue-Michael's signatures to become a candidate.

In addition to the two general seats, there are two unopposed candidates for zone seats.

The incumbent in Zone 2, Charles "Chuck" Copple, is virtually assured of election because there is no opponent. In Zone 3, Ryan Jackson also is virtually assured to take the Zone 3 seat held now by Phil Stinnett, who did not run again.

Another resident, Doris Carlin, also is unopposed for the unexpired two-year term of Kate Spencer, who resigned last month. The seat is currently filled until the election by Anthony Monteleone, a former council member who was appointed by the council.

The deadline for candidates to submit the needed 150 voter signatures to run for election was 5 p.m. Tuesday. Klue-Michael had submitted an adequate number by then, and the verification of those signatures was completed Wednesday.