Three new Springfield councilmembers sworn in as three longtime incumbents retire

Springfield City Council welcomed three new councilmembers Tuesday night — Brandon Jenson, Callie Carroll and Derek Lee.

"Let me welcome the new members," Mayor Ken McClure said after all newly-elected members were sworn in — including the re-elected mayor and two other incumbents.

"Miss Carroll. Mr. Lee. Mr. Jenson. Glad to have you. We look forward to serving with you and I think you will enjoy it," McClure said.

Who's new on council?

Now the youngest member of City Council at 28-years-old, Jenson is a Nixa native with a degree in community and regional planning. After graduation, he moved to Colorado and worked as a city planner in the Denver area. He returned to Springfield in 2018 to work for the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments, an association of local governments in a 10-county area focusing on economic development.

Jenson currently works for the State of Missouri Department of Economic Development as a program manager for federally-allocated Community Development Block Grants. While Jenson has a passion for economic development, he also currently serves as President of the West Central Neighborhood Alliance.

Jenson was elected to the southwest Springfield Zone 3 — replacing two-term Councilman Mike Schilling.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to serve our great city," Jenson told the News-Leader after he was sworn in.

"Former Councilman Schilling left big shoes to fill, but I'm excited to use my experience and passion for our community, roll up my sleeves, and get to work!"

Carroll is a Missouri State University alum, a college athlete who graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. After graduation she moved to Mississippi to work as a morning news anchor.

After a stint in southern Illinois, Carroll returned to Springfield in 2017 as Director of Athletics Development at Missouri State. She went on to get a graduate degree from her alma mater and become involved in a host of volunteer roles at different Springfield organizations. These include among others the Champions Committed to Kids, Ozarks Regional YMCA board, Council of Churches, the Chamber of Commerce-linked The Network Leadership Council, and the Police Foundation Board.

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She moved from MSU to Old Missouri Bank two years ago, where she said her job does not involve banking but "relationship building." It's those skills Carroll she plans to bring to City Council.

"I think that as a city, we have relationships that need to be built. I'm here to build bridges, not burn them. And I think that people who have that mentality are gonna get more done," she told the News-Leader in the lead-up to the election.

Carroll is replacing Councilman Andy Lear in one of the body's citywide council seats.

Head of Lee Engineering & Associates, Derek Lee has often represented developers at neighborhood meeting or before city council. He now joins that body.

Lee told the News-Leader that sought public office because he is "service-oriented" at heart and has missed representing his clients in-person before council since the pandemic.

"I realized I really missed it. And so, I had a desire to do something a little bit more than what I've been doing in the past. To dedicate some more time to service. And I've always been very involved with my church but I have a unique skill set and I think it can best be utilized by being on City Council."

Lee previously applied to be appointed to a City Council vacancy in 2018 but was not chosen. He replaces Councilman Richard Ollis in one of the citywide positions.

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Goodbyes to long-serving councilmembers

The passing of the touch meant three councilmembers who opted against a re-election bid had to leave the dais for the last time. Emotions ran high as their fellows heaped praise upon their outgoing colleges.

"We are losing about a combined total of about 20 years of experience. Each one has brought an immense amount of real-life experiences, professional experiences, and viewpoints. Their service to our community has been invaluable," McClure said of Lear, Ollis and Schilling.

Councilman Andy Lear was appointed to his city-wide council seat in 2018 before running for his first and only full term in 2019. Lear is a retired partner of BKD, now FORVIS. He is a certified public accountant and previous chairman of the board of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

"You are about to embark on a wild ride," Lear told the new councilmembers.

"There will be many that are willing to help you along the way. Seek them out, seek out their counsel, seek out their wisdom. You will need it. There will be some who will disagree with you and are likely some who will just be disagreeable. Engage the former, ignore the latter. And above all, remember why you chose to do this. Keep your idealism always and do the best you can," Lear told them.

Ollis likened City Council to a "family."

"I will tell you that that I don't get along with all of you all the time. But I will say that I respect all of you and at my core — I love all of you."

Along with the other outgoing councilmembers, Ollis thanked the professional city staff for their dedication to the city.

"I came into this role, I thought 'You know what, I know some things,' and frankly, I didn't know anything. And that's where I want to thank the staff. The staff has been so accommodating and provided the necessary information and have mentored all of us. And so to each and every one of you, I can't thank you and let you know how appreciative that I am of all of you."

Schilling was first elected to represent Southwest Zone 3 in 2015 and served two four-year terms. He taught as an adjunct college instructor for the past 20 years, most recently American government and politics at Ozarks Technical Community College, as well as journalism and political science at Missouri State University and Drury University. He previously served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Schilling said what he loved most about the job was constituent service and urged the incoming members to help individuals as well as the city as a whole.

"I enjoyed most my work in constituent service. Helping people understand things, helping them solve problems, helping them connect with people who could answer the questions better than I could and hopefully get what they wanted to do done. And so, I admonish you three new people to pay attention to the constituents and you'll be rewarded."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield City Council sworn-in post-election with three new members