Letter to the Editor: Trevathan can change current fundamental poor City Council governance in Hannibal

I have known Kristy Trevathan since probably the late 1960s. She was the class ahead of me at what was then Hannibal Junior High School.

Over the many years, I watched her participate in many different nonprofit and critical local government political subdivisions (including as a City of Hannibal councilwoman). Kristy also was a board member of my primary competition when I was president of F&M Bank and Trust. At that time, she led the Hannibal National Bank board in major expansion plans (that really made me rather jealous).

After my retirement from F&M, I joined with her as members and officers of the local Missouri Conservation Department Master Naturalists Chapter.

In recent years, I have watched the sad deterioration of the civility and operating governance in City Hall
and probably illegal behavior of some of our City Council members. It has reached such a low I do not have confidence that several of our City Council members have Hannibal’s betterment as their primary goal. Instead, maybe it’s their own perception of personal power by being on the council.

Much of this decline seemed to begin with the employment of our current City Manager in 2019.

I am very confident Kristy can change the current fundamental poor City Council governance and find a way to move the City Council forward in a manner that follows state law, our charter, plus common ethical and civil behavior. Kristy’s vast board experience will help her to foster an environment where City Council members will work together in a common cause for Hannibal. It is good to point out individual initiatives Hannibal needs, but without the City Council following the law, common governance and working together, no Mayor will be successful.

I believe Barry Louderman is a good person and wants to work for the best of all of Hannibal’s citizens. He has conducted himself honorably during this campaign.

It is sad to see many of Louderman’s campaign officers (who are officially registered with the Missouri Ethics Commission) do not have the same honorable behavior as Mr. Louderman. His supporters’ campaign tactics have been to race to the bottom by name calling, distorting the facts, outright fabrication and (at least one) illegal action. They are very similar to the behavior of several current City Council members.

I do have concerns that if Louderman is elected, some of his supporters will take this as an affirmation of their tactics and expect this behavior to continue. This would further overwhelm the City Council and prevent Louderman from changing the current environment of unprofessional, not open and probably illegal behaviors, preventing action in the best interest of Hannibal.

Please join me and vote yes for Kristy Trevathan.

Stevens Plowman
Hannibal, Mo.