Tough day for incumbents in Branson’s April 3, 2007 Election as voters vote for change
It was a tough election day for incumbent candidates in Branson, Missouri on April 3, 2007. By a huge margin, about 83% to 17%, the voters of Branson, elected Raeanne Presley as its mayor over 12 year incumbent mayor Lou Schaefer. In the only aldermanic election involving an incumbent, retired Branson City Clerk, Sandra Williams, easily won over 12 year incumbent Ron Huff as a Ward II Alderman by a margin of about 73% to 27%. Bob McDowell won a contested election against a non incumbent, who had previously been an alderman, for a Ward I seat and Stephen Marshall ran unopposed for a Ward III seat.
In general the election was about change in the way things are done at city hall. During the campaign Bob McDowell probably summed the situation up best when he said, that the leadership of city government had to earn back “the benefit of the doubt position” from the community.
Mayor Presley and aldermen, Marshall, McDowell, and Williams should take their oath and assume their duties at the April 9 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen.