The Sedalia City Council interviewed four applicants for the vacant first ward councilman position during a work session Thursday, June 12

The four candidates—Cheryl Ames, Virginia Brainard, Jason Joy, and Adam Porter—each fielded over a dozen questions from current council members and department heads.

Ames reflected on her years as a realtor when identifying code enforcement and traffic safety as the priorities she’d bring to the council.

Brainard highlighted her previous work in several city positions, dating back to the late 1970s. She identified infrastructure as one of her top concerns.

Joy brought up his relative youth alongside his years of co-owning a barbershop in the city when identifying his priority to engage more citizens, particularly those like him in their 30s.

Porter, a Baptist minister and father of five, stressed a need to address public safety, particularly at the city’s parks. He went into further detail when asked a follow-up question by second ward councilman Lee Scribner.

The Sedalia city council took no action after Thursday’s session. Mayor Andrew Dawson will need to nominate one of the four applicants before they can receive a vote of the council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Tom Oldham in April.

Before Thursday afternoon’s work session, the Sedalia City Council convened a brief special session to pass an ordinance waiver and issue a liquor license allowing alcohol sales at Saturday’s car show on the Pettis County Square benefiting Cavs Sole Pursuit.

You can view the special session and interviews of all four candidates on the City of Sedalia’s Facebook page.