Incumbent California alderman faces challenger

City election includes unopposed races for 2 aldermen, mayor

An incumbent California alderman will face a challenger in the April 2 election, while two incumbents and the mayor are unopposed in the city election.

Incumbent Ward 1 Alderman Ron Baker is opposed by Olivia Allee for the two-year term.

Incumbent Aldermen Darryl Elliott, Ward 2, and Lanny Ash, Ward 3, will be unopposed, as will Mayor Norris Gerhart.

Baker has called California home for about 31 years. The northern Missouri native spent his career working for the state for 31 years from which he retired last February. His job took him to all but five state parks in Missouri through the Interpretation Department.

The biggest issue Baker wants to the city pursue is to keep residents in town for shopping and other activities.

"I want to try to keep the people local instead of having them go somewhere else with their kids," Baker said. "They need to realize they don't have to go to Boonville or somewhere like that for fun."

This will be the third election cycle Baker has run for a city seat.

"After we have our meetings and we decide on something, it makes me think we're bettering the town and making it a lot better place," Baker said. "We're making it better as we go."

Baker said the progress may be small at times, but it is steady.

"I want the town to grow, and we just like to see it be a nice community with a good recreation department," he said. "The town is a great place; that's why I'm here. It had a lot to offer my kids, and it's a good place to raise a family."

Allee was unavailable for comment for this story.