Poplar Bluff is witnessing a passing of the torch as Jerrica Fox succeeds long-time councilman Ward 2 Ed DeGaris.
“Ed has been a long-time friend of mine — which I’m sure a lot of people say, because Ed is the type of person who makes friends with everyone whose life he enters,” Fox said. “Succeeding Ed on the council is bittersweet. Having served with him on the council when I represented one of the at-large seats, I valued his mentorship and counsel.”
DeGaris retired from the city council at the end of his term this April, concluding a 45-year career of public service in Poplar Bluff, which he was honored for at the April 19 city council meeting — his final city council meeting. He spent 33 years working for the Poplar Bluff Police Department, then served four three-year terms on the city council, including five years as Poplar Bluff’s mayor. DeGaris also served one year as mayor pro tem.
DeGaris said he enjoyed his 12 years on the city council and that he loved “helping the citizens solve problems and hearing from them.”
“I had limited knowledge on several things that would come up, but I knew who to call to obtain information that was valuable,” DeGaris said. “I received numerous calls in support of my stance on issues. Prayed a lot about what was the right thing to do.
“Supporting the veterans on behalf of the city was extremely gratifying. Supporting our employees is essential to the city — they get all the criticism but no glory. I tried to let the citizens that I called back with results know it was our employees that did it.”
Making DeGaris’s last night on the council even more special is that DeGaris’s grandson, Ashton, was honored with a proclamation for his volunteer efforts on behalf of the city.
“I fought back tears of joy,” DeGaris said. “It was the greatest thing I have ever seen a city do.”
Fox had additional words of praise for DeGaris’s legacy as a city councilman and former mayor.
“As time has gone on, I’m not sure we remember how difficult it was for people like him and Betty Absheer to do their work,” Fox said. “Both were holding the line against an out-of-town city manager who ran the city’s finances into the ground.
“I am very appreciative of Ed’s work in looking out for our city, creating opportunities for local veterans, sponsoring beautification efforts, working with the Chamber of Commerce on promoting local businesses, his work with the Rodgers Theatre and the many more worthwhile projects in which he participated across his 12 years on the council.”
DeGaris also had words of praise for his successor.
“Jerrica called me before she ran,” DeGaris said. “She is open minded and will look into everything and will have the best interest of the city on her mind always.”
Fox said she is very appreciative to Ward 2 for electing her to succeed DeGaris.
“In my previous time on the council, I worked hard to make sure the people of Poplar Bluff knew I had an open door and was always willing to meet with or talk to them about their concerns,” Fox said. “Having an education and background in finance, the city’s budget is an area of policy I intend to focus a lot of my time, to help ensure we are making the best possible decisions with regards to the taxpayers’ money.
“Having previously served as Downtown Poplar Bluff director, I want to see the city administration and council continue supporting efforts made in our downtown to recruit businesses and economic developers. In the last 10 years, it has been amazing to see the progress made downtown and I will work hard to continue supporting downtown and to see it reach the goals so many people in our community have worked hard to achieve.”
Fox said that public service is in her blood.
“Having a grandmother who held county elective office, I grew up seeing how a local elected official can make a difference for families in a community,” Fox said. “I don’t claim to have all of the ideas or a perfect solution for all of the problems that face our community, but I can promise I will ensure everyone’s voice is heard and I will actively seek out diversity of opinion. There is not a particular issue that motivated me to return to the city government. My motivation is I believe I have the time, relationships, and work ethic to help bring people together to continue moving our city forward.”