Parson wins Poplar Bluff Ward 1 seat

Lisa Armes Parson claimed the Poplar Bluff Ward 1 city council seat with just over 73 percent of the vote Tuesday.

Parson

Parson won 65-24 against retired police officer Alonzo “Kit” Skaggs in a low turnout election.

Ward 3 council member Barbara Horton ran unopposed for a second term, receiving 43 votes, according to unofficial results released by the Butler County clerk’s office.

Horton thanked the residents of her ward for their support in the past term and said she will work hard for them in the next term.

Both Parson and Horton will serve three-year terms.

“I’m just excited to see what I can do for our community,” said Parson, 57, who waited Tuesday night at the Butler County Courthouse for the results. “I’m in love with my community. I just want to see what’s best for us. They’ve done a lot of great things in the past 10-15 years and I just want to see it continue.”

Parson said she wants to learn more about issues facing the council now, including decisions on bids for a wastewater improvement project that have stalled at council in recent weeks.

She will look to friend and former mayor Betty Absheer for inspiration as she starts out.

“She treats people fairly. I think she voted on her morals and that’s what I plan on doing,” said Parson.

Parson spent the day at the Ward 1 polling place with Skaggs, who is also a longtime friend.

While disappointed, Skaggs, 75, said he was happy for Parson.

Parson is an insurance agent and customer service representative for Morse Harwell Jiles. Horton, 69, works for the Daily American Republic.

About 11 percent of active registered voters turned out in Butler County, said county clerk Tonyi Deffendall, who attributed much of the turnout to the race for the Twin Rivers School Board.

“I really thought it would be in the single digits,” said Deffendall, adding she was pleasantly surprised.

Election results are not certified until the Friday after an election, the deadline for military votes to be received.