The city of Springfield announced a vacancy on the city council about four hours after Angela Romine filed to run for the Missouri Senate on Feb. 22.
Romine released a statement on her vacation of office on Feb. 24. In a document provided to the Hauxeda, Romine used the word “resigned” to describe her effort to run in the Republican primary for Missouri Senate District 30 in August. Romine will challenge incumbent Lincoln Hough, also a Republican from Springfield, who has held the office for four years.
The city of Springfield put out a statement announcing Romine's immediate departure from the city council at around 8:30 on Feb. 22, within half an hour of a city council meeting that ended with Romine's noticeable absence.
“Serving and being your voice has been an honor and privilege,” Romine said two days later. “I have enjoyed it immensely.”
Romine said she knew that filing to run for the Missouri General Assembly would disqualify her from serving on the Springfield City Council.
“I was aware, which is why it was a difficult decision,” Romine said.
When questioned, Romine said she was not surprised with the speed at which staffers from Springfield City Hall announced that her spot on the council was vacant.
Romine said that “several people from different grassroots groups” approached her about challenging Hough.
“I had to think about it. After a lot of thought, prayers, and talking to many wise people, I came to the humbling decision to run for State Senate. I am going to continue to serve our community and be your voice here in Springfield by taking this step, continuing the goal of strengthening the conservative grassroots movement here in Missouri,” Romine said in her statement.
Reached on Feb. 23, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure said he was surprised to discover that Romine declared her candidacy for the Missouri Senate, which records from the Missouri Secretary of State's Office show occurred in Jefferson City at 4:28 p.m. on Feb. 22.
“Obviously, I was a bit shocked to see that — had no expectation that that was going to happen. So that was not what I was expecting to see. Let's put it that way,” McClure said.
After seeing Romine's candidacy filing, McClure called the city manager and then the city clerk. They spoke with the city attorney to make sure their collective reading of the city charter was correct.
McClure stepped out of the city council chambers during a hearing on Tuesday night and reportedly had a telephone conversation with Romine as Councilman Craig Hosmer presided over a hearing about a tax increment financing proposal for a development in southwestern Springfield called Brody Corners. McClure returned to the chamber before the hearing concluded.
A statement issued from the city of Springfield on Feb. 22 cited a clause in Springfield's city charter that declares a council seat vacant if the person holding it seeks to run for another office.
“No councilmember shall be a candidate or nominee for or hold any other lucrative public office or hold a lucrative position in the city government during his or her term as councilmember,” the law reads, in part.
Romine was elected in the municipal elections in April 2021 and took office on April 19, 2021. Romine defeated Isabelle Jimenez Walker 1,211-1,031, and received 54.01 percent of the vote in the Zone 1 election in doing so.
“We need more everyday citizens to run for city, state, and federal government positions who have integrity and gumption. That is what the founding fathers had in mind. I pray and hope that by entering this race, I can encourage and inspire others to step up as well,” Romine said on Feb. 24.
Romine pledged to be a listener who would “have a civil and respectful conversation” with voters leading up to the Republican primary Aug. 2. She has a little less than six months to campaign against Hough, the incumbent.
“Challengers ensure every candidate works hard for your vote, instead of being handed a seat. We need new ideas and new perspectives that come with answers, while keeping to the Missouri and U.S. Constitutions. Our elected officials’ jobs are to protect our God-given rights. These documents are to ensure we limit what our elected officials can and cannot do” Romine said.
Hough previously served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2010-2016. He was on the Greene County Commission from 2016 to the time he was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2018.
With Romine stepping down, the Springfield City Council loses a member who has falsely claimed the COVID-19 vaccine has produced more side effects than any other vaccine created. She cast the lone vote against providing grant funding for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s Finish Strong 417: Neighbor to Neighbor initiative, which includes a door-to-door effort to speak with residents about their vaccination decisions, and she was also the only member to not vote in support of a resolution to encourage residents to get vaccinated. Hough, has voiced concern about vaccination mandates, but he has joined with other Springfield representatives in recommending that residents get vaccinated, while hosting a bipartisan vaccination clinic at the end of July.
Hough said in an interview with the Daily Citizen Wednesday that he doesn’t want to believe getting a vaccine or not should be “a political football to be punted around.” Hough, who has two brothers who are doctors, said that he recommends that people make the decision on their own, with the advice of professionals.
“People should talk to their doctors, talk to their healthcare providers, and take the information that they get from the folks who actually are tasked with helping save lives every day, and make decisions based on that,” he said.
Hough said that he will campaign on his record, pointing out his workforce incentive grant bill that was passed during his first year in office and that he is the current Vice Chairman of the Missouri Senate Committee on Appropriations and that he’s slated to become Chairman if re-elected.
Ready to serve?
Those wishing to serve on Springfield’s City Council can apply for the Zone 1 seat from Feb. 25-March 11.
Springfield City Clerk Anita Cotter announced that her office would accept applications and statements of candidacy from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until 5 p.m. on March 11.
Zone One encompasses much of northwest Springfield.
The process for filling a vacant seat is laid out in the City Charter Section 2.5. According to Cotter, eight members of the city council will appoint an individual to serve until a municipal election set for April 4, 2023.
Those interested can obtain an application online (link will be live at 8 a.m. Feb. 25) or in-person from the Springfield City Clerk’s Office, located on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building, 840 North Boonville Avenue.
Qualifications
Must be a registered voter in the city of Springfield
Must have been a resident of the city of Springfield for at least two years prior to appointment
Must have been a resident of Zone One for at least one year immediately prior to appointment
Must not be disqualified from serving after being convicted of a felony.
Must not be disqualified from serving due to being delinquent on state and local tax payments.
Must have completed and filed Missouri Department of Revenue form 5120 per state law RsMO 115.306(2). Applications without Missouri Department of Revenue Form 5120 will not be accepted.
After the March 11 deadline, the Springfield City Council will review the applications and start the process of appointment in an effort to fill the vacancy for Zone One.
Hauxeda Reporter Cory Matteson contributed to this report.
