December 30 – CARTHAGE, Mo. – Changes are coming at some district offices in Carthage and Neosho.
In Jasper County, a new Western District Commissioner and Treasurer will take office on January 1; In Newton County, two new commissioners, a new sheriff and other new officials will take office at the same time.
Jasper Province
Mike Landis, a former construction company owner and 14-year member of the Joplin Board of Education, was sworn in as Western District commissioner Friday.
He replaces Darieus Adams, who retired after 20 years.
Landis said he takes office at a time when Jasper County is healthy, thanks to a lot of work over the past decade.
“I’m fortunate to get into the office when I come in,” Landis said. “Officials did a great job eight or nine years ago by going to the public and getting some bonds passed, and we were able to build the Senator Ron Richard Juvenile Justice Center in Joplin. Courts Building and remodeling the courthouse in Carthage and adding to the sheriff’s office. So facilities-wise, I’m probably coming at the absolute best time ever, I think, in the history of the county.”
Landis said he and Eastern District Commissioner Tom Flanigan and Presiding Commissioner John Bartosh will have their hands full keeping up with the roads and bridges and facility maintenance and the day-to-day issues that people don’t often read about.
“I’m ready and excited to get started and learn, and it will be great to work with John Bartosh and Tom Flanigan and all the other officeholders,” Landis said. “You know we all have to work well together and we all have to make sure we’re pulling on the same rope in Jasper County. That only helps our voters.’
The other newcomer to Jasper County government isn’t actually a newcomer at all.
Shannon Karraker has served as a county employee for several years and as deputy chief treasurer for the past year and a half.
Karraker takes over as county treasurer from Denise Rohr, who decided not to run for re-election.
“Denise, the current treasurer, has been extremely helpful and served as a great mentor leading up to this moment. I will have some big shoes to fill,” she said.
The other officeholders sworn into new terms are Flanigan, Sheriff Randee Kaiser, Assessor Lisa Perry, Administrator Angie Casavecchia and Coroner James Harrison.
Newton County
New Newton County Sheriff Matt Stewart said he looks forward to learning more about his new department.
The former Joplin police chief won the race for Newton County sheriff after incumbent Chris Jennings decided to retire.
Stewart said he is looking forward to getting back into law enforcement after his most recent stint as director of the Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri.
“Every law enforcement agency has its unique set of challenges and issues, and I look forward to getting to know this department and this county and learning more about those challenges here in Newton County,” he said.
Newton County will also have two new commissioners on the three-seat board that governs the county.
Mark Knight was elected District 1 Commissioner and Mark Bridges was elected to the District 2 seat to serve alongside Presiding Commissioner Daniel Swem.
Re-elected to new terms in Newton County were Assessor Cheryle Perkins, Treasurer Gina Genisio Rodriguez, Public Administrator Joy Williams, Coroner Dale Owen and Surveyor Jerry Wood.
