BonnerSprings.com

A difference of 11 votes handed a position on the Bonner Springs City Council to resident George C. Cooper instead of incumbent Larry Berg during Tuesday’s election.

Ward 1 was the only opposed position of four City Council potions that were up for election. Out of 233 votes cast, Cooper earned 122, while Berg got 111.

Berg, who is a YouthFriends and business partnerships coordinator for USD 204, said the outcome was rather unexpected, but he tipped his hat to Cooper for giving a fair fight.

“I’m a little surprised that my opponent beat me on this but, at the same time, it was a good campaign. He did a good job and I wish him the best of luck,” Berg said.

He added that his four-year term on the council, which will end later this month, had been a rewarding one.

“I did enjoy my term on the council,” Berg said. “I was happy to help the City Council with what Bonner Springs does and what it is.”

Cooper, a power plant supervisor for the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, had much to say in the way of giving thanks for his win.

“I want to thank the residents of ward 1 who voted for me and I want to thank all of the citizens who voted throughout Bonner Springs,” Cooper said. “And I want to say ‘thank you’ to Larry (Berg) for the work in the past he’s done in Bonner.”

Cooper said one of his immediate goals would be to focus on infrastructure improvements in ward 1. He mentioned storm sewers, streets and sidewalks specifically.

“Not all at once, but start small and go from there,” Cooper said.

Cooper calls Bonner Springs a “well-kept secret,” saying that it may be small in size but it’s also the best the Kansas City metro area has to offer. He said he was looking forward to being a part of the city’s continued growth.

“… I also look forward to working with Mayor (Clausie) Smith and the other council members to make Bonner Springs the best city in the state,” Cooper said.

Running unopposed and continuing on for another term on the council are Tom Stephens, with 108 votes, Rodger Shannon, with 240 votes, and Jeff Harrington, with 162 votes. Mayor Clausie Smith, who also ran unopposed, will continue on as mayor. Out of 744 total votes, he received 672, with the remaining 72 being write-in votes.

In the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Board of Education regular term race, it was Bonner Springs that took the lead with Bonner residents Ray Cox, Jeff Tinberg and Lewis Wood beating out three other candidates, two of which are from Edwardsville. Cox, who has served on the board before and is a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, gathered the most votes with 840, but Tinberg, a system support specialist with a physician management and billing company in Kansas City, Kan., didn’t trail too far behind with 830.

Cox said he was happy about the outcome, but also ready to begin tackling the problems he sees within the district.

“Naturally, I’m very, very pleased with the results of the election,” Cox said. “It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly and I’m looking forward to being part of the education process again here in USD 204. We have a lot of problems and I’m looking forward to being part of the solution.”

Tinberg, whose goals for the next few years include creating stronger connections between parents in the community and the Board of Education, said he couldn’t wait for his term to begin.

“I basically just want to thank the community for their support,” Tinberg said. “And I’m excited, and I’m ready to get started.”

Wood, who is a retired teacher and who has already served 20 years on the board, received 597 votes.

Losing candidates James Eickhoff and Troy Thompson, both of Edwardsville, received 533 votes and 362 votes respectively. Eickhoff, who works in the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, said he didn’t feel any disappointment that he wasn’t able to secure a spot on the board.

“I’m not disappointed at all,” Eickhoff said. “I think that (the winning candidates) all have good intentions and good motives to serve the public.”

The third losing candidate was Starla Newberry, a stay-at-home mother from Bonner Springs, who gathered 425 votes. She said that, for her, the most important part of the election process wasn’t who won or lost, but that so many people sought election to begin with.

“I really think the important thing is that there were more than 3 people running for more than three spots,” Newberry said. “Obviously there’s people out there that care, so that’s good.”

Connie Hadley, who was seeking re-election for her unexpired position, will continue on the board and received 1,158 votes.

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