Landon Oxley said Monday he has decided to become a write-in candidate for Ward 2 of the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen.
Ward 2 Alderman Paul Buckley plans to move away from Holts Summit and did not announce until late that he would not seek re-election.
When the filing deadline passed with no candidate filing, Holts Summit City Administrator Brian Crane said he thought someone would step forward to mount a write-in campaign.
Holts Summit Mayor Lucas Fitzpatrick said he talked with several people and was unsuccessful in persuading anyone to run.
"A lot of retired people are enjoying retirement a little too much," he said.
Oxley said had been thinking on his own about filing for alderman for the last few years and he has been attending some meetings of the board.
He was present Monday night when the board was unable to secure a quorum and could not have a formal meeting. The board did have a public hearing on planned sewer tax increases. No one showed up to comment at the public hearing so the hearing was declared completed and the board adjourned for the evening.
A resident of Holts Summit for 12 years, Oxley served in the Missouri National Guard for 13 years as an infantry medic. He was a member of the 735th Support Battalion of Springfield.
Oxley said his parents moved to Holts Summit 22 years ago from Lebanon.
He worked for the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant before starting his current occupation as a lineman for Callaway Electric Cooperative in Fulton.
Oxley's family includes his wife, Annette; a son, Cole, 16, a student at Calvary Lutheran High School in Jefferson City; and a daughter, Lizzie, 12, a student at Trinity Lutheran Elementary School in Jefferson City.
"As an alderman," Oxley said, "I would like to support the other aldermen. My goal is to improve the city of Holts Summit, including beautification of streets. I want the city to be a safe and beautiful place to call home.
"I don't have any big issue that I am interested in. I just want to be of service to my community and do the best I can."