Nonpartisan coalition invites residents to meet local elected officials

The Informed Voter Coalition will host a Meet the Electeds event on Wednesday, April 22, from 5-7 p.m. at Missouri State University's Strong Hall Atrium so Springfield and Greene County residents can speak with local officials.

The Informed Voter Coalition is organizing a Meet the Electeds event to make local elected officials more accessible to residents. Organizers say the gathering is meant to help people learn what city and county officials do and to encourage civil conversations. The coalition is made up of more than a dozen nonpartisan organizations, including the Springfield News-Leader. The event is set for April 22 at Missouri State University's Strong Hall Atrium. Event details: - Date and time: Wednesday, April 22, from 5-7 p.m., at Strong Hall Atrium, 900 S. Holland Ave.; parking will be available at the Bear Park South parking garage. - Organizer: The Informed Voter Coalition, launched in 2019, is a group of more than a dozen nonpartisan organizations that aim to educate voters and foster engagement. - Participating officials: Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller; Greene County Assessor Brent Johnson; Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon; Commissioner Rusty MacLachlan; and Springfield School Board Member Shurita Thomas-Tate. - This is the coalition's first in-person event of this kind, and organizers say they are planning another Meet the Electeds event that would involve state lawmakers. - Member organizations mentioned include the Springfield News-Leader, League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri, NAACP Springfield, Missouri State University's Office of Public Affairs, KSMU Ozarks Public Radio, and others. Summary: The event is presented as an opportunity for residents to meet local officeholders in an informal setting and to build familiarity and rapport. Organizers report plans for a future event with state lawmakers as a next step.