Kennett councilor seeks re-election with a focus on financial stability and community growth

An experienced Kennett City Councilor known for her committee work and service to her constituents seeks re-election to the body when voters hit the polls on April 8.

“From stabilizing our finances to making Kennett a better place to live and work, I’m focused on real solutions,” said incumbent Ward 1 Councilor Lisa Dry. “Not just talk.

"When I ran in 2023, I promised to speak up for the people of Ward 1,” she added. “Anyone who attends council meetings knows that I do just that. I ask questions for clarification and offer suggestions to ensure Ward 1 residents have a strong voice on the council.”

Dry’s interest in public service began in high school when she was chosen to attend Missouri Girls State, she said.

“It was an eye-opening experience for a farm girl to spend a week in the city interacting with other young women from across the state,” Dry noted. “The American Legion Auxiliary-sponsored program gives young women the tools to communicate, lead and inspire change in their schools, communities and beyond.”

Those positive memories are recalled every December when Dry joins friends to sell cookies at the Adelphian Bazaar in order to raise funds to send local young women to Girls State, she said.

Dry's post-secondary studies took shape and culminated at Cape Girardeau, where she studied Communications at Southeast Missouri State University, the incumbent explained.

“With the help of scholarships, a work-study program, and my parents,” Dry admitted. “My career took me to the agriculture and energy sectors.

“Over the years, I lived in five different states,” she continued. “But no matter where I went, I always knew that one day I’d return to my family home in Kennett.”

Dry's roots are planted firmly in Bootheel gumbo, with family living in the area “dating back before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803,” she noted.

“My great-grandfather moved to Kennett at the beginning of the 20th century,” Dry said. “I’m proud to be the fourth generation to live in the house he bought in 1904.”

Dry's career demands forced her to relocate, she said.

However, after returning to Kennett, Dry “started attending city council meetings,” and became frustrated with some of the body's decisions.

“I believe that you can either complain about something or be part of the solution,” she said. “I decided I wanted to help address our city’s challenges and use my business experience to help put us on a path toward financial stability and future growth.

“When I took office, the city was in a dire financial situation,” the incumbent continued. “There was barely enough money in the checking account to cover payroll. As part of the Finance Committee, we took immediate action to halt discretionary spending, implemented strict spending limits, and worked with department heads to create a rigorous budget. As a result, we went from being nearly broke to having a six-month financial reserve, an important safety net in case of an economic downturn. Given that our city relies on sales tax revenue, having these reserves protects us from unexpected events, such as the temporary closure of a major retailer like Walmart, which would significantly reduce our revenue.”

Beyond financial stability, Dry explained that she supported policies that she's sure “will make Kennett a better place to live” work, and do business.

“I support the city-wide trash service that starts this fall,” she said. “Also, the landlord licensing and tenant safety standards to ensure rental properties are safe and habitable while holding both landlords and tenants responsible.

“I'm also interested in Kennett's blight reduction,” she added. “Identifying condemned and abandoned properties to be demolished is good for our city.”

Kennett Mayor Jake Crafton charged Dry with chairing a committee whose responsibility is “to review our city employees' healthcare coverage, ensuring we’re offering a plan for them that meets their needs” within the city's budget prameters.

Dry noted that public service extends beyond city hall, and said she is active in organizations that enrich the community.

“As a member of the Kennett Alliance for the Arts, I help organize and sponsor the Fall into Arts Festival each September,” Dry said. “And I created two new programs to celebrate our local history.

“The Historic Buildings Walking Tour,” she continued. “And the Heritage Homes Tour. We spend months each year to plan a fun, free and interesting event for the whole family and expose kids to a range of activities.”

Dry also supports young women’s education through two organizations that provide scholarships for students.

“One of these groups sends local high school juniors to Missouri Girls State,” she said. “I attended this program myself, and it had a profound impact on my passion for public service and serving our community.

“The other is a nonprofit organization that helps women, including a local high school senior, pursue educational goals,” the incumbent councilor continued. “This is also personal, because I was the recipient of several scholarships that made my education possible.”

Dry said Kennett's future is dependent on planning, communicating and cooperating among residents, the city and other official entities.

“Our city serves as a hub for nearly 250,000 people within a 60-mile radius,” Dry noted. “To ensure we are prepared for the future, we must develop a roadmap in the form of a strategic plan to guide our future growth.

“That’s why the mayor asked me to lead the effort to secure a grant from the Delta Regional Authority in partnership with the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission,” she continued. “If approved, this grant will allow us to assess the types of manufacturing, retail, and small business opportunities best suited to our community.”

Dry explained she's committed to “boosting local business by finding the right industries for our town,” and creating a small business incubator “to help local entrepreneurs” start on paths toward success.

“Job training is important,” the incumbent said. “Working with schools and training programs to make sure people have the skills they need for good jobs.

“And we would benefit from better housing options,” she added. “Since 41% of our housing is rentals, we need a solid plan to create more affordable homes, fix up run-down areas, and make our town a better place to live and work.”

Searching out methods to expand childcare choices and taking advantage of tourism strengthens Kennett's economy, Dry said.

“Reviewing the city's stormwater system with new floodplain maps and making sure zoning rules support both today’s needs and future development are other interests, she explained.

“The council has made considerable progress over the past two years,” Dry said. “But there’s still work to be done.

“That’s why I’m running for another term,” she added. “To continue building on our financial stability, foster economic growth, improve community engagement and ensure Kennett remains a strong, vibrant community.”

Some residents long for the nostalgia of Kennett's past, and Dry admitted those memories are sweet.

But the city's future is everyone's responsibility, she observed.

“We can’t go back in time to the Kennett of our youth,” Dry said. “But we can make a new Kennett that our kids and businesses can be proud of.

“I want to help make a difference by ensuring that we take real steps toward progress,” she added. “Not just talk about it.”

Dry does not accept campaign contributions in efforts to fund her bid for re-election and possibly be seen as “beholden to outside sources,” she noted.

"I’ve chosen to self-fund my campaign to ensure my decisions remain focused on what’s best for Kennett,” she said. “Not influenced by campaign contributions from those who may have a financial stake in city policies.

"I hope to continue the work we’ve started,” the incumbent councilor added. “And build on the momentum we’ve created. Your support means everything, and I’d love the opportunity to keep working for Kennett."