Two more candidates file for city council, prompting races in Wards 4 and 6

Two more Prairie Village residents have filed for April’s city council elections prior to today’s deadline, setting up races in Wards 4 and 6.

Ted Odell, a project director for Mark One Electric Company, filed for the Ward 6 seat on April’s ballot, challenging incumbent Diana Ewy Sharp. Brooke Morehead, owner of Prairiebrooke Arts, Inc., filed in Ward 4, where she will take on incumbent Dale Beckerman.

Odell said in a statement sent via email that he was running because he feels Ward 6 needs a representative that will focus on “revitalizing our district.”

“Diana [Ewy Sharp's] open desire to run for mayor is admirable and I wish her luck,” he said. “However, we need a councilperson who will devote his time entirely to the challenges we are facing locally, in Ward 6, for the entire four-year term.”

Odell said Ward 6 has been in “steady decline” since Ewy Sharp came to office in 1997. He said crime has gone up in the area, and he feels Ewy Sharp has put work on city parks projects ahead of public safety (Ewy Sharp is chair of the city’s Parks and Recreation committee).

Ewy Sharp sent out a press release last week announcing her campaign for a fifth term. In it, she listed public safety and safe neighborhoods, the annual budget, the Village Vision master plan, and the Parks and Recreation master plan as her priorities.

“Keeping Prairie Village safe is my priority,” she said in the release. “Ward 6 experienced a significant rise in residential burglaries these past two years. I work closely with Police Chief Wes Jordan, and send communications and crime prevention tips to my constituents through my Facebook City Council page…”

Ewy Sharp has also launched a campaign website.

Morehead has not returned a call seeking comment on her motivations to run. Her opponent, Dale Beckerman, is seeking his second term. Resident Ashley Weaver filed for the Ward 1 seat last week, and will be facing incumbent Al Herrera.

The filing deadline for the city council elections is noon today.