City Government
The City of Odessa is governed by a mayor and six-member board of aldermen, divided into three wards.
Two aldermen are elected in each ward, with terms alternating so that one alderman in each ward is elected each year in April.
The Mayor is elected in even years and serves a 2-year term.
Odessa is incorporated as a fourth-class municipality (reference the Missouri Municipalities below).
Mayor Candidate
Elected officials:. No person shall be elected a member of the board of aldermen, or be elected to any office under the city government, unless they are at least 18 years of age (except the mayor who shall be at least 25 years of age), a citizen of the United States, a qualified voter under this Code and state law and, except where otherwise provided, a resident and an inhabitant of the city for not less than one year immediately preceding their election or appointment.
Source: Odessa, Missouri Code of Ordinance September 7th, 2023
2024-2026 Bryan Barner Current
2024 Election Results
Bryan Barner 270 Votes 55%
Steve Wright 219 Votes 45%
2020-2024 Steve Wright 2 Terms
2014-2020 Adam Couch 3 Terms
2010-2011 Tom Murry 1 Term
2006-2010 Tony Bamvakais 2 Terms
1998-2006 Tom Murry 4 Terms
1996-1998 Will Rank 1 Term
1986-1996 Leo Thompson 5 Terms
1978-1986 Charles Fieth 4 Terms
1972-1978 Estel Smith 3 Terms
1970-1972 Major James Wilcox 1 Term
1968-1970 Y.D. Adair 1 Term
1966-1968 M.A. Webb 1 Term
1962-1966 Harold Anderson, Sr 2 Terms
1962-1962 Edmond Brooks (Acting Mayor)
1960-1961 Carl Hopper (Special Election)
1958-1960 J.C. Shyrock 1 Term
1954-1958 Rev. Thomas Dyer 2 Terms
1948-1954 Roy Schnetzler 3 Terms
1938-1948 Rev. Thomas Dyer 5 Terms
1926-1938 Joseph Lightner 6 Terms
1924-1926 John Kirkpatrick 1 Term
1922-1924 Thomas Gann 1 Term
1920-1922 John Kirkpatrick 1 Term
1914-1920 Joseph Lightner 3 Terms
1912-1914 J.F. Blackwell 2 Terms
1910-1912 Samuel L. McBurney 1 Term
1908-1910 Isaac W. Carson 1 Term
1906-1908 Lee Benning 1 Term
1903-1906 John Prince 1.5 Term
1900-1903 N.M. Houx 1.5 Term
1896-1900 Edward Blake 2 Term
1894-1896 Sid Gum 1 Term
1892-1894 Edward Blake 1 Term
1884-1892 John Phillips 1 Term
1882-1884 Dr. W. B. Johnson 1 Term
1880-1882 E.D. Rawlings 1 Term
1878-1880 Harry Tunstall 1 Term
Missouri Municipalities
Missouri statutes classify municipalities on the basis of population and limit the form of government options of each classification. The statutes provide that a community may incorporate as a city of the third class, fourth class or village on the basis of the population at the time of incorporation. 1Once a community is incorporated under a given classification, the municipality does not automatically change classification with a gain or loss of population. A municipality may change classification only when the change is approved by a majority vote of the people. There are certain forms of government permitted for each classification of municipality. Villages are permitted only one form of government—an elected board of trustees, five in number if the village has less than 2,500 population and nine if more than 2,500 population. Fourth-class cities are permitted to have either the mayor/board of aldermen form or the mayor/city administrator/aldermen form. The board of aldermen may adopt the city administrator form by ordinance, without a vote of the people. Third-class cities are granted greater flexibility with the authority to establish the mayor/council form, the council/manager form, the commission form or the mayor/city administrator/council form. Finally, constitutional charter cities may adopt any form of government that the people approve in the charter.
Source: https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Publications/municipalities05.pdf
