Dr. Nick McHargue of 503 Town and Country Lane is seeking re-election as mayor and is one of four individuals who are candidates. Dr. McHargue recently retired from dentistry after 50 years. He and his wife, Cheri, are the parents of three children, all of whom were educated in and graduated from the Trenton R-9 School District. He has been active in the community as a member of the Trenton Township Board, the Trenton Park Board, the Trenton City Council and serving as mayor. He has also coached swimming, baseball and softball youth programs for several decades. He and his wife founded the Gooseberry Festival, which is held on the third weekend of June each year and includes many activities for local residents. He has been a member of the Master Gardners for 29 years and helps decorate and water flower beds on various streets and at welcome signs around the community.

Why are you running for the position of mayor?
As mayor, I understand the city finances and I want to keep taxes and utilities affordable for the citizens of Trenton.
What traits should the mayor of Trenton possess and how do you represent those traits?
Most importantly, a public official should be available to the people that they represent and should work with individuals, but also work for the good of all the citizens of Trenton. I do this.
What is your vision for Trenton as the community moves forward?
I think Trenton is reaching a stable situation that I plan to continue on this path. My focuses are: 1) Taxes and utility rates are a negative for the city of Trenton at this time, but I am working to adjust these; 2) Retail businesses will continue to suffer from online buying, but they are starting to stabilize with local support; 3) Nestles is investing money into our local plant; 4) Modine, with Trenton native Miles Moore as the plant manager, will continue its positive growth; 5) North Central Missouri College is a definite positive that has my continued support; 6) Wright Memorial Hospital and staff are huge assets we need to maintain. To summarize, I feel like Trenton is starting to have a stable future and these entities will be my focus.
The mayor, along with the city council, is responsible for all city finances, including the yearly multi-million-dollar budgets for the city and Trenton Municipal Utilities. What is your experience in this area? Do you have concerns with current city/utility budget practices and, if so, how would you address those concerns?
I am experienced and knowledgeable about the budgets of the city and utilities and I try to educate the public with these tools. The city is financially sound and the utilities need to reduce rates after having a $3 million profit and $11 million in revenues. I think that taking almost $1,000 from each household is hurting the economy of Trenton. Wastewater and electric rates need to be reduced.
Are there other areas of city operations you have concerns with and, if so, how would you address them as mayor?
The city is in good financial standing, but we will need to work to see employees are paid more to ensure and keep experienced people. All departments in the city and utilities are staffed with experienced and competent people, but the pay scale is low. The issue of a low pay scale will have to be adjusted in the future. I believe that increased revenue from the new asphalt plant will help with this concern.
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Larry Porter of 1908 Bolser St. is one of four individuals seeking the position of mayor. A native of Trenton, he has served the last four years as a member of the city council, representing the second ward. He is a 1987 graduate of Trenton High School and attended Trenton Junior College for one semester before entering the workforce. For the past nine years, he has been a milk hauler for the Dairy Farmers of America. He and his wife, Shelly, a special education teacher in the Spickard R-2 School District, are the parents of two children, Tasha Wyant, who is a teacher in the Grundy R-5 School District, and Dakota Porter, who works at Modine Manufacturing. Both children graduated from THS and attended North Central Missouri College.
Why are you running for the position of mayor?
I have had many citizens approach me about running for mayor. At the time, I felt that the citizens of Trenton needed to have a choice as to who was running.
What traits should the mayor of Trenton possess and how do you represent those traits?
I feel like the mayor should possess knowledge and understanding of how the city works. I feel like being on the council for the last four years has given me an edge and opportunity to see how the city works. I also feel that the mayor should also possess listening skills by listening to what the citizens of Trenton have to say about how the city is being run.
What is your vision for Trenton as the community moves forward?
My vision is to bring solutions forward, to listen and learn and to take on the challenges facing the city of Trenton.
The mayor, along with the city council, is responsible for all city finances, including the yearly multi-million-dollar budgets for the city and Trenton Municipal Utilities. What is your experience in this area? Do you have concerns with current city/utility budget practices and, if so, how would you address those concerns?
My experience in this area is I have been involved with the finances the last four years while serving on the city council. In the past two years I have been on the Finance Committee.
Yes, I have some concerns with the high utility rates that are on our utility bills, but at this moment I have no solutions to get them reduced. I understand that the utility rates depend a lot on the EPA and DNR. I feel that this stems to rate studies that were done and nothing was done with the study.
Are there other areas of city operations you have concerns with and, if so, how would you address them as mayor?
The only concern that I have is the utility rates and that will be my main focus.
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Linda Crooks of 105 Town and Country Lane is one of four candidates for Trenton mayor. The daughter of Johnny J. Crooks and Pauline Adams Crooks Vaughn, Linda is a 1967 graduate of Trenton High School, a 1969 graduate of Trenton Junior College (North Central Missouri College) and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. A life-long educator, Linda was a teacher and coach in the Excelsior Springs School District and the Gadsen, NM, Independent School District, where she was also a district coordinator. She also taught in the El Paso and Burnham Wood Charter school districts, both in El Paso, TX, before returning to Trenton following retirement.
Linda, along with her son, John Myrick, has established “Crooks and Sons LLC,” purchasing a building in downtown Trenton and refurbishing the structure for a future business. She is a member of the Trenton Downtown Improvement Association and the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce as well as Bright Futures Trenton, the Professional Leaders United of Grundy County, the Trenton Bulldog Booster Club and the NCMC Foundation Education Scholarship Committee. She has been a volunteer at Holiday Hoops and was a recipient of the NCMC Distinguished Alumni Award.
Why are you running for the position of mayor?
I want more for Trenton and our citizens. With my leadership, determination, and focus, I will provide a plan to move Trenton forward. Trenton is blessed with caring and dedicated citizens. Trenton has a vibrant history with a beautiful and unique downtown. NCMC is one of the crowned jewels of our community…an opportunity of a lifetime of learning. Wright Memorial Hospital includes 24-hour emergency care, inpatient and outpatient surgery and rehabilitation for Grundy County and the surrounding areas. We have support from our local radio and newspaper. We must take pride in our town and acknowledge the fact that many good things are happening.
What traits should the mayor of Trenton possess and how do you represent those traits?
I am honest. I am a teacher, leader, good listener and a visionary. I am open minded, resourceful, proactive, and performance driven. I am high energy and a team player. I am a strategic thinker–long term minded, using research to make decisions. I set specific performance goals and attain those goals. I am a problem solver with negotiating skills. I will compromise when necessary to achieve the best outcome for the most people.
What is your vision for Trenton as the community moves forward?
My vision is to be innovative, creative, and progressive. I will seek new ideas and different ways of looking at how the City of Trenton operates. I will work within the community to bring positive change. We need a clear written plan and a precise set of goals.
The city council is a vital component of the success of Trenton. In an effort to create unity, collaborative efforts and accomplishments for the city, I will work with each member of the council for the betterment of our community.
I will establish a high school youth council and a college age council. I will meet with parents and families and will listen to their vision of Trenton for themselves and their children.
Our Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce supports local chamber members and our entire community. The chamber hosts many events that enhance the quality of life for our community members and promotes visitors to our town. The chamber continues to make our community a better place.
The Trenton Downtown Improvement Association has been active in bringing new businesses and affordable living spaces to Main Street. Our TDIA committee had our first meeting on Feb. 12 with Keith Winge, community development coordinator of Missouri Main Street. We will be working on the Four-Point Approach – economic vitality, design, promotion and organization.
Downtown is the gateway to North Central Missouri College. The Ketcham Community Center is a marvelous community facility hosting community events, area school events, and athletics contests. As the City of Trenton works with Dr. (Lenny) Klaver and NCMC, the college and downtown will become more of a hub of learning and community activities.
Students in our Trenton R-9 school system have both strong academic programs and the school system offers many extracurricular activities. Student groups throughout the district are very active and the community supports the many clubs, activities, and sporting events.
Wright Memorial Hospital is a critical asset to Trenton and surrounding communities and local access to Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City. My vision is that the community will take advantage of the programs available and the special services provided.
Modine Manufacturing just celebrated over 50 years in Trenton and employs over 300. I recently toured this enormous facility which manufactures heat transfer products for a variety of markets. The city will collaborate with Modine and together we will achieve more success and prosperity.
Nestle purchased ConAgra processing facility in June of 2018. Nestle is the largest food and beverage manufacturer in the world. Currently Nestle employs a little over 160 with plans for expansion in the future. With the city working with Nestle, there is no limit as to what we can accomplish.
North Central Missouri Development Alliance is a newly formed economic development organization who successfully facilitated the transaction from ConAgra to Nestle. Over the past year, Trenton has seven new business starts and four other changes of ownership. I plan to work closely with Micah Landes, director of NCMDA, to cultivate entrepreneurship, encourage a small business environment, and explore ways to attract more businesses and industry to our community.
The mayor, along with the city council, is responsible for all city finances, including the yearly multi-million dollar budgets for the City of Trenton and Trenton Municipal Utilities.
What is your experience in this area?
I am learning by attending city council meetings, department finance meetings, listening, studying, reading and researching.
Do you have concerns with current city/utility budget practice and if so how would you address these concerns?
I want to know the facts before I can address concerns. The employees that are responsible for the budget have years of experience. I trust their competency and decision-making.
Are there other areas of the city operations you have concerns with and, if so, how would you address them as mayor?
I am introducing myself to the department heads of the city. I am listening and learning about their jobs. I have no concerns at this time.
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Rocky Dunkin of 3004 E. 28th St. is one of four individuals seeking the office of mayor. A native of Trenton, he is a 2002 graduate of Trenton High School. He attended and completed an outreach program in sports medicine through Friends University in Kansas City. He returned to Trenton in 2004, opening his first store, “The Penny Pincher.” He also operated the Girlfriends Boutique and currently owns and operates Dunkin’s Liquidation and Bargain Store and Payday Loans. He resumed his boxing career after returning to Trenton, turning professional in 2007 and continuing his professional career until 2013, when his father passed away. He has operated a boxing gym for many years, working with troubled youth and teens in need of guidance. His gym is open nightly, Monday-Thursday, for two and one-half hours at no cost to youth who are interested in boxing. Many of those youth make up an elite boxing team that Dunkin takes to various competitions around the country. He and his family, which includes six children, just recently purchased a new home and plan to expand their family in the near future with the addition of foster children.
Why are you running for the position of mayor?
I am running for mayor, simply because I love and believe in Trenton. I would love nothing more than to see it prosper. It can be a game-changer sometimes to have someone from the outside with new views and ideas come in and change the vibe of things. I believe in our community and our citizens and believe that, with leadership involvement, we can all work together on getting our beloved town to thrive once again.
What traits should the mayor of Trenton possess and how do you represent those traits?
The city needs a leader who knows the importance of collaboration. Being on the council or being mayor, these take temperament. It takes a passion for government. It takes a commitment to being calm in the storm. Those are things that I bring with me.
To be effective requires being confrontational at times. You have to be able to collaborate, obviously. But you also have to have courage. You have to have courage to be able to stand up and take on issues that might be uncomfortable. You have to be able to take on issues that will generate anger among certain people because they don’t like the truth. It is crucial to listen. It is crucial to educate yourself and others.
I’m running for mayor largely because I love the city. Trenton has been my hometown for all 35 years of my life. It’s critical that the next mayor have the experience, temperament and judgment to work collaboratively with residents and colleagues and staff and, of course, to work to improve and maintain the quality of life for everyone in the city. While I may have less experience in local governance than some of the other candidates for mayor, I do have what I feel is a lot of relevant business leadership experience and professional leadership experience as well as leadership in the community. A vote for me is a vote for you (and) a voice in our community.
I have been representing and living by these traits most of my life, thanks to the world of boxing. As many of you know, I grew up in a boxing gym from the age of four years old. I never knew any other lifestyle other than what was in those old, cold, brick walls, night-in and night-out, most all of my life.
Inside those brick walls, however, I learned from some of the greatest men many, many valuable life lessons. We learned the value of teamwork. We learned self-respect. We learned how to work hard and to never give up on yourself. We learned self-discipline. We learned that you and only you are in charge of your own destiny. We learned life is certainly not fair, but it is just as fair to anyone else as it is to you. We learned that confidence in ourselves is often times more important than confidence others may have in us. We learned how to win and lose gracefully. We learned that, much like boxing, life is a lifelong learning process. We learned early on to control our emotions. We learned valuable leadership skills. We learned that in boxing, just like life, losing your anger or your cool only makes things worse. We learned to control the surge of emotions brought forth by anger. And again, just to clarify, we learned to work hard – really, really, hard.
I believe the mayor needs to be the face and voice of the community in which they serve (and) be involved in all operations from the ground up.
What is your vision for Trenton as the community moves forward?
My vision for Trenton is simple – a community in which we can all be proud to call our home; one that is thriving in all areas; one where citizens continue to feel safe due to our excellent public service workers; a community in which citizens aren’t afraid to venture out and start up a small business; a community where our citizens continue to come together as they have and continue to work and strive towards the betterment of our town; a thriving downtown area as well as a blossoming business boom throughout the town. I would like to see more opportunities for our youth. I would like to see a strong work relationship with our police force and eventually would like to see a K-9 unit be brought back to our area. Trenton only moves forward if we all move forward.
The mayor, along with the city council, is responsible for all city finances, including the yearly multi-million-dollar budgets for the city and Trenton Municipal Utilities. What is your experience in this area? Do you have concerns with current city/utility budget practices and, if so, how would you address those concerns?
I would like to see the development of a utility board to help regulate and control the overseeing of the financial budget for the utility department.
Are there other areas of city operations you have concerns with and, if so, how would you address them as mayor?
Other areas I would like to see change, just as everyone, is more resources, more business (and) more opportunities for our community. I believe that if we can continue to help support our small local businesses that are already here and established and we can show that they are thriving in our community, then others will naturally be drawn toward their success. We must start from the ground level with everyone on an equal playing field. Remember, nothing ever changes if nothing changes. As mayor I want to assure you a change from how things have been; not with big campaign promises, but with the assurance you will have someone on your side. In reality, the mayor is powerless. We are only as strong as our council and our citizens and to me that is very vital – building a strong relationship with council members and our citizens.