Poplar Bluff City Council certifies municipal election results, swears in winners and elects Robert Smith as mayor

The Poplar Bluff City Council on April 20 accepted the abstract of votes from the April 7 municipal election, swore in three newly elected councilmembers and elected a mayor and mayor pro tem for 2026–2027.

City Clerk and Assistant City Manager Lori J. Phelps presented the abstract of votes, reporting that in the Fifth Ward Robert L. Smith received 60 votes, Barbara Moreno 44 and Richard Bruder 27, with Robert L. Smith recorded as the winner. In the at-large race, Billy DePew received 434 votes, Michael Jones 363 and Marty Paskel 264; DePew and Jones were recorded as the winners. Councilman Robert L. Smith moved to accept the abstract; Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Parson seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Phelps then administered the Oath of Office to Robert L. Smith (Fifth Ward) and to at-large councilmembers Michael Jones and Billy DePew. Retiring councilmembers offered brief remarks of thanks; Mayor Shane Cornman led a standing ovation recognizing Mark Massingham’s 30 years of service.

After the swearing-in, the council held nominations for its 2026–2027 leadership. Councilwoman Lisa Parson nominated Robert L. Smith for mayor; Councilwoman Barbara Horton nominated Billy DePew. The roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Parson, Cornman, Smith and Jones and no votes from Boyer, Horton and DePew; by majority vote the chair declared Robert L. Smith mayor. The council later elected Lisa Parson mayor pro tem by the same roll-call split.

The minutes record the roll-call tallies as listed above; the published minutes do not record an explicit vote entry for Councilman Mark Massingham in the mayoral roll call. With no further business, Mayor Pro Tem Parson moved to adjourn, Councilman David Boyer seconded, and Mayor Smith declared the meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.