There is only one contested race in the Paola election, November 7th. The Ward One seat for a Paola City Council. The two people running are J. R. McMahon, and Trent Upshaw.
J. R. McMahon is retired and was the Miami County Road and Bridge Director for 38 years. He says he has a history of securing grant money for road and bridge projects and served as president of the Kansas Association of Counties and was able to work with the legislature in getting the first comprehensive 911 Bill passed that was the origin of today’s modern dispatch systems. His top priority will be to make sure Paola has adequate and quality housing that enhance the charm of Paola.
Former council member Trent Upshaw, graduated from Paola High in 1989. He believes people should vote for him because in his years on the City Council he worked with small business owners during the pandemic to see how mask mandates would effect them, and worked with people to form the Rec Commission. If elected, his top priority would be to bring in affordable housing, and along with that new businesses to bring more jobs to the people and help Paola continue to grow.
