Raeanne Presley was sworn in as Mayor of Branson, MO on April 9,, 2007. She is the first woman ever elected mayor in Branson. (Photo by Jim Freed)
Branson - Raeanne Presley, 49, was sworn in as Branson’s first new Mayor in more than a decade, and is the first woman ever elected to the position. The ceremony took place on April 9, 2007 at a regular meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen, the same meeting at which she assumed the post.
Presley unseated six-term incumbent Lou Schaefer by a vote of 1,390 to 270 in the April 3rd municipal election.
Running on a platform of change and increased public involvement, Presley said her first task is to review the policies regarding the way aldermen meetings are conducted.
“In a city with as much going on as Branson, we need to be as efficient as possible while maintaining a forum for constant input from our citizens,” she said. “I want an open door policy at City Hall, one where the voters know that decisions are being made and acted upon by their elected officials.”
Presley is no stranger to public service. For the past 24 years, she has served at the city and state levels including 10 years on the Branson Board of Aldermen (1985 – 1995) and six years on the State Tourism Commission (2001 – 2007), which she chaired for two years.
She was the first female ever elected to chair the Skaggs Community Health Center Board of Directors in its 50-year history and was the founding chairwoman of the Skaggs Foundation, a fundraising group she continues to serve. Presley recently completed two years as Chairman of the Board for the Springfield/Branson National Airport.
Presley is a co-owner of Presleys’ Country Jubilee now in its fortieth year and a theatre credited with helping start Branson’s phenomenal live music show industry. Presley and her husband Steve just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and have three children: Sarah, John and Nick. Nick and his wife Rhianna have two sons: Spencer and Jack.
She can be reached by calling her office at (417) 334-4129 or via e-mail.
In other elections Bob McDowell, the former owner of Ride The Ducks, defeated past alderman Eric Farris for the Ward I seat, and Sandra Williams, who retired after 15 years as Branson’s City Clerk, captured the Ward II seat from incumbent Ron Huff. Stephen Marshall, vice-president and general manager of the Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention center, ran unopposed in Ward III.
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