Cheryl Ames Named Newest Sedalia Council Member

Cheryl Ames began her term of local government service Monday night after being sworn in as Sedalia’s newest City Council member by City Clerk Jason Myers.

Ames was one of four finalists who competed for the empty seat in the First Ward, which was vacated when former First Ward Councilman Tom Oldham abruptly resigned his position on April 24 after “serious allegations” were leveled against him.

After being officially sworn in, Ames then headed back to her seat. After the applause died down, Mayor Dawson then reminded Ames that she needs to take her rightful seat on the Council next to First Ward Councilman Jack Robinson, which she did.

After the 47-minute meeting in which Ames participated in her first-ever Council session, we spoke with her outside the Council Chambers.

Ames said she was notified of her victory by Mayor Dawson on Friday after he tallied all the score sheets submitted by Council members after a candidate forum was held Thursday night with all four finalists.

“I don’t know the scores, but I kept it brief and to the point, and I think they liked it,” Ames said of her Thursday night performance.

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When asked what her inaugural experience on the Council dais was like, Ames said she came to City Hall earlier in the day and grabbed an agenda, took it home and read all 138 pages of it in preparation for Monday night’s meeting.

“I wanted to be prepared,” she explained. “It went well.”

When asked if she plans to return in two weeks for another Council session, Ames replied, “Oh yeah, I’ll be back!”

Ames was accompanied by her daughter Monday night.