Moody chosen to fill city council vacancy

Sallisaw’s Ward 1 commissioner’s seat, abruptly vacated by Ronnie Lowe after more than a decade on the city council, was vacant for 17 days … until Monday’s city commissioners’ meeting when Kenny Moody was chosen from among a field of four candidates to fill the unexpired term.

Moody, a stay-at-home father who had previously worked in sales and management roles, was selected unanimously by the city council over candidates Tim Ellis, Ray Jacobs and Daryl Jones.

“Over the years, I’ve proven myself to be competent leader, to be fiscally responsible, a team player, honest, positive and transparent and respectful in all my interactions,” Moody told the commissioners during his pitch to fill the vacancy. ‘When I heard that the seat for Ward 1 had become available, I knew this was my opportunity to step up and serve.

Kenny Moody

“Listen, we need unity. Our community is divided as much as it ever has been. We need to make sure that we continue to be fiscally responsible. We need transparency so that we can continue to facilitate more trust in our community. And we need positively, constructive conversations, because you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vin- egar. I believe I can bring these things and more to the table with a fresh perspective, integrity and a strong moral code,” Moody said.

“Let it be known that my agenda is very clear. I wanna be a part of continuing to hold Sallisaw to this standard, to be a place where I am proud to raise my family. I consider this a great opportunity to serve my community by being a voice for the people of Ward 1, and I’d be honored to be able to serve alongside each of you,” he told the council.

Moody said for the past 24 years he has “always involved myself in the communities in which I’ve lived. I love volunteering, I love helping out, I love making things better. That desire did not change when I moved to Sallisaw over three years ago. In fact, I remember one of the first conversations I had with my pastor when I came to town, and it was about my desire to be as involved as I could be in Sallisaw.

“Moving to Sallisaw was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I love Sallisaw. I especially love Sallisaw because it’s where I met my beautiful wife Megan. She was born and raised here, and, in fact, still today is an integral and strong part of this community,” Moody said.

He said his family is involved with community sports, the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce “and our faith family. We have a strong faith community here in Sallisaw, and our faith drives our lives.”

The vacancy on the council occurred when Lowe, who worked for the city for 34 years then served as Ward 1 city commissioner for almost 11 years, abruptly resigned on June 21.

Lowe’s sudden departure came four days after recentlyembattled city manager Keith Skelton resigned after 30 years with the city and six years as the top administrator.

Lowe retired from his city post in 2011, then challenged Ward 1 incumbent Trevor Meadors in the February 2013 election. He lost that race by 10 votes, but then earned appointment to the seat in September 2013 when Meadors vacated the seat. Lowe won his first election to the seat in February 2014. He was most recently reelected to a three-year term in February 2022.

Moody is eligible in December to file for election to his own three-year term in 2025.