Editor’s Note: This is the fourth of four profiles of candidates for Warrensburg City Council.

By DEVIN R. NEGRETE

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) – Don Butterfield is retired from the Air Force and is a UCM alumnus who wants to continue helping to grow the Warrensburg community by running for re-election to the City Council.

The Warrensburg City Council has two open seats and four candidates on the April 8 ballot. Joining Butterfield on the ballot are Casey Renfrow, Robin Allen and Mike Watts.

Butterfield has served as mayor of Warrensburg and is currently a member of the City Council.

Butterfield said he would like to see through some of the projects the council has in the works.

“I would like to see Warrensburg expand,” he said. “We have been working hard trying to bring in new business and new jobs. We just secured an employer in the Industrial Park and are now going to create 164 full-time jobs.”

Butterfield said everyone in the city worked hard to make this happen over the holidays.

He said the city needs to attract more retail jobs to town as well.

“We would like to help bring more retail to the area and keep creating jobs,” Butterfield said.

Butterfield first came to Warrensburg in the 1970s and decided to make it his home.

“When I came here in the 70s, I fell in love with this town,” Butterfield said.  “It is a great location and has a perfect opportunity for expansion.”

Butterfield retired from the Air Force in July 1987. While serving in the Air Force, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University.

He then earned a Master of Science degree in industrial hygiene in 1988 from UCM. He worked as the senior regional safety coordinator for Layne Christensen Company, a drilling, water resources and mineral exploration company based in Kansas City. He retired from Layne in 2007 and now works as a licensed real estate agent.