The City of Purcell is primed for a political upheaval at 7 p.m. Monday – if the regular meeting schedule is observed.

Kelsey Freelend, a former member of the Board of Aldermen, was elected Tuesday as mayor after launching a write-in campaign.

The office of mayor is vacant, as is the position of city collector and city clerk. 

Missouri American Water is being asked to purchase the city’s water and wastewater systems.

An audit of the city has been begun by the Missouri Auditor’s Office.

Freelend says she became frustrated because the board wasn’t transparent and wouldn’t allow public comment.

So she started the Purcell Community page on Facebook, engaged the public and received pledges from two other write-in candidates.

Of five elected to office Tuesday, only Darrell Wilson and Mary Begley were on the ballot. Wilson will take an open two-year seat on the board, while Begley ran for city collector.

In the closing days before the election, Janet Jolly and Echo Valadez announced on Facebook that they would join Freelend as write-ins.

Wilson and Jolly were voted in for the two-year open seats. Valadez was elected to a one-year unexpired term.

Nancy Wilson will be the only hold-over member on the board.

Terms are expiring for Kathleen Mann and Dorothy Haddock.