OZARK, Mo. — During last week’s festival, County Commissioner and festival chairman Bradley A. Jackson displayed the phrase “Vote Jackson” on a drone. Jackson is up for re-election in August, facing Jess Hodges.
Jackie Burger is executive director of the Children’s Smile Center (CSC), an organization that provides dental care to children from low-income families.
He said he appreciates the event but not the politics involved.
“There was campaigning going on during the fireworks display, which I was aware of and expressed concerns about,” Burger said.
Money raised during the event will be distributed to local nonprofits such as CSC and Least of These, which provides food to Christian County.
Rest of Tears executive director Christy Carter said the group was not involved in planning the event.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” Carter said, “we just had a certain amount of responsibility as a participating organization.”
Carter also stressed the importance of remaining neutral as a nonprofit serving the Ozarks.
“We remain completely neutral because we are here to help those battling food insecurity in Christian County out of respect for our donors, volunteers, the customers we serve and the community.”
OzarksFirst reached out multiple times today to both commissioner candidates requesting interviews, but neither responded.
