Ryan Estes announced his candidacy for the vacant Ward 4 seat on the Jefferson City Council on the last day of open filing.
Estes has been a Jefferson City resident since 1988 and graduated from Jefferson City High School in 2000. He received a degree in business administration from Columbia College.
Estes has been employed with IBM as a security delivery specialist for the past eight years and previously worked in auditing.
He also volunteers with the Central Missouri Humane Society and Central Missouri Foster and Adoption Agency and serves on the board of the Missouri Republican Liberty Caucus.
The 4th Ward seat is being vacated by current Councilman Carlos Graham.
“I’ve been active politically for a number of years now, and I’m quick to critique government,” Estes said. “I figured it was time to do something about it. I saw there was an opening, and I’d been thinking about it for some time now, so I figured now was the time to run.”
This is Estes’ first time running for office, but he has previously worked as a consultant on Chris Estes’ campaigns for Cole County assessor and as regional field director for Austin Petersen’s U.S. Senate campaign.
Issues important to Estes include balancing the city’s budget and keeping government small.
“I want to make sure every dollar spent is done in the best way possible for the most benefit of the most people,” Estes said.
Fostering civic engagement is also important to Estes.
“I think the community is, generally speaking, as good as the people in it and the investments in it that they make,” Estes said. “I really want to engage the community and get them to buy-in to support the community as much as possible.”
Supporting the community’s at risk youth is also a priority for Estes. He and his wife are foster parents, and he sees the importance of supporting that cause.
Estes said he feels he would be a good council member because of his attention to detail and passion for government.
Estes will face two opponents in April for the 4th Ward seat — Derrick Spicer and Leonard Steinman.
The Jefferson City municipal election will take place April 6.