Beth Nelson takes over mayoral duties in New Florence

By Theo Tate
Posted 5/12/23

Beth Nelson was doing household chores when she received some good news from her husband, Donnie, on April 4.

The native from St. Louis County was elected the new mayor of New Florence.

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Beth Nelson takes over mayoral duties in New Florence

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Beth Nelson was doing household chores when she received some good news from her husband, Donnie, on April 4.

The native from St. Louis County was elected the new mayor of New Florence.

“It was a little surreal,” Nelson said. “My husband was absolutely more excited than I was at that point. As the results were coming in, we both kept scrolling and looking at the TV for the news updates at the bottom of the screen. I couldn’t find anything. All of the sudden, he goes, ‘You got it!’ He was shouting from the other room.”

Nelson defeated Brad Kent 55-26 in the New Florence mayoral race. She immediately received congratulations from family members in Troy, Elsberry and Arnold.

“It’s a good feeling,” Nelson said. “I’m not a politician. I’m just a normal person who wants to do good for the community. At the end of the day, that’s what fills my heart.”

Nelson had her first Board of Aldermen meeting on May 11 at the New Florence City Hall.

Nelson said the Board of Aldermen – which includes Andrew Johnson, Brad Kent, Michelle Fortmann and Deby Thompson – and city administrator David Ingle have been welcoming to her ever since she was elected.

“We all have the same goal in mind and that’s do what’s the best for the city the best that we can,” Nelson said.

Nelson moved to New Florence from St. Louis in 2006. Her husband is a Montgomery County native. She said she enjoys the small-town atmosphere.

“It is a culture shock, but it is a good culture shock,” Nelson said. “I really like the serene and the peacefulness. It was slower pace and that’s what I like. That’s why I stayed.”

Nelson said she decided to run for New Florence mayor because she wanted to be more proactive with the community.

“After a lot of thought processes, bouncing the ideas off and talking it over with the family with lots of prayers, I just went for it,” Nelson said. “If it was meant to be, it was meant to be. It happened.”

Nelson is the mayor of a community that has businesses such as Grow2Gather, Wood Hat Spirits and Cornerstone Chiropractic, which opened this winter. She said she believes the town of 641 residents will continue to grow.

“I’m assuming there’s going to be very much business potential that could come in,” Nelson said. “It’s there. What we do with it as a community is it could be either a challenge or it could be something great. The possibilities are endless right now at this point.”

Nelson said she will be excited whenever the overpass project on Highway 19 and Interstate 70 will be completed.

“Before stepping into the mayor’s spot, as a normal citizen, I didn’t think it was necessary,” Nelson said. “Then, when Love’s came in, we found that there’s a lot more traffic. I was like, ‘Maybe they were on to something.’ As the project continued, they started really investing into looking at the MoDOT and going to those meetings. I was like, ‘This could work out pretty good.’ It’s going to be a hassle and a nightmare for a little bit. But once it’s done, it’s going to be fantastic.”

A 1997 graduate of Pattonville High School, Nelson has been working for the Missouri Department of Corrections for 18 years. She has three children, one of them is son Matthew, who plans to graduate from Montgomery County High School on May 19.

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