Griffith not running for third term by Christiaan Patterson
C
ity Council member Kathy Griffith will not be running for a third term in the upcoming election since her new house is being bought outside the ward she currently serves. Despite the emotional decision to leave such a passion, the contributions she has given the City of Moore have been outstanding and unforgettable. “We thought about waiting until the summer and running for a third time, but I didn’t think it was fair to the citizens of Moore,” said Griffith. “I didn’t want to give them the assumption that I was going to go ahead and run, then bail out a fourth of the way through,” she said The process of purchasing a house outside the ward was an emotional one for her, but the decision had to be made when it came to her family. There are five generations who have lived and planted roots in Moore and they keep going. With a large growing family, Griffith needed more rooms and a place where she and her husband could create lasting memories for their fourteen grandchildren. “We love each and every one of them and we just want to be able to provide those memories of coming to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. In the years to come, the value in the home will be a legacy we can
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leave behind for our children and the children we have together.” Griffith has been on the city council for the past eight years and has made living in Moore even more pleasant. During the two terms, she has been deeply involved with all phases of the Veterans Memorial Park. Even after leaving the council, Griffith says she will continue to stay on the committee for future improvements. One of the many reasons for her passionate involvement in the park stems from her father, who was a chief warrant officer in the United States Navy. “A hundred years from now, family members won’t know much about that person, but with the memorial, they will know they gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Griffith. “I want that to be a place for families to go and remember their loved ones and be able to celebrate the future generations. It’s a timeless place.” Two other important projects Griffith had a hand in were bringing the Warren Theater to Moor, and the passing of the Our Parks Our Future proposition in November. Griffith recalled countless trips up to Wichita getting to know the company and what it was all about. Bill Warren, the owner, had so much
passion, and that was the key thing that she admired the most about the project. As for the Parks, she enjoyed talking with the people and what this meant to the city for generations to come. Once the proposition passed last year, Griffith felt confident that it was the right time to leave the council. She has no unfinished projects; however, she encourages the continued growth of the city by adding more activity places where residents can have fun and enjoy life. “As the Internet has evolved, people have become more concerned with their own neighborhood and community. It’s a reward [the new park] to the people who have made this town their home, a thank you for being here and supporting us—now go out and have fun.” For Griffith, the last eight years have been a rewarding opportunity to give back to her roots and make a difference in the community. Once settled in her new house, Griffith says she would absolutely consider running for council again in four years, and she encourages residents to enjoy the community. “If any citizen has any comments or complaints, I’ll always be here to point them in the right direction.”