Letter from the Mayor: April 2026

April 1, 2026

Nixa Citizens,

April is one of my favorite times of year. There’s something about this season that feels like a fresh start — the kind that reminds us all why we love living in this community. The grass is greening up, the flower beds are coming back to life, and there’s a little more energy in the air. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to get outside, clean up the yard, mulch the flower beds, and get those neighborhoods looking their best like Nixa always does. Nixa is a beautiful place, and a little spring effort goes a long way toward keeping it that way.

You’ll notice our parks are picking up again too. Families are getting back out on the trails, kids are filling the ball fields, and the playgrounds are buzzing with activity. I love seeing that. It’s a reminder of what makes Nixa such a special place to call home. If you haven’t explored one of our parks lately, April is the perfect time to do just that — bring the family, take a walk, and take in a little of what this community has to offer.

April also brings a great opportunity to give back. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful this time of year, whether it’s helping with a neighborhood cleanup, planting flowers in a community space, or supporting a local event. When we invest in our community together, it shows — and it’s something to be proud of. I encourage every resident to look for a way to serve Nixa this month. Small acts of service add up to big things.

Speaking of opportunity, I want to take a moment to talk about something that matters deeply to me as your mayor — and that’s the importance of participating in local elections.

We often hear a lot of conversation around national and presidential elections. Those races dominate the headlines, the airwaves, and our social media feeds. But here’s the truth: the decisions that affect your daily life most directly are made right here at the local level. The roads you drive on every day, the parks your children play in, the safety of your neighborhoods, the way our city grows and develops — those decisions are made by local officials. City councils, school boards, and yes, your mayor — we make choices that have a real, tangible impact on the community you live in every single day.

Local elections are also where your vote carries the most weight. While millions cast ballots in a presidential race, local elections are often decided by a remarkably small number of votes. Races have been won or lost by a handful of ballots — sometimes fewer. That means when you show up to vote locally, your voice isn’t just heard — it’s amplified. Every single vote genuinely matters.

There’s another reason local elections are unique: your elected officials are your neighbors. You might see them at a local restaurant, at church, or on the sideline of a ballgame. That kind of accessibility and accountability is something you simply don’t get at the federal level. Local officials are here, present, and answerable to the community they serve. That makes it even more important that the people filling those seats are the ones who truly reflect your values and your vision for this city.

Unfortunately, local elections also tend to see the lowest voter turnout. When fewer people show up, a smaller group ends up making decisions for everyone. That’s why I’m asking you — please make it a priority to be informed and to vote. Know what’s on your ballot, know your candidates, and show up. Democracy works best when all of us participate, not just some of us.

Nixa is a growing, thriving community, and the decisions we make — at the ballot box and in public meetings — shape what kind of city we want to be for the next generation. I am honored to serve this community as your mayor, and I never take for granted the trust you’ve placed in me. In turn, I hope you’ll stay engaged, stay informed, and make your voice heard at every opportunity.

April is a season of renewal — new growth, new energy, and a new chance to invest in the people and places around us. Whether you’re planting flowers in your front yard, volunteering at a community event, taking a walk through one of our beautiful parks, or heading to the polls — you are contributing to something bigger than yourself. You are contributing to Nixa.

Thank you for being the kind of community that makes this job a joy. I look forward to seeing you out and about this spring.

With gratitude,

Mayor Jarad Giddens