Springfield City Council has chosen a new Zone 2 City Council representative, replacing Justin Burnett who resigned after moving out of that area.
Dr. Thomas Prater was selected from eight candidates at a special City Council meeting today. Prater, who was born in Springfield, is an eye surgeon with Mattax-Neu-Prater Eye Center and has lived in Zone 2 for nine years.
He’ll serve on council until the certification of the April 4, 2017 election. The winner of that election will serve the remainder of the unexpired Zone 2 term through April 2019.
Dr. Prater currently serves on Drury University’s board of trustees’ executive committee. His past community involvement includes serving as president and board member of the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education; Community Foundation of the Ozarks and Foundation for Springfield Public Schools and as a past member of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Dr. Prater has also served as co-chair of the Every Child Promise board, is a former board member of Springfield Little Theatre, has served on the advisory committee for Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts and is a founding board member of Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks.