In her career, Jo Anne has been a soloist, piano teacher, and choral director in school, community, and church. She was an active member of area, state, and national professional music organizations. She served as a clinician and adjudicator for music festivals, and a presenter at conventions, speaking extensively on the importance of music education for the future of our society. Jo Anne has worked in Theatre as a director, actor, musician, and producer. She spent 30 years as a teacher of Choral Music in Ladue Public Schools, St. Louis MO. Following her marriage to Wayne M. Smiley, organist/teacher/musician, she continued teaching and directing church choirs while they shared responsibilities in the Ministry of Music. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the St. Regis Corporation of St. Louis with responsibility for maintenance and management of a 40 unit luxury Co-op. Four years later she assumed the position of President of St. Regis where she served two terms. In 1990 Wayne and Jo Anne purchased a Victorian home in Alton, IL and spent ten years restoring a JEWEL. Upon retirement, the lure of Clarksville continued to beckon to the Smileys. In 2001 they opened B. T. Dove Antiques on Howard Street. In 2003 Jo Anne was elected to the Clarksville Board of Alderman and in 2005 she was elected to serve as Mayor of Clarksville. (Re-elected in 2013) |
| Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor Jo Anne Ashbaugh Smiley was reared on a farm in southeast Missouri, near Clarkton, MO. Her father farmed hundreds of acres of cotton, soy beans, corn, and wheat and raised cattle and hogs and was a book- keeper for a Cotton Gin. Her mother was a master piano teacher, and a church organist who also taught music in schools. Jo Anne began the study of piano at the age of four. She discovered her passion for music, singing and performing in musicals, operas, and choirs, and directing choral music while attending Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas and receiving degrees in Music Education and Sacred Music. |

The mayor of a fourth class city has the following duties: 1) Preside at all meetings of the Board of Aldermen although she shall not have a vote, except in the case of a tie. 2) Sign all "orders, drafts and warrants drawn on the city treasury for money and cause the city clerk to attest the same". 3) Sign the commissions and appointments of all city officers elected or appointed in the city. 4) Approve all official bonds of officers of the city, unless otherwise prescribed by ordinance. 5) Is authorized to call on every male inhabitant of the city over 18 years of age and under 50 to aid in enforcing the laws. 6) Has the power to "communicate to the Board of Aldermen" and recommend any measures she thinks will be for the best interests of the city. 7) Appoint all appointive officers of the city subject to the approval of the Board of Aldermen, with the exception of the city clerk. 8) Exercise a general supervision over all the officers and affairs of the city. 9) Take care that there is compliance with the ordinances of the city and the state laws relating to the city. 10) Has the power to administer oaths to people who appear as witnesses before the Board of Aldermen. |
Mayor-Council Form of Government The mayor-council (Board of Aldermen) form is the most common form of municipal government in Missouri. In Clarksville (a fourth class city) the voters elect the following officials to two-year terms: a Mayor, Aldermen (2) from wards (2), and Collector. In 1989, the General Assembly authorized fourth class cities to provide, by ordinance, that the Mayor and Collector be elected to four-year terms. In 1998, the General Assembly authorized fourth class cities, by ordinance and with the approval of the voters, to provide a four-year term for members of the Board of Aldermen. The Mayor, with the approval of the Board of Aldermen, has the authority to appoint a treasurer, city attorney, assessor, street commissioner and night watchman, and such other officers as authorized by ordinance. |
| The MUNICIPAL CODE BOOK Containing the GENERAL ORDINANCES for The City of Clarksville, Missouri is available for your review in Clarksville City Hall |


Clarksville Mayor Jo Anne Smiley, right, is presented with a copy of a Congressional Record statement from Scott Callicott, Press Secretary and Northern Regional Director for U. S. Congressman Kenny Hulshof. Hulshof submitted the statement to the record on September 9, 2008 in recognition of the dedicated and selfless work of area leaders and volunteers in combating flood waters along the Mississippi River during the flood of 2008. Hulshof recognized Smiley for her leadership in galvanizing local efforts to combat the flood as well as assisting with recovery efforts following the disaster. Congressman Hulshof also presented the Congressional Medal of Merit award, further recognizing the work done by Smiley. The award was established in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor civilian citizens of the United States and their allies for their exceptional service during World War II. The award is now used by Members of Congress to recognize the achievements of their individual constituents. |
Congressional Medal of Merit Award |




| PRESS RELEASE: Date: September 19, 2012 Sep 19: Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor of the City of Clarksville, MO is selected to serve on Executive Board of the new Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative What: Mayor Smiley was selected by 20 other mayors from up and down the Mississippi River to represent the state of Missouri on the Executive Board of the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative. One mayor from each of the 10 states touching the Mississippi will comprise the Executive Board membership. This mayoral-led effort is being built to bring national attention back to the Mississippi River—America’s most critical natural asset—and spearhead a new level of regional cooperation to make it more sustainable. The drought—the worst in 50 years—has severely impacted the towns, cities and people who live and make a living along the River, the ecological linchpin to the 37-state Mississippi River Basin—including Clarksville. Floods of the past, including 2008, and now Hurricane Isaac continue to threatened many river towns. In answer to these developments and in consideration of the Mississippi’s economic importance to the Country, Mayor Jo Anne Smiley has taken a leadership role. Mayors on the Executive Board Francis Slay, St. Louis, MO* Paul Winfield, Vicksburg, MS Bill Gluba, Davenport, IA Roy Buol, Dubuque, IA Jo Anne Smiley, Clarksville, MO David Kleis, St. Cloud, MN* A.C. Wharton, Memphis, TN Hyram Copeland, Vidalia, LA Dickie Kennemore, Osceola, AR Tom Hoechst, Alton, IL *Chair, Co-Chair Why: Mayors from towns and cities the main stem Mississippi River participated in the inaugural meeting of the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative (MRCTI) September 12-14 in St. Louis, which is engaging officials from EPA, USDA, FEMA, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on critical federal activities affecting Mississippi River cities and towns as well as state officials and non-government organization stakeholders. The drought and hurricane have added a new sense of urgency to their efforts to organize. Due to the jobs that depend on it and its support American GDP, neglect of the Mississippi River is a recessionary practice. The Mississippi encapsulates so many issues important to the nation that, for the first time, this River has become an election issue. Clarksville Mayor, Jo Anne Smiley has decided the River means too much to this city not to act and is taking a pro-active role in protecting it for the future. |
| Mayor Smiley signs MRCTI pledge. |
| A River Runs Through Us- Mayor’s Pledge for the Mississippi • Enact an environmentally sound and financially sustainable Water Resources Development Act that includes a Mississippi River Environmental Restoration, Protection and Sustainability Program • Foster the continued growth and increased effectiveness of the newly-formed bipartisan Congressional Mississippi River Caucus • Focus Federal resources where they can advance the most improvement in the Mississippi River’s water quality • Pass a comprehensive Farm Bill that allows cities to participate in and receive funding from the Conservation Stewardship Program, establishes a national sodsaver program, and reestablishes the historic link between conservation compliance and crop insurance premium subsidies • Establish a National Drought Council that works with stakeholders to create a drought policy action plan and comprehensive national drought preparedness legislation • Establish a multi-agency Federal initiative to develop and implement a coordinated strategy that aids local governments as they address aquatic invasive species in the Mississippi River Basin • Preserve the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program for hazard planning and project implementation, and fund that program during Fiscal Year 2014 at a level of $100 million |
