Kiersten Snider wins PA race, first woman to hold the position

History was made last week when Ozark County voters effectively elected the county’s first female prosecuting attorney.

Dora native Kierstan Snider emerged victorious in the Republican primary, earning the most votes in a three-way race and, with no Democratic, Libertarian, Independent or other-party candidate filed to oppose her in the Nov. 3 General Election, is poised to take office at the beginning of next year.

Unofficial election results show Snider received 825 votes, defeating incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Lee Pipkins by 165 votes. Fellow challenger Marsha Stiles finished 72 votes behind Pipkins. (The vote tally was Snider, 825; Pipkins, 660; Stiles, 588). 

An Ozark County native, Snider said her family roots in the area stretch back numerous generations. She earned an associate degree from the University of Missouri-West Plains by age 18, followed by a bachelor’s degree in business management by age 20. She then attended the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia, where she earned her Juris Doctorate at age 23.

At the time, Snider said, she became the youngest licensed attorney in the region.

Her education came while balancing work and family responsibilities. She earned her bachelor’s degree while working as a paralegal at a West Plains law firm and helping her family establish and operate its first brick-and-mortar business. During law school, she continued making the trip home each weekend to help operate the family’s four businesses.

After becoming licensed, Snider opened her own law firm and began building her experience in trial advocacy. She later expanded her legal education by becoming certified as a Guardian Ad Litem, allowing her to advocate for children involved in abuse and neglect cases.

She says she has continued her legal education throughout her career, completing numerous legal trainings beyond the minimum continuing education requirements for maintaining her license.

Snider is an active member of the Missouri Bar Association, American Bar Association, 37th Circuit Bar Association, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and Southern Missouri Women Lawyers. She has maintained good standing throughout her legal career.

Outside the courtroom, she serves as vice president of Heart of the Ozarks United Way, a charitable organization that supports homeless and domestic violence shelters, youth programs and organizations advocating for children in foster care.

Now, Snider says she is excited to bring that experience and community investment to the prosecutor’s office. “I was born and raised in this community, and this is where my children will be raised,” Snider said. “Violent and repeat offenders are unfortunately rampant in Ozark County, and that needs to change.”

Snider said her priorities will include advocating for vulnerable members of the community, eliminating the backlog of cases and ensuring new cases are prosecuted in a timely manner. She also said she wants to discourage repeat offenses through strong prosecutions and work toward creating a safer community.

“My work ethic speaks for itself, as does my advocacy both in and out of the courtroom,” she told the Times before the election. “I am invested in this community, and I would love the opportunity to follow through on my campaign promises for a safer Ozark County.”

If the November election proceeds as expected, Snider will take the oath of office in January, bringing a new face, and a historic first, to the Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.