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Q & A With the Candidates
As the City CounciApril 7 election grows nearer, we had an opportunity to gather thoughts from a few of the candidates.
Questions:
1. Why did you decide to run for City Council?
2. What experience do you have that would make you a good candidate?
3. What is your position on growth and development?
4. What will be your key campaign issues?
5. Redefining Strategic Partnerships
2nd Ward Candidates
Jason Thornhill
Q1 I truly enjoy living in Columbia but feel like our city is at a crossroads with regard to preparing ourselves for the future. We have to become more proactive as a city in order to attract employers here, reduce crime and work toward better efficiency as a government. At the end of the day, I want to be able to tell my children that I helped make the place they grow up in a better one.
Q2 I am a Boone County native and have lived in Columbia for 21 years, 13 of those in the second ward. I have been self-employed and a small business owner for over seven years and have learned what it takes to effectively gather information and make a decision based upon that data. As a Realtor, I use my ability to listen, understand, ask questions and act upon the needs or wants of the person(s) I'm talking with.
Q3 I am not opposed to or a proponent of development per se, but I do believe it is critical to evolve as a community and as a city. If we do not properly improve transportation in and around our city, provide shovel-ready sites for potential relocating or expanding businesses and make Columbia more attractive and usable to both our current citizens and employers, we will find it impossible to continue to fund the parks, trails, programs and facilities that have become our calling cards.
Q4 Crime Reduction - I believe we no longer can ignore or deny that the city needs to provide appropriate programs and support to our schools and police to help curb the rising level of criminal activity among our youth. Job Creation - As mentioned above, the City of Columbia must immediately reconsider how we market ourselves to potential employers. Whether a current business is considering an expansion, or a newly relocating or expanding business is considering our community, we have to be ready for them when they are looking. Efficiency - As a city, we should be in the forefront of showing a commitment to efficiency. Whether it is remodeling or building facilities for city use that are more energy efficient, finding ways to incorporate money-saving processes in every department or by encouraging our city employees to seek out ways to improve efficiency by bringing to light things they see in day-to-day operations that could save money, energy, time or all three, the idea is that we can improve our government.
Allan Shamrock
Q1 As a teacher and a veteran I know how to problem-solve and work through tough issues. During the flood of 2008, I was the engineer officer in charge for three different levies. During this time, I had the opportunity to meet with numerous elected officials. This experience helped me decide I could further serve my country by running for an office. I know how to make tough decisions and with the economic crisis, there will be tough choices ahead for Columbia. I have the skills necessary to refocus our priorities on jobs and public safety. I think our Council needs another voice on these issues. I promise to be a strong advocate for these issues.
Q2 I am currently a teacher for Lange Middle School. This is my second year of teaching industrial technology for the sixth grade. I have served our nation for 12 years in the Missouri National Guard. I am an Iraq veteran and my current duty position is company commander for A 1-138 Infantry.
Q3 With regards to growth, I believe every citizen should be allowed the opportunity to have the American dream of owning a home if they work hard enough. I understand the development community is frustrated with the process that they must go through to get plans approved. There is no reason for a government agency to complicate issues to stall growth and development.
Q4 I have three main tenents I am campaigning on: job creation, crime and fiscal responsibility. Columbia needs to become more business-friendly and focus on creating more high-paying jobs. The more jobs we can create, the less likely it is that people will turn to crime. We should increase light industrial job opportunities for our citizens that may not have a college degree. Our goal as a city, at a minimum, is to create these types of jobs based upon the high school dropout rate and the percentages of those who are not attending college. On day one, if elected, I will ask the staff for recommendations from REDI, Chamber of Commerce and CMDC for their suggestions on job stimulation. I believe our citizens deserve to know where every Council member stands on job growth.
6th Ward Candidate
Rod Robison
Q1 I didn't feel my views were being represented in the City Council, and as I talked to my neighbors, it became clear to me a lot of them felt the same way. I really feel a minority of the Sixth Ward voices are being heard. I would like to think I'm giving the silent majority of voters in the ward a chance to change that.
Q2 I feel my greatest qualification for this job is my deep-rooted affection for Columbia. Coming into the City Council from a business background will give me a different view on how our city should operate. I can bring a more balanced, commonsense approach to city government. This is such a great town, and I will do everything in my power to keep it that way.
Q3 We don't have a choice on growth - Columbia is going to continue growing. We need to guide and encourage that growth. We need to take advantage of the vast opportunities we have in a town like Columbia to stimulate the right kind of growth and development. The right kind means new jobs and revenue for the city.
Q4 Stimulating Columbia's economy has to be my No. 1 priority.
I feel the city is like a business in the sense you're either moving forward or you're probably moving backwards. We need to get out in front of this economic downturn that's only getting worse to make sure Columbia is moving forward. As a community, we have to be more welcoming to new business and encourage companies to come to Columbia, bringing their jobs and tax revenue for the city, not putting unnecessary hurdles in their way. A close second in priorities for me would be public safety. The latest crime statistics send a mixed signal - violent crimes are down and property crime is up. In the Sixth Ward last year we saw some of the most violent of these crimes. I feel Acting Chief Dressner and the CPD has done a fantastic job of solving these crimes and making arrests, to get these violent offenders off the street. But we can't be satisfied with just that, and we need to look at the root of the problem. What can we do as a community to reach the next wave of angry young men before they get to that point?
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