The six candidates for Jefferson City mayor squared off in their first forum Tuesday night, covering a range of issues from trash to the use of email.
A six-way race is set for the Jefferson City mayoral seat with 3rd Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner, Leonard Steinman, Carrie Tergin, Edith Vogel, Roy Viessman and Richard S. Groner all hoping to win the April 7 election.
The first 2015 mayoral candidate forum was hosted Tuesday night at Lincoln University by the Student Government Association and roughly 50 people attended the event. Candidates were given two minutes for an opening statement, as well as responses to seven predetermined questions asked of each candidate before audience members were given the opportunity to ask questions of their own.
Asked about the role of the mayor, Scrivner said it is "to listen, to learn and to lead," while Tergin said the role is to work with the City Council to build a vision for the community. Vogel said the role is to conduct meetings and "herd" council members to ensure they are getting their jobs done, and Viessman said it is to "actively and aggressively" engage to get more jobs in the community. Steinman said the role is to listen and understand the jobs of each city crew, and Groner said it is to put effort into getting new companies into the area.
When asked about their views on the city's current trash service, which is a mandatory service provided by Allied Waste, most said they were somewhat supportive of the current service, but open to other options or changes that are presented. Steinman alleged the city took kickbacks on the Allied Waste contract and chided the current officials for not paying enough attention to what's going on in the landfill, noting he believes much of the trash needs to be separated. Viessman said the city will have to carefully look at the new proposals that will come in later this year, and Groner said the city needs to have its own landfill.
Vogel, who openly violates the city mandatory trash service ordinance, said it is good service as provided, but it should not be mandatory as it is "a personal choice."
Audience members asked about candidates thoughts on how to engage residents in local government, as well as about enhancing historic preservation and making Jefferson City a thriving community.
Scrivner said he would make it a priority to reach out to people to try and get the engaged, while Steinman said he would stop all private meetings with contractors and developers. Tergin specified creating a Lincoln University student liaison to the council to increase communication between the two, and Vogel said "transparency, transparency, transparency." Viessman said he would shake hands and empower every city employee to help motivate them to work harder, while Groner said most of the organizations in the area "are a joke" and he would do what he thinks is right.
Aside from the more issue-based questions, candidates also were asked some lighter questions, such as whether a bachelor's degree is needed to be mayor and if they use email. All but Steinman, Vogel and Groner said they use email, while all candidates except Tergin said a bachelor's degree is not necessary to be mayor. Tergin, who also serves on the Missouri State University Board of Governors, said she feels having a degree brings a lot more to the table, while others argued it really comes down to common sense, though Steinman noted "I definitely don't see no common sense in the last 16 years of our so-called council."