This week, candidates for Jefferson City mayor respond to questions submitted by a News Tribune reader concerning gifts to elected officials.
You may send your questions for candidates to [email protected] so we might include your voice in future stories. Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.
This week's questions are from Ed Williams, and the candidate responses are below:
"Have you ever received any gift from any business while serving in an elected position? Did you accept or return the gift? Why did you take the action you chose? Would you accept any gifts while serving as mayor?"
Third Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner: "No, unless you mean some promotional item that would be given to any customer or potential customer. If that's what you mean, then I am sure that I have picked up promotional items at a trade show or event over the last seven years. I don't anticipate being offered a gift by a business as mayor, but if one were offered of more than nominal promotional value and not available to any potential customer, I would decline it. To be sure there is no misunderstanding, all elected officials are expected to attend numerous meetings, or events, some regularly scheduled and some randomly scheduled. Sometimes meetings are scheduled during a traditional meal hour, breakfast and lunch being most frequent. Meeting planners schedule meetings during this time, because early morning and over the lunch hour is a time when it is easier for people to get away from their business or job to attend a meeting. Not all, but some meeting hosts provide something to eat for all participants when the meeting spans a meal hour. When they do, I usually eat along with others. I also attend a number of meetings, or events, each year where the participants purchase tickets to attend. When attending a meeting, or event, where a ticket is required, I purchase my own and that of my spouse if she attends with me. If I attend a meeting, or event, where the city has budgeted for the cost of a ticket for councilmen and/or staff to attend, the city pays for my ticket, and I pay for my spouse's ticket."
Leonard Steinman: "I have run for multiple offices and never had my hand out. ... Absolutely not."
Carrie Tergin: "Absolutely not. There were no instances that gifts were ever presented while I served on City Council. Transparency, honesty and integrity are very important, and I would not accept gifts as mayor."
Edith Vogel: "No. No."
Roy Viessman: "During the four terms I served on our City Council, I was never offered any gifts by any businesses or individuals, nor will I ever accept any gifts while serving as an elected official in the future. I believe that when a business gives a gift of any type to a government official, it could possibly be used to influence and manipulate that official to unfairly cater to the interests of that business. This is clearly unethical, and could cause the recipient of the gift to set aside the will of their constituents in favor of other interests. This would serve to undermine everything our country was founded upon. If I am elected mayor of Jefferson City, I promise to always represent my constituents with complete integrity, honesty and transparency."
Richard S. Groner: "Yes, I have. I was elected county commissioner and Sam Cook sent me a few handkerchiefs one year. ... I kept it. He couldn't buy me. It depends on what (the gifts) are. A couple of handkerchiefs don't mean anything. I wouldn't accept any significant kind of gifts."