With the election two weeks away, more than 60 people came to watch candidates for Jefferson City mayor discuss city issues Monday night.
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 forum Monday night was co-sponsored by the News Tribune and the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce. The only candidate not present Monday was Groner, who was out of town.
Candidates were asked five questions concerning growth, essential services, the conference center and transit, with each getting two minutes to respond. In a second round of questions, each candidate was given a different question, while other candidates had the opportunity for a shorter response if desired.
While the forum largely centered on major city issues, there was a surprise moment when Steinman, while answering a question about how he could assure voters he was serious about serving Jefferson City residents after running for "every possible open office," said rules were being broken and abruptly left the candidate area. He stayed at City Hall for the remaining 45 minutes of the forum and said afterwards that he walked out because some people in the audience were wearing T-shirts supporting Tergin, adding that it was against the rules for the forum and the moderators refused to do anything about it.
"I'm the only leader," Steinman said.
The ground rules for the forum, which were given to all candidates ahead of time, stated: "Candidates are asked to not wear campaign buttons, ribbons or any article of clothing or adornment with messages of any kind." No mention was made as to the apparel of audience members.
When asked about their views on growth, both for the population and economic development, Viessman said it was important to grow, but not to the extent that the city outgrows its existing infrastructure. He said he would seek to revive an industrial commission and would be prepared to work 40 to 50 hours each week for Jefferson City.
Scrivner said the city needs to leverage its assets, such as Missouri State Technical College and Lincoln University to see what collaborations could be made to attract growth and bring more jobs to the area. Steinman said it's important to take care of what the city already has and no additions should be made if they can't be properly taken care of, noting "we don't need to be like Columbia."
Tergin said the city should pursue "slow, planned growth that's smart" by partnering with neighborhoods that want to be annexed into city limits and the school district to ensure Jefferson City is a place people want to move to. Vogel said the city has seen several developments that should help to continue a good standard of living in the area, such as the growth along the Missouri 179 corridor, the new St. Mary's Health Center and the expansion of Capital Region Medical Center.
Viessman was asked how his industrial commission would be made up and operate. He said the commission would be appointed by the mayor and made up of stakeholders in the community who could work in concert with the chamber to come up with ideas and bring new companies and jobs to the area.
Scrivner was asked how he would achieve unity in the city, as he often uses the slogan "we are one community." Scrivner said he would like to start something he called "the mayor's round table," which would include representatives of business groups and schools to meet in public and identify areas the city needs to focus on.
Tergin was asked how she would respond to critics who say she has been too focused on the growth of downtown to the exclusion of the rest of the city. She said she has focused on downtown because of it's importance to the city, noting "it's the heart of our community." Tergin said she would like to spread that focus to the entire city and cited her willingness to meet with anyone while she was a 4th Ward council representative.
Vogel was asked how she could serve as mayor when she openly violates the city's mandatory trash ordinance. Vogel said while she is in violation and would plead guilty if summoned to municipal court, she believes the code is incorrect and the city can not force people to buy something they don't want or need.
"I am a strong woman and I'm not going to do something I don't want to do," Vogel said.
When asked about the conference center, Steinman said the voters approved the lodging tax to pay for a conference center and that is what it should be used for, but added that the city should be able to do this right through use of municipal bonds. He said Broadway Street is the ideal location as it is a "blight" now and the conference center should be built without an additional hotel.
Tergin said the lodging tax was approved for the conference center and the city should ensure it has exhausted all options to complete that before looking at other uses for the funds. She said a location near the Capitol is ideal and the community needs to have a clear vision and plan before pursuing the project again.
Vogel said she is not opposed to a conference center, but feels like the issue has been "beat to death." She said private enterprise would have pursued the project if they thought it would be successful, but if residents want the facility, they should contact their council representative.
Viessman said the conference center "is probably the hottest subject" in the city and he would not move forward on the project without having more discussions and town halls for residents. He said to move forward now would create divisions in the community, but if it were to move forward the best location would be downtown or at the old Missouri State Penitentiary.
Scrivner said the real question is what will help Jefferson City grow and if the answer is a conference center, then he supports it. He said the community needs to discuss the issue and determine how to proceed on the use of lodging tax funds. If a conference center project does move forward, Scrivner said his preference would be to have it located at the old Missouri State Penitentiary.
(If you don't see video of this forum below on your device, try https://youtu.be/y9QSQOibCV4.)
Don't forget!
There's one more forum tonight where candidates for the Jefferson City Board of Education will be asked about issues facing the district. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall and will be broadcast on JCTV, as well as live-streamed through the city website, jeffcitymo.org, and the News Tribune website, www.newstribune.com/forumlivestream.