The 2016 candidates for Jefferson City Council will appear on the April 5 ballot. The News Tribune has sat down with each of the seven candidates to find out more about who they are and where they stand on the issues.
In today's feature, we will introduce you to each candidate, but look for more coverage on Sundays throughout March to see where they stand on a variety of city issues.
Do you have questions for candidates for City Council? Thoughts on what we should include in our election coverage? Let us know by sending your questions and thoughts to [email protected], or by using #jcmovotes on Twitter, or in the comment section below this article.
CONTESTED
2nd Ward
J. Rick Mihalevich
Age: 59
Education: Ph.D. in education from the University of Missouri
Occupation: Dean of Institutional Research and Planning at State Technical College of Missouri
Seeking his third term on the Jefferson City Council, 2nd Ward Councilman J. Rick Mihalevich is facing his first challenge to the seat.
Mihalevich will face off against challenger Bud Fisher on the April 5 ballot. In his four years on the City Council, Mihalevich said he has shown a record of listening to 2nd Ward residents and solving problems. He cited the council's management of a $1.68 million budget shortfall in early 2013 as something that tested the council members and forced them to make tough decisions.
"I've been time-tested and proven," Mihalevich said. "I've been honored to serve for two terms, and I look very forward to serving in the future should the voters see fit."
Mihalevich said one of his achievements on the council has been implementing performance metrics for all contracts, as well as city departments. Performance metrics are ways to measure the success of an organization or department through specific goals.
Mihalevich is a member of the Downtown Association, the Old Munichberg Association, Historic City of Jefferson, Capital Region Board of Governors, Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Fe Chapter of Military Vehicle Preservation Association. On the council, Mihalevich chairs the Public Safety Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee.
Mihalevich lives with his wife, Connie, and has two sons, Bryce and Aaron. In his spare time, he manages a cattle operation and enjoys Willys Jeeps, "a great American company that kind of died out after the war."
Bud Fisher
Age: 71
Education: Bachelor of economics from William Jewell College
Occupation: Retired
Looking to be an advocate for the 2nd Ward, Bud Fisher is taking a run at joining the Jefferson City Council.
Fisher will face off against incumbent J. Rick Mihalevich on the April 5 ballot. Fisher, who previously ran for the 2nd Ward seat in 2009 and lost to the then-incumbent Jim Penfold, said he wanted to run for the seat to get more involved and hopes to bring fresh ideas to the city.
"I think that maybe there might be a freshness that comes from my ideas," Fisher said. "I think that city government is the foundation, it is the fabric of our democracy ... You can make a difference here. And just having that opportunity to make a difference makes a difference to me."
Fisher said he is not running a campaign against Mihalevich, adding he applauds Mihalevich's four years on the council so far. Fisher points to his 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur, starting and growing businesses, adding because he's retired, he has time to devote himself to the city.
He is a member of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Fisher has one daughter and three grandchildren in Chicago and enjoys drawing and painting; he's currently painting murals in his home.
4th Ward
Glen Costales
Age: 63
Education: BBA in personnel management from Florida University and MBA in management from Golden Gate University
Occupation: Retired
Fourth Ward Councilman Glen Costales is facing his second challenge as he seeks his second term on the Jefferson City Council.
Costales will be up against challenger David Durbin on the April 5 ballot. Initially elected in 2014, Costales came on the council after defeating Carrie Tergin, then the incumbent 4th Ward councilwoman and now mayor. In his time on the council, Costales said he's proven he won't shy away from an issue or question and will be a voice for 4th Ward residents.
"I listen," Costales said. "I've been proactive in holding coffees in the ward to hear the concerns of individuals, and I have plenty of time."
On the council, Costales is a member of the Council Committee on Administration and the Public Works and Planning Committee. He is currently raising three nieces and one nephew, and he enjoys bicycling, reading and playing with his two dogs.
David Durbin
Age: 66
Education: B.A. in philosophy; B.S. in physics; master's in public administration and law degree all from University of Missouri-Kansas City
Occupation: Retired; licensed attorney
Looking to give voters a choice in April, David Durbin has filed to run for the 4th Ward seat on the Jefferson City Council.
Durbin will be up against incumbent Glen Costales on the April 5 ballot. Durbin said he wanted to run to give voters a choice and because he has the time and ideas to contribute.
"I'm not here to criticize anyone else, I'm saying I feel like I do have some experiences in my background that could be a contribution on the City Council," Durbin said. "I'm kind of at a point in my life where I wanted to see what I could do to give back to my community and be a value to my fellow citizens."
Durbin has two daughters and three grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys stamp collecting and going to concerts, noting he likes everything from classical to jazz, even recently getting into country music. He lives with four cats.
UNCONTESTED
1st Ward
Rick Prather
Age: 51
Education: BSBA in finance and economics, and MBA, both from Rockhurst University
Occupation: Owner of Vogel Insurance Group
First Ward Councilman Rick Prather is seeking his third term on Jefferson City Council.
Prather is unopposed on the April ballot, so campaigning is not necessary, which allows Prather to focus his time on city issues.
"I want to continue working with the city administrator and ... the city's finance/IT director in assessing the city's financial well-being and hopefully looking for ways to manage our expenses along with ... promoting an economic atmosphere, which brings businesses to the city," Prather said.
Prather was first elected in 2012, winning the election outright after receiving 59 percent of the vote in the February primary, where he faced two challengers. On the council, Prather chairs the Finance Committee and is a member of the Public Works and Planning Committee. Outside of City Hall, he is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, the East Side Business Association, the Downtown Association, the Knights of Columbus, the Jefferson City Host Lions Club and is a board member of the American Red Cross of Central & Northern Missouri.
Prather lives with his wife, Julie, and has two daughters, Cortni and Danielle Taggart, both in their 20s. Besides just working around the house, he enjoys sports, especially golf, and fishing.
3rd Ward
Erin Wiseman
Age: 33
Education: Bachelor's degree from Truman State University and graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Occupation: Attorney at Brydon, Swearengen & England
Jefferson City's 3rd Ward will have a new face on the City Council come April.
Erin Wiseman is the sole candidate for the 3rd Ward seat currently held by Bob Scrivner, who is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election. Because Wiseman does not need to spend the next month campaigning, she said she's getting excited about starting her new role.
"I'm so excited to go in and be the cheerleader of the group," Wiseman said. "I'm just really excited about representing the 3rd Ward."
Wiseman is the immediate past president of the Jefferson City Jaycees, legal counsel for the Missouri Jaycees and co-chair of the Second Chance Scholarship Committee for the Zonta Club.
Wiseman lives with her husband, Tylor, and their dog, Diesel. In her spare time, Wiseman enjoys gardening at her husband's family farm in New Bloomfield, bike riding on the Katy Trail, walking with her dog around town and at Binder Park, CrossFit and volunteering.
5th Ward
Larry Henry
Age: 39
Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Lincoln University and master's degree in public affairs from Park University
Occupation: Treatment court administrator for Cole County
Seeking his third term on the Jefferson City Council, 5th Ward Councilman Larry Henry hopes to continue trying to do what's in the best interest of the city.
Henry, who is unopposed on the April ballot, said he's always willing to discuss issues and votes with people in the community and hopes people will understand he's trying to represent their best interests.
"As council people, we get criticized a lot for what we do and votes and decisions that we make, but the one thing I want the public to know is that any vote or decision that I make is always in the best interest of the city," Henry said. "You may not agree with it at times, I would like for you to, we may not always agree, but just understand any decision or vote that I make is always in the best interest of what I feel for the city."
Henry is a member of the United Way Board of Governors, the executive board for the Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Capital Region Board of Governors and is a big brother through the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. On the council, Henry is a member of the Finance Committee and the Public Works and Planning Committee.
In his spare time, Henry loves to play basketball, bike ride, play chess and read nonfiction books.
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As part of our continuing coverage, the News Tribune also will host a candidate forum at 7 p.m. March 22 at City Hall for all City Council candidates. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for the forum, send it to [email protected] with the subject line "Candidate Forum."