Whether they are an incumbent or a challenger, candidates for the Jefferson City Council will have plenty of hot-button issues to deal with right off the bat. As such, the candidates have given significant thought to many of the projects and issues currently facing the city.
One of the most divisive issues the council has had to deal with lately has been the surtax issue. The City Council has filed a lawsuit against Cole County to recover five years worth of owed surtax funds, totaling close to $1.5 million.
Another of the most pressing issues currently is the dispute regarding the city's contract with Allied Waste for trash and recycling collection services.
Editor's note: This is the first of a three-part series on the views of candidates for city council. See our newspaper or e-Edition for the full articles. In Friday's edition, candidates will address Old Town issues and redevelopment plans. On Saturday, candidates will reveal how they perceive the role of city council with residents and in city government.