Two candidates are running for the position of Jefferson City mayor in the April 2 municipal election.
The candidates are incumbent Carrie Tergin and challenger Tiwan Lewis.
Running unopposed in the April 2 election are Ward 1 Councilman David Kemna, Ward 2 Councilwoman Laura Ward, Ward 3 Councilman Ken Hussey, Ward 4 Councilman Carlos Graham and Ward 5 Councilman Mark Schreiber.
The mayoral candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.
Tergin wants to continue historic revitalization, riverfront access
Name: Carrie Tergin
Occupation: Owner of Carrie's Hallmark Shop
Having served as mayor the last four years, Tergin said the main role of mayor is to "lead and listen."
"The role of the mayor is to really be in touch with the community and the desires and the needs and the dreams of what could make our community better, a great place to live, a place you want to come and visit, and you want your family and friends to come here and visit and live here," said Tergin, who served as Ward 4 councilwoman before being elected mayor.
If re-elected, Tergin said, she wants to continue building on the momentum of "big-picture items" like Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment, East Capitol Avenue revitalization and creation of the Bicentennial Bridge.
The Bicentennial Bridge is a planned 826-foot bridge leading down to a riverfront park on Adrian's Island, a 30-acre area between the Missouri River and Union Pacific Railroad tracks that stretches about 1 mile from the Missouri State Capitol to the former Missouri State Penitentiary.
"Riverfront access has been a dream of Jefferson City for many years, and many generations have wanted to get to the river, but we are a river city without access to the river from the Capitol side," Tergin said. "It's just the coolest thing that not only are we going to build it, but with (private funds)."
Along with these projects, Tergin said, she wants to continue emphasizing public safety, pushing for a steamboat museum, and educating residents about the city's relationships with the U.S.S. Jefferson City, U.S.S. Missouri and Battleship Missouri.
"It's very, very important that we continue to take the assets that we have as a city and grow those assets into something that is important to us," said Tergin, who graduated from Missouri State University.
Lewis wants to be voice for disadvantaged, address affordable housing
Name: Tiwan Lewis
Occupation: Owner of Mary Anne's, TJ Consulting, and Faith and Hope Real Estate LLC
Having graduated from Lincoln University with a degree in criminal justice, Lewis has worked several jobs, including in accounting, call support, fast food and casework. She also started a catering company but nearly lost it after her house burned down in 2017.
After experiencing homelessness, Lewis said, she wants to research ways Jefferson City, Cole County and the state of Missouri can work together to address affordable housing and homelessness. She added the city needs to better use its funds to help families experiencing homelessness, such as creating a homebuyers' program that provides information about purchasing homes and available assistance programs.
"We can't do any more Band-Aids. We need a whole surgery operation to really help," she said. "We've got to pull together as a community and tap into resources and truly help people. We have to get people back up and back functioning in society in order to be truly successful."
While she wants to address housing, she added, she wants to ensure people do not become dependent on resources like public housing or other types of housing assistance.
"Public housing is OK, but it's a temporary fix," she said. "There are people who have been on public housing for 10 years. That's insane. When we're doing Band-Aid fixes and giving people public housing for five, 10 years, (they are) never going to appreciate it."
Lewis also wants to increase small-business opportunities, create a rehabilitation center to help fight opioid usage and provide more internship opportunities for college students.
The main role of the mayor, she said, is to be a leader and a voice in the community.
"You can't just go to City Council meetings, sit there and slam a gavel," she said. "You've got to understand what's going on in the city so you can help your councilmen and your city understand what's going on."