Community members gathered Thursday night to hear from three candidates in the only contested Jefferson City Council race for the April 7 election about their stances on issues and their goals should they be elected to the council.
Ward 2 candidates Aaron Mealy, Mike Lester and Gregory Butler answered questions posed during the monthly meeting of the Jefferson Democratic Club of Cole County ranging from why they chose to run for council to their thoughts on how Jefferson City can work against the effects of climate change.
Candidates were asked why they chose to run for council and what their main areas of concern would be if they were elected.
Mealy said he was inspired as he volunteered following the May 22 tornado.
"After the May tornado in this town, I met a number of people helping and two of those folks actually were council members," Mealy said. "They were out doing the work of moving people into residences that were stable. Talking with them and seeing what they did I thought that was really neat."
Mealy said he would like to focus on issues relating to how Jefferson City spends and appropriates funds.
"I think I can help with our city council in appropriating funds, looking at the way we spend money, criticizing it more, bringing more people into the conversation," Mealy said. "I'm a huge proponent of having more people in the room. I think we make better decisions when you have more people involved."
Lester said he was motivated a few years ago after working with some of his neighbors in the Hickory and Adams streets area on some local safety issues and vacant buildings, during which he worked with and talked to city staff. Lester also serves on the Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission.
One issue Lester would focus on is affordable housing. During the May tornado, many homes were lost in Ward 2.
"Affordable housing was an issue, and now it's a crisis we need to address," Lester said.
Butler said he feels part of his purpose is to run for council after hearing from constituents about their concerns, particularly around transportation and safety.
"I feel there's a lot of things that are being prioritized, and those are not," Butler said. "That's something that constituents are concerned about, so I felt that it was my purpose to actually be the voice and talk to the community, talk to the leaders of Jefferson City, to make sure these voices are heard."
Several of the questions related to climate change and renewable energy sources.
Butler said, if elected, he would want to look into how renewable electricity would affect the city and what it would do to improve the city.
"It'll be a goal of mine to attack that or get that figured out - how we can improve the city with renewable electricity," Butler said. "We have to adapt to change and adapt to the future, because it's coming."
Mealy said he is "100 percent supportive" of renewable energy.
"I think it's very important. I think it's what our future demands," Mealy said. "If I'm so lucky to be elected, I think that we need to put renewable energy in context of what we have going on."
Mealy said the city would need to make sure funding or attention for renewable energy didn't take away from other important programs in the city.
"Equal voice is important to me," Mealy said.
Lester agreed he was 100 percent behind renewable energy, and mentioned he had recently installed solar panels on his home.
He said Jefferson City should look to other cities to see what they could do to be more sustainable, and having more sustainable practices could be the city's way of fighting climate change.
Jefferson City's building codes are based on 2015 or older standards, and candidates were asked what they would do to help update them.
Butler said he would work with people who understand the codes and would see what needs to be improved.
"We don't want to build something that's going to last five years, 10 years," Butler said. "We want something that will last at least 50 years."
Mealy said the building codes should be consistent and fair, and not provide preferential treatment.
Lester said he would want to look at the code and understand why it hadn't been updated and how it could be updated to be most efficient and most safe.
The final question of the night asked the candidates if they felt economic development and historic preservation complemented one another.
Mealy said they go together well, citing Jefferson City's designation as "America's Most Beautiful Small Town" in 2013 by Rand McNally.
"I think that speaks for itself right there that when we invest in our historic properties, we make sure that there is thoughtful dialogue before anything is done to a historic property," Mealy said. "I am not going to make any decision about a historic property without speaking to the folks in Ward 2; anybody who has input will be equally important. I think it's great for economic development."
Mealy pointed out the ongoing plans to redevelop the historic Missouri State Penitentiary the council is currently working on.
Lester said he didn't think historic preservation and economic development were incompatible.
"What's occurred with the renovations on East Capitol (Avenue) and how the city has approached that is a good example," Lester said. "They created an overlay district and tried to maintain the historic character of East Capitol and address the blight that is there. I really hope it's going to have a huge amount of redevelopment."
Butler said he "wholeheartedly believes" in economic development and historic preservation.
"I understand how important it is for the history of Jefferson City," Butler said. "If there is anything we can do to uphold the historic history of Jefferson City, I think we should look at everything to make sure we preserve the history. But as far as economic development, I understand what that would do for the constituents of Ward and the city as a whole."
To end the forum, the candidates gave closing statements.
"I want to advocate for and represent citizens of the Second Ward," Lester said. "I'm retired, and I think I have the time and the experience to be a good advocate to fix the problems we have in the city. Working together we can make Jefferson City a better place to live and work, as well."
Butler reiterated that he feels working on the council is part of his purpose.
"I believe in purpose, and I believe that we all have a purpose, and we all have something to contribute," Butler said. "I believe me doing this is a part of my purpose and part of the purpose of Jefferson City. I believe in the prosperity and the growth of Jefferson City."
Mealy said he believes one of the greatest attributes of a leader is the ability to be a great listener.
"I think that ties into my interest in everyone having a voice in town," Mealy said. "I want to be doing as much listening as I possibly can because I think I would make better decisions the more folks I'm listening to. It's all about Jeff City."
The Ward 2 race is the only contested race in the April 7 election. Hank Vogt will run unopposed for Ward 1 and current council members - Ward 3 Councilwoman Erin Wiseman, Ward 4 Councilman Ron Fitzwater and Ward 5 Councilman Jon Hensley - will also run unopposed.