Columbia voters cast ballots for council, school board, hospital trustee seats

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Columbia voters cast ballots for council, school board, hospital trustee seats

MISSOURIAN STAFF Apr 4, 2017

Updated Information:This story was updated at 1:46 p.m. to add comments from voters at the Sanford-Kimpton Health Department Building.

COLUMBIA — Turnout for the municipal election was light but steady at polling places around Columbia on Tuesday morning.

By the time the polls close, voters will have �lled the First and Fifth ward seats on the Columbia City Council, three seats on the Columbia

School Board and two on the Boone Hospital Center Board of Trustees.

In the First Ward, incumbent Clyde Ru�n is seeking re-election to a three-year term but faces challengers Pat Kelley and Andrew

Hutchinson. In the Fifth Ward, Art Jago and Matt Pitzer are competing to replace Laura Nauser, who chose not to run again.

Three school board incumbents — Helen Wade, Jonathan Sessions and Paul Cushing — are seeking new three-year terms, and Robin Dianics

is seeking her �rst term.

There are �ve candidates for the two hospital trustee positions. Incumbent Bob Wagner, along with Richard Shanker and Taylor Burks, are

running for a one-year term left available when Fred Parry resigned after being elected Southern District Boone County commissioner.

Gordon Christensen and Randy Morrow are seeking a full �ve-year term.

Here's what some of the voters at polling places Tuesday morning had to say about the election.

Sanford-Kimpton Health Department Building

Davis WinborneThomas McNanes, left, speaks with First Ward council candidate Pat Kelley outside Oak Towers after voting onTuesday. Kelley spent the day campaigning outside the building, where ballots were cast.

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“One of my biggest concerns was the Boone Hospital. There's been some issues that need to be managed, but hopefully, with transparency,

they’ll help solve those issues. Other issues are such as equal representation in the City Council. I would like to see a diverse and basically an

open-minded group.”

— Bob Glidewell, 60, professional grant writer

"I think the current school board is doing a really good job. I think they’ve got a pretty good vision for the district. I like the general tone

they’ve set for the district, and so I wanted to keep those same folks around. I like that they’re focused on raising the bars on schools in

general, but they also understand this community, and they understand what students actually do in and out of the classroom.”

"I think all First Ward candidates were really good. I’ve had experience with Clyde Ru�n, so I’m more likely to support him, but I think any of

the three would do a good job."

— Jacob Adams, 31, assistant principal at a school in Je�erson City

“I’m guessing for the First Ward, housing. That’s about it. I had them both come by my house, Pat Kelley and Hutchinson guy, and they both

seem really, really nice. They both seemed like knew what they were talking about.”

— Tosca Sweatt, 55, hospital technician

“I think public schools are really important. I don’t have children myself, but I really think it’s an important issue, and I think the incumbents

are doing an excellent job, and so I voted for them."

— Drew Pratt, 53, epidemiologist

"I just moved to the First Ward, and as a homeowner now it gives you a di�erent perspective than when you’re renting. I think the

infrastructure concerns raised by some of the candidates were probably the biggest for me. I live in an older house, and the street has sewer

problems. That’s something that I encounter on a regular basis. I think Clyde Ru�n’s participation thus far has not been very robust, so I’m

not sure. I haven’t seen anything that shows me that that’s something on his radar.”

— Kristin Black, 32, executive assistant at MU

“Clyde Ru�n came to my house, and we talked with him, and he really seemed like he really understood what was happening with the

district, so we thought he would be a good candidate to continue to serve.”

— Brittany Watson, 31, speech pathologist

"I’m concerned about the application of charter school policies in rural and semi-rural areas where it doesn’t make sense to me, because I

think that the problems that are facing urban areas in terms of charter schools are di�erent in that there are simply more schools. So I’m

interested in school board members that have experience and that are willing to �ght for good quality public schools here in Columbia, and

in fact, that’s one of the reasons why we moved here. I’m proud that my kids go to Columbia Public Schools and I want to protect that.”

— Jeremy Malarky, 42, lobbyist

“Safety and housing. I thought that Clyde Ru�n has been doing a good job and I’d like him to be able to continue.”

— Susan DeMian, 70, secretary at MU

"I was voting for my former student, Andrew (Hutchinson). I think one thing is that I’d like to see more interactions between the police and

the community. Some community events maybe, where they can meet, talk and get to know each other. That’s the big thing.”

— Jonathan Root, 33, MU professor

"I think at this point, we need someone that’s really progressive. I think we need somebody that is going to be able to say: 'Yes, let’s talk about

infrastructure,' because I think that’s important. But who else is really going to advocate for community policing and really be serious about

it? I think that someone that’s young and progressive is going to be the person that can really take those ideas and run with them with that

kind of passion.”

— Sarah Barnett, 31, genetics counselor



"For the First Ward, I voted for Clyde. Trying to improve the neighborhood, that’s one thing I’m interested in. I’d like to see them beautify old

houses that are not good, you know, to repair them and make them look better. And the streets, I’d like have our streets looking better.”

— Allean Johnson, 80, retired

"All the stu� downtown — it’s ruining downtown, and I’m kind of tired of it."

— Debbie Morris, 62, mental health agency

“Somebody that’s going to get out there and work for the people of the city. I voted for Dr. Ru�n. With his standing in the community, he’s a

professor at the university, and he has a wide range of knowledge, so I think he can best serve the people in the community.”

— Dorothy Crum, 64, retired

"I guess personally for me, it’s the City Council person, someone that plays well with others, versus between the community and the rest of

the board. It seems like there’s been a distasteful relationship between certain members of the board and the rest of the council, and I think

that’s what needs to change, so that the council can move forward as a whole city. There’s been a lot of turnover in this speci�c ward, and

there hasn’t been a lot of repeat members. I think that’s also important, to have a little bit of consistency.”

— Eric Pherigo, 44, manager of a small retail business

Activities and Recreation Center"The �rst-time candidates' campaigns came to my door, I wanted to know where they stand on illegal immigration. I said if Ru�n doesn't call

me, then I'm going to vote against him. The one time I wanted to hear from him, I didn't. The majority is in major danger of becoming a

minority. We have the wrong people running the city. People who would like to be on city council, can't a�ord it. It's one of the times I would

like to see the government spend money."

— William Samuels, attorney

"We need a strong neighborhood voice on the City Council. I'm mainly interested in the First Ward. The other two candidates don't have

experience in the First Ward. (Kelley) would be the best for neighborhoods and moving the community policing project along. I think she will

be much more e�ective than the other candidates."

— John Clark, 74, attorney and Kelley's campaign treasurer

Woodcrest Chapel"The Boone Hospital trustees election is important because the board is going to be making some pretty important decisions in the coming

years."

— Drew Wilkinson, 28, lab director at Boone Hospital Center

"The school board election and its future is important as it's changing. Also, the direction of Columbia's future is important."

— Julie Lyman, 60, educator at the Columbia Career Center

"City Council is important, and they need to �x the streets."

— Verline Clairmonte, 84, retired

"The school board election is important because a strong education system in Columbia is important."

— Sarah Yonker, 66, retired teacher

"All of the elections are important. It's time to vote, and I always vote."

— Dell McMillan, 65, retired

"I believe in our democracy, and I would like to see more progressive representatives in Columbia."

— Sarah Hairston, 39, MU doctoral student



"It's my civic duty to vote, and it's important to support public schools and education and its funds."

— Tom Hairston, 35, MU projects director

"I vote every chance I get, and I'm happy with where Columbia is at right now."

— Darin Preis, 45, director of Central Missouri Community Action and member of Columbia School Board

"It's my civic duty to vote, and the hospital board election is important. Also, I am concerned about the electrical lines cutting through our

neighborhood."

— Judy Ganey, 67, retired teacher

Peachtree Banquet Center“City Council impacts how our city is run, I just want someone on there who’s going to listen to the people.”

— Tad Brinkerho�, 51, assistant dean of the MBA Program, MU College of Business

“I’ve been an advocate for charter schools. I think they do a good job. A couple of the candidates said there is no evidence to show they are

positive, but there is.”

— Keith Boles, 71, Realtor

“The big vote for me is City Council, and I think the vision of civic infrastructure and the police force engaging with the community I think

are very important for the growing community. ... I also think it’s very important to try to keep downtown vital but also to plan responsibly.”

— Stephen Brietzke, 61, physician at University Hospital

“Increase public safety and infrastructure. I’ve seen the growth of Columbia. ... The school board and trustees seem to be doing well. It’s the

City Council that needs to make progress.”

— Mary Juettner, 70, retired

“The Police Department. One of the candidates is kind of playing up this law and order. ... It’s not OK to me. ... We need to focus on

infrastructure and stop giving away tax breaks to outside developers, but I am not sure if anyone represents that. (It’s important) because this

is how local politics are working around the country now: Big companies coming from the outside and then they leave, there’s no revenue

for the community.”

— Je� Stilley, 32, MU doctoral student in sociology

“I do think the council needs to address more planning. I moved here from Madison, Wisconsin. That’s a much bigger place, but you can see

how they plan out. They have some of the same issues that we have here like with a lot of student housing downtown. So having people think

about that and planning that. And also making sure that when we are adding all that student housing, we also enough a�ordable housing for

non-students.”

— Clarissa Steele, 36, MU doctoral student in business management

“The powerline (is the most concerning issue). I was the principal for Gentry Middle School for �ve years, and at one point the path (of the

powerline) was right by Gentry. Now it’s all the buildings in between, but also one of the paths goes through Mill Creek Elementary School. I

am also a science teacher, so electromagnetic radiation and exposure (over) a long period of time are concerning. And remember the fact that

there’s not only one type of radiation that we are exposed to, the powerlines just add to it. So I think that is an important issue to consider.

Have them run somewhere ... where there are no schools or other large employment places where people are there working for long hours.”

— Janice Morris, 52, teacher

“National elections are important, statewide elections are important, but to e�ect the most immediate change in your hometown, you got to

vote local.”

— Michelle Rowe, 27, o�ce coordinator at Missouri Symphony Society



“There is a lot of development and growth inside of the city, but we have di�erent infrastructure challenges. So it’s important to have

someone on the council to see that. ... Forum Boulevard in particular could use some improvement. I like the 'road diet' idea. I commute to

work by bike when the weather is nice, and I have to ride up that road, so it would help me out as a cyclist, and as a driver I think it would be

much safer.”

— Elizabeth Kelley, 29, mortgage industry

Forum Boulevard Christian Church"I was very interested in infrastructure needs. That was important to me. I am also excited that Matt (Pitzer) will bring �nancial acumen to

the City Council if elected."

— Robin Winneker, 47, property manager

"I was looking for someone who wants to get the crime down and get the roads back to where they need to be. They're in bad shape in certain

places."

— Chad Wenger, 39, custodian

"I used to work for Shelter Insurance, so I voted for (Matt) Pitzer. I like his business background."

— Bob Minnick, 85, retired business executive

"I was here to vote for the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees. ... I'm looking for independence, and I'm really looking for Boone to make the

right decision (with the lease negotiations) because it's a big decision that will carry out for quite some time for the hospital and the

community."

— Josh Hamann, 37, orthopedic surgeon

"It's a priority with me to always vote. It's an honor and a privilege of citizenship. We need to exercise it strongly."

— Sarah Spence, 64, educator

"It seems like we have some serious citywide races that will impact Columbia's growth, and too many people skip these biannual elections. I

think that's an error on our part because there are serious issues facing Columbia in the next �ve years. We really need good, strong

leadership in our community."

— Tom Bender, 68, retired lawyer

"I voted for Randy Morrow because I think he's got the experience. I've known him for 38 years. I was looking for someone who has

experience and knows �nances."

— James Garb, 67, pediatrician

"I voted for (Matt) Pitzer, the incumbents on the school board, and (Randy) Morrow and (Bob) Wagner for the hospital board. ... I think the

Boone Hospital (was the most important race). I think there's trouble ahead for the hospital. There's a lot of confusion and lot of issues that

seem to be simple, and in any other business they would be, except in the business of medicine."

—Bob Pugh, 77, retired CEO of MBS Textbook Exchange and former mayor of Columbia

"Matt (Pitzer) is just a great guy. He's well-rounded and open-minded, and he will bring a �nancial expertise (to the City Council)... I think

consistency for Boone Hospital is important with Bob Wagner and Randy Morrow having the experience, especially as they're going through

the lease negotiations."

— Kim Fallis, stay-at-home mother

Rock Bridge Christian Church"I always vote in elections, and I voted in this one to �ll the vacant Fifth Ward seat. One of the big issues I considered in this City Council

election was �scal responsibility. We've got a 400-page budget that I don't think the current council members understand."



— Russ Stott, 73, retired

"I voted in this election because I haven't been happy with the way the city has been run in recent years. City Council has lacked

accountability in some decisions it has made, and it has not been very transparent recently with its decisions, especially when it comes to

the city's �nances. I also voted in the school board election because I know Paul Cushing."

— Sarah Kirchho�, 37, legal assistant

"I've known Art Jago for at least 20 years, and I think he would be a good council member because he has a certain charisma and energy, and

he has lots of variety in his background. He has a background particularly in business and with MU. He would make decisions in a

levelheaded way. One issue I focused on in this election was planning and zoning, not necessarily in my area but in other parts of town. I'm

concerned about developers trying to add high rises in older neighborhoods and how that impacts the houses that have been there."

— Evan Smith, 65, state regulations compliance coordinator at MU

"I focused on the Fifth Ward election for City Council and the school board election. I felt both Fifth Ward candidates were strong, and I liked

that they had more progressive views. For the City Council election, I considered transportation in the city and the growth and expansion of

the city. I think the student housing that has gone up in the last year is not good for downtown. I listened to the candidates' views on fees for

development. I also focused on sprawl and growth in Columbia and how it makes it necessary to have resources in farther out parts of the

city. Both candidates had good views on how to fund expanded services, but their views on this were di�erent. For me, it's not a question of

where the money for this funding comes from; I'm more concerned about getting good police o�cers and integrating them well into the

community.

"Also, I have young children, so the school board decisions will impact my family directly. The growth of the city and the expansion of

schools are important to me. I was able to attend one school board forum on civil issues, such as discrimination in schools and guns in

schools. I listened very closely to where the school board candidates stood on the issue of guns in schools."

— Rebecca Shaw, 36, research specialist at MU School of Medicine

"I vote in every election, and I watch Channel 17 all the time, but I had not heard about a lot of the issues in this election. I was surprised there

were so few items on the ballot in this election, but one of the issues I knew about had to do with a power line through a particular area of a

neighborhood. I am against this path because I think it would be a disruption of the peace in the area. I voted against the candidate who was

in favor of that path."

— Nancy Davis, 58, daycare provider

"For City Council, the issues important to me were infrastructure and making sure we have adequate protection for the city through the Fire

Department. With infrastructure, I am concerned about making sure sewers and roads are kept in good repair. I grade the current council at

a C- when it comes to infrastructure because they are not thinking ahead and anticipating future needs. I know they have budget constraints,

though. Regarding the Fire Department, the city is constantly expanding, and we need to have adequate personnel to protect the city. I felt

that both Fifth Ward candidates were quali�ed because of their life experiences, and they showed they had studied the issues facing the city

and were ready to o�er solutions."

— Michael Polley, 63, history professor at Columbia College

Columbia Public Library“I don’t want to push toward any kind of vouchers. I want to strengthen the public school system. I think they’re doing a great job right now,

so I like the direction that it’s headed. I don’t want it to change.”

— Lana Zerrer, 44, physician

“I voted for our incumbents (on the school board). I think they’ve been doing a good job and have been very open to public engagement. I just

want them to keep on moving ahead.”

— Scott Christianson, 49, MU management professor



“I trust the people that are on the school board quite a bit. I voted to re-elect the ones who are on there, and I feel pretty good about how the

school board is being run in our town.”

— Rob Bartel, 63, software engineer

“I think the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees is a really important race. We’re kind of at a crossroads for Boone Hospital, and hopefully we’ll

have some trustees who make good decisions. I would like to see more public input. I would like to see (the hospital board) talking to the

public and getting input from the population.”

— Ellen McQuie, 59, physician

“I think both (the school board and Boone Hospital board) are doing well, and the biggest challenge probably right now for the school board

is trying to manage through funding shortfalls from the state.”

— Teresa Maledy, 60, banker

“There were a couple of issues that I de�nitely care about. With our growth, the City Council is becoming more important in terms of their

deliberations and their decisions about what Columbia is going to be and look like in the future. It’s incumbent on all of us to be very serious

and very aware of our council members, what their issues are and how they’re voting. ... I hate to lose the character of Columbia. I’m not as

worried about the development downtown as so many people are. I’m more worried about the mix and making sure that there’s housing

available to everyone, including low-income. I want to make sure the city maintains its character, but — at the same time — I appreciate the

growth, I want the growth, but I’m more really worried about the low-income residents of this city and making sure they don’t get closed

out.”

— Eleanor Farnen, 62, small-business owner

“There were two candidates in particular that I was looking forward to supporting: Matt Pitzer for City Council and Taylor Burks for the

hospital board. I think both Pitzer and Burks will provide some diversity of experience for their respective boards, and I think they’ll both

serve honorably. I’d like to see the City Council spend more money on police and less money on some of the frivolities that they do.”

— Brouck Jacobs, 33, attorney

“I just think running a steady ship is good. There’s always improvements to be made, but we make our choices based on them hopefully

continuing to do a good job.”

— Jon Galloway, 35, marketing

“I’m trying to vote for progressive candidates, so people who are going to support progressive ideas and make sure that we have people who

care about all the people in town and all the kids in school. I think we need to do a really good job with our science education. I think that’s

critical, and so I tried to choose people who would be more likely to do that.”

— Bruce Bartholow, 46, MU psychology professor

“We’ve got more schools being built, but people are still unhappy about where their kids are going to school. I was a military kid, and I didn’t

get a choice on where I got to go to school. I think it’s a privilege for me to get to have a voice in how things are going in school for my kids.

There are lots of schools here even in Columbia, which is a relatively well-o� town compared to some other towns in Missouri that are

�ghting for funding as compared to other schools that are very well-funded. That needs to be sorted out.”

— Kristina Hollrah, 42, professor

Paquin Tower“We need to stop the construction of all the apartments going on until the infrastructures are �nished. The education is key, especially

blocking charter schools. We need to keep the public schools well funded. ”

— Sue Castañeda, 62, retired.



“I came because I know a few people from the ballot. Housing and tra�c are the two things that a�ect me the most. Drunk students don't

respect the tra�c; the police won't do anything. They dump in the Dumpsters. I think we need more policemen, especially between midnight

and 2 a.m. ”

— Miguel Rodríguez, 56, interpreter

“It's important to come and vote, especially because we can. The Board of Education is important because it a�ects everyone, especially

those who can't vote because they are under 18. We need to decide on what are we going to be doing, where are we moving toward. The

federal government is going to get cut, so their funding is important."

—Blake Willoughby, 23 , MU grad student in theater and performance studies

"I just believe in honesty. There's so much dishonesty in politics that I don't even want to vote. Politicians have got their hands in people's

pockets, but I don't know the candidates running for the First Ward."

— David Will, 61, retired

"Local politics a�ect people more than they think. In the First Ward crime a�ects a lot of people, like street robberies. Community policing is

key. I hope things change for the better. I hope we see more police."

— James Crouch, 62, retired

"The three incumbents who are running for the school board are very strong candidates to return back to their seats. The upcoming renewal

of the hospital lease is very important, and obviously the First Ward. The First Ward is the heart of Columbia. It touches everybody's life

every day. We're really diverse. That's why we are the most challenging to represent. We are the lowest income ward in the community. Less

money gets in the ward because people don't vote here."

— Ginny Chadwick, 39, former First Ward councilwoman, MU professor of health sciences. She was campaigning for Pat Kelley.

"I don't like (any of the) candidates, because I don't know anything about them. I've been living in the First Ward for 18 years. I don't care

about the �nal result. It's not going to make any di�erence."

— Michael Frost, 60, retired

Missourian reporters Carolyn Heger, Tom Coulter, Haotian Mai, Jeremy Turley, Tomás Orihuela, Kaitlin Washburn, Soo Rin Kim and Erin

Stark contributed to this article.

Supervising editor is Scott Swa�ord.

MORE INFORMATION

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Columbia voters cast ballots for council, school board, hospital trustee seats

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