Former physician Bob McDavid announces candidacy for mayor
Another candidate has announced his intention to run for mayor in Columbia. Bob McDavid, a retired physician and a member of the Boone Hospital Center Board of Trustees, said he will make his candidacy official by filing the necessary paperwork tomorrow.
“I had some people I know who asked me to run, and I've thought about it,” he said. “There was a lot of enthusiasm from people who are close to me, so I'm going to run with it.”
McDavid, who has lived in Columbia since 1966, said he has three priorities as Mayor, including increasing public safety, preserving Columbia’s character during the city’s development and handling local economic concerns.
“The economic climate is affecting city revenues, and the reality is if we don't do something about this, then we could see a deterioration in city services,” McDavid said. “We must work hard to avoid this.”
He also said development should be carried out so Columbia’s culture and identity are maintained. He said although growth is going to happen, it should not come at the expense of city neighborhoods.
Finally, McDavid spoke about public safety. He said he would support a proposed ordinance increasing the number of cameras downtown.
“I just want to quit reading stories in the paper about stabbings near MU's campus, as there was the other day, assaults in the downtown and random killings,” he said.
With MU making up 40 percent of Columbia’s economy, McDavid said it’s important for students to care about the upcoming election.
“It’s very important for MU students to be engaged in this election because it affects them," he said.
McDavid joins three other candidates who have filed, including Columbia citizen Paul Love, Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade and Sid Sullivan, a member of the Boone County Smart Growth Coalition.
Sal Nuccio has yet to file with the City Clerk’s office. The deadline to do so is Jan. 21.
To learn more about these candidates, you can check out our mayoral preview from earlier this year. As the April 6 elections draw near, The Maneater will have exclusive interviews with all the candidates and a voter’s guide to help educate you on the issues.