Two enter mayor's race against Hindman
Published Jan. 27, 2004
For the first time since becoming mayor in 1995, Darwin Hindman will face opposition for re-election.
On Thursday, Columbia residents Arch Brooks and John Clark filed petitions to run for mayor.
"Columbia is really a great place," Clark said. "But it's grown quite a bit. Columbia is no longer a small town. It is now a little city and is still growing. Columbia is entering into new territory."
Clark is the president of the North Central Columbia Neighborhood Association. He has attended City Council meetings frequently, speaking for better city planning and against suburban development.
In October, he and other residents drafted an ordinance that would punish landlords for the illegal behavior of their tenants. The ordinance has not been brought up by the council.
During his campaign, Clark said, he will focus on important issues dealing with governance and policy issues. These issues, which he said he will detail later in the week, will be the ones that he thinks will have "the most impact over the next five, 10, 20 years," he said.
Clark said he would be in a better position to speak about how his election might affect MU students after he talks about the governance and policy issues.
"And MU students will be in a much better position to ask me more specific questions," he said.
Once these governance and policy issues are dealt with, the other issues will fall into place more easily, he said.
Brooks, chief executive of Brooks Computing Systems Inc., could not be reached for comment about his campaign. Brooks ran for a seat on the Columbia Board of Education last year.
Hindman, who has run unopposed in the last two elections, said he is running on his strong record as mayor.
"Anytime you hold an office, you have to expect to be opposed," he said. "I believe I have a good record."
Hindman said that since taking office he has worked hard to strengthen downtown business, consistently improve the bus system and create a trail network for bicyclists and pedestrians to use.
As an MU graduate, he said he thinks he has a good grasp on students' viewpoints.
"I think a lot of these things are attractive to students," he said. "While attending school here, they are residents of Columbia and I encourage them to get out and vote."
There have been a lot of changes in the city during his tenure, Hindman said.
"There are a lot of upcoming decisions that need to be made and I believe my experience will be valuable in making those decisions," he said. "I've been very proud to serve as mayor for three terms and I hope to be able to serve a fourth.
The election will be held on April 6. Voters need to register by March 10 to vote in the election.