Candidates race for Fifth Ward City Council seat
Published Jan. 25, 2005
All four candidates running for the Fifth Ward City Council seat were confirmed by the city clerk Monday.
The candidates include attorney Gayle Troutwine, real estate closing officer Laura Nauser, painting contractor Stephen Reichlin and epidemiologist Joseph Vradenburg.
Each candidate had to collect at least 50 signatures on a petition to run for the position. One of the four candidates will replace outgoing Fifth Ward Councilman John John.
Troutwine, who also studies dispute relations at MU, said she decided to take a leave of absence from school in order to pursue the council position.
"At this stage, I see my education as a luxury and I see running for City Council as my duty for my community," Troutwine said. "I would rather be productive by serving on the council because I already have an education."
Troutwine said she hopes to improve the city's bureaucratic process.
"I had a number of interactions, conflicts and dealings with the city, and it is very unsatisfactory and unsuccessful," Troutwine said.
Vradenburg said he decided to enter the race because he has always wanted to be involved with politics and felt it was the right time.
"The current City Council's readiness to pass taxes made me want to get involved," Vradenburg said. "While I do support taxes that are beneficial to the community, it seems the board is indifferent about how many taxes they've passed."
Supporting downtown Columbia, the Missouri Theatre and the beautification of Eighth Street are top priorities for Vradenburg.
"While I'm not anti-business and development, I would like to help prevent sprawl that seems unnecessary," he said.
Reichlin and Nauser could not be reached for comment.
The City Council election will be held on April 5.