Sturtz adapts to challenges of his new job

Fellow council members say he has balanced the needs of the city and his constituents.

By Daniel Ramey and Ryan Schmitz

Published Nov. 13, 2008

Both constituents and Columbia City Council members said First Ward Councilman Paul Sturtz has done well adapting to and performing his duties since he was elected seven months ago.

But the council members and Sturtz said the new councilman still has things to learn as he spends more time in office.

Sturtz described the work as "multidimensional" because at any point the council could be talking about issues such as the police review board and minutes later, it could be talking about energy.

"It's a fairly complex job because you have to balance constituents' requests with policy making," he said.

Sturtz said a lot of the council's work is not really major accomplishments but more "modest achievements."

One incident in which Sturtz voiced a strong opinion was the controversy about whether the Columbia Police Department's student resource officer for Hickman High School, Mark Brotmarkle, should return to work at the school after he threw a girl who was attempting to break up a fight.

Sturtz criticized the decision to allow Brotemarkle to return to the school, saying it hurt attempts to improve relations with CPD.

"Paul's doing well with the new direction that the council has started," Third Ward Councilman Karl Skala said. "He really has done his homework."

Skala said he felt Sturtz was at a disadvantage when he first started because he, unlike other council members, hadn't served on as many committees before he took office, such as Planning and Zoning.

"I think he was a little awestruck by the amount of work at first," Skala said.

However, Skala said that Sturtz has adapted well to that workload.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser said Sturtz has the ability to balance the needs of the city with those of his constituents.

"He's done well to be available," she said. "Paul also works behind the scenes."

Nauser said issues facing Sturtz's district are issues that affect the entire city.

"He has to understand the needs and wants of the youth population in his ward," she said. "We've seen an increase in crime all over the city, in part due to traffic and influence from St. Louis and Kansas City. I think there is a false impression that crime is only concentrated in the First Ward."

Nauser said she and her fellow council members share a collective interest in reducing crime citywide.

"I personally do not believe that it is an issue that one council member has an interest in," she said. "I have been leading an effort with the full support of the council to focus on crime issues as they relate to the youth of our community."

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe said Sturtz's efforts were instrumental in preserving a historic district downtown. She said Sturtz understands the ideas of his constituents, and finds creative ways to implement them.

Constituents of the First Ward said Sturtz has done a good job in representing them.

"Paul is well spoken and disciplined about pursuing points that are important to the sustainability of our neighborhood and to the city as a whole," said Linda Rootes, the president of the North Central Columbia Neighborhood Association.

Rootes also said she liked how Sturtz has office hours before every City Council meeting because it allows every constituent to meet with him personally and share his or her concerns.

Other constituents said it's still too early to truly know how well Sturtz will do in his term.

"I haven't seen Paul doing anything that has affected me, or my neighborhood, one way or the other," said Nancy Holliday, president of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association. "It's still too soon."