Council candidates examine city-university relations

A main goal is to stimulate Columbia's economy.

By Ryan Schmitz

Published April 2, 2009

Next Tuesday, students will have the chance to elect representatives to the City Council from the Second and Sixth Wards to serve three-year terms.

In the Second Ward, Jason Thornhill and Allan Sharrock are running to succeed retiring Councilman Chris Janku, while Rod Robison will challenge incumbent Barbara Hoppe in the Sixth Ward.

Central issues throughout the campaign include the economy, crime, youth programs, energy and the acknowledgement of all citizens' views. The four candidates offered various outlooks on how the city and MU can work together to encourage economic development.

Employed for the past 16 years at Riback Supply Company, Robison said he would treat the city and the university equally when making decisions if voters elect him to the council.

"I don't think you can separate the city and the university, and most people in high positions understand that," he said. "The university is a place to grow ideas, and the city allows us to develop businesses around those ideas."

Robison said one of his assets is his centrist political approach, which would allow him to make more sound choices.

"I don't have a preset agenda to promote," he said. "I will take each item on its own merit, and one of my strengths is that I am very much in the middle politically."

Hoppe said the work of MU researchers allows for new businesses to develop and provide jobs to city residents. She also emphasized the importance of keeping the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia.

"This partnership allows us to retain a valuable resource," she said.

One issue that affects students is the nuisance party ordinance, which fines people for having 10 or more people at gatherings that include any of 16 violations, including underage drinking and public urination.

Passed in November 2006, the ordinance was met with largely negative reactions from students, particularly those in the Sixth Ward's East Campus neighborhood.

Hoppe originally voted for the regulation, but raised the idea to amend it in February 2008.

"I've heard of individual situations, but otherwise I haven't heard complaints from students about the noise ordinance," she said. "It's helpful when parties become out-of-bounds."

Robison said this is not a new issue, and there always have been disagreements between students and permanent residents.

"Noise has been a problem ever since the university has been around," he said.

Through the course of the campaign, Hoppe has earned the endorsement of the Columbia Business Times, while the Columbia Police Officers Association backed Robison.

In the Second Ward race, Sharrock, a former member of the Missouri Army National Guard and an industrial technology teacher at Lange Middle School, will face Thornhill, a real estate agent for Weichert Realtors in Columbia. Both candidates agreed that university students and professors could act to help Columbia in these tough economic times.

"We should use the university's developmental abilities to help keep new products and ideas here in Columbia," Thornhill said.

Sharrock voiced similar ideas, and encouraged professors to actively integrate community involvement into their classes.

"The university could do service learning projects," he said. "For example, the business school could research ways to make the humane society and our public transportation system financially viable."

Regarding the nuisance party ordinance, Sharrock said he was not familiar enough with the regulation to comment, while Thornhill acknowledged the students' negative feelings and said he wants input from students.

"I think it can be a drag to students, because our residential area integrates renters with homeowners in our ward," he said. "My goal is to make myself accessible for people to talk to me, and to make sure the students know I'm available."

Sharrock said he wanted to ensure students' security and help them in the down economy.

"I want to make sure the students are safe, and provide job opportunities to them," he said.