Second Ward councilman prepares for duties

Jason Thornhill hopes to communicate effectively with constituents.

By Ryan Schmitz

Published April 21, 2009

Local realtor Jason Thornhill, elected by the Second Ward to the City Council on April 7, looks forward to addressing the city's growing rate of property crime and wisely allocating financial resources to meet its other needs.

"Crime will be my initial focus," Thornhill said. "I need to understand the city budget so I can see what programs could be cut and which ones to support. I will continue to support our police department and approach other programs individually based on their own merits."

Retiring Second Ward Councilman Chris Janku, who served on the council for a record 18 years, said Thornhill's interactions with voters before the election will allow him to understand what issues are important to the residents of the Second Ward and Columbia as a whole.

"By going through the campaign, he will have learned a lot about what people want," Janku said. "The key will be figuring out how to meet their priorities responsibly."

Janku said the most important issues for Thornhill to consider are managing the city's budget, reducing crime and rooting out areas with recurring problems. He said the reason he was able to represent the Second Ward for so long was he was responsive to constituents and paid close attention to public safety.

A self-described "political junkie," Janku will continue to monitor council proceedings once he steps down.

As a freshman council member with limited prior experience in municipal government, Thornhill said he recognizes the importance of connecting with the representatives of Columbia's other five wards.

Third Ward Councilman Karl Skala said accessibility is key to understanding citizens' concerns and connecting with constituents. He said Thornhill should prepare for complex issues and reports and be available to residents.

"I think he needs to make himself as open as possible to the people who elected him," Skala said. "Office hours on Saturday have worked well for me. Outside of that, Jason should get a new set of reading glasses."

Mayor Darwin Hindman echoed Skala's sentiments, and said he welcomed the new views Thornhill will bring to the council.

"Every new council member discovers that there is a lot more than you can appreciate until you're there," he said. "Budget and structural limitations make it so council members can't complete everything they promised to do during the campaign, but it's always nice to have fresh ideas."

Thornhill defeated schoolteacher and Missouri Army National Guard member Allan Sharrock by 29 votes and said he will work to win the confidence and trust of citizens who voted for his opponent.

"I hope Allan's supporters agree with me that we each had similar platforms, and we both focused on jobs and crime," Thornhill said. "I want the same things for Columbia that Allan and those who voted for him do."

Skala stressed the importance of listening to everyone's opinions.

"My biggest surprise was the dual responsibility council members have to the citizens who elected them, as well as the rest of the city and special interest groups," he said.

Thornhill said he is considering starting a blog on the city's Web site to receive feedback at anytime from constituents, and said he will make himself available via telephone and e-mail. From his professional experience as a realtor, Thornhill said he understands the importance of communication.

"Because of my job, I meet a lot of people electronically, which is important to establish before talking face-to-face," he said.

Hindman said the council would take a two-day retreat in the near future, which will allow Thornhill and the other council members to get to know each other, in addition to conducting regular business.

"I think it is always good to get to know your fellow council people," he said. "You realize they are dedicated public servants like yourself, and you try to work together."