Third Ward candidates discuss campaign platforms
Skala and Kespohl faced each other before in the 2007 election.
Published Jan. 29, 2010
Although the Third Ward City Council race features the same names as the 2007 election, incumbent Karl Skala and Gary Kespohl are both running a different campaign.
"I'm going to get more people involved; I tried to do it myself too much last time," Kespohl said. "We're going to knock on every door in the Third Ward."
With the help of commercial real estate broker Scott Wendling, Kespohl is using social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to help promote his campaign.
"I've been excited with his openness and his willingness to learn," Wendling said. "(Technology) allows him to easily communicate with the entire community, rather than focus on a smaller section."
Owner of the Central Missouri Computer Center, Kespohl said he is familiar with computers but not with social networking. He also relied on Wendling to set up his Web site and blog.
"I'm teaching him how to utilize these Web tools and how to hear what people have to say through it," Wendling said.
For his campaign, Skala relies on the help of people, such as his wife and his long-time friend and supporter, Nancy Harter.
"He listens to his constituents and follows through with their needs," Harter said. "Missouri has a lot of non-transparency. We need people on City Council to stop that. Karl is one of those people."
Although Kespohl uses the Web to spread his word, Skala said he plans on running his campaign on a platform including public safety, prosperity and government response.
Skala also said he wanted to make the city government more transparent and accountable.
"We ought to be thinking about government from a bottom up approach rather than a top down approach," Skala said. "It's not just about being an elected representative and voting on their behalf. It's empowering folks to help you make the decisions."
One issue that affects students is the nuisance party ordinance. Although the legislation has been passed for some time, any changes to the law would have to be approved by council members.
"I have always been in favor of policing of properties," Kespohl said. "If I'm a landlord and I have a tenet playing a stereo too loud that is bothering a neighbor I want the police to deal with that."
As the candidates prepare for the election, one issue dividing them is a ballot initiative that would give the chief of police the authority to place cameras downtown.
"I am not for tax payer sponsored general cameras downtown," Skala said. "The data is not there to suggest that there is crime deterrence. What is effective is enhanced police presence."
Skala was among the council members who voted down the ordinance in December 2009. After this, a petition to bring the issue up for a public vote received the required number of signatures.
Skala said the cameras are not worth the cost, but if the voters wanted the cameras, they could vote for them in April.
"If that is their wishes, than that's what we will go along with," he said. "My role in this is to make sure they know what they want."
Kespohl is on the other side of the fence.
"I am absolutely in favor of that," Kespohl said. "We should not put a camera on every block, but we should make it known that cameras are downtown. That will help with crime prevention."
The election for the Third Ward seat and other city offices will be held April 6.
