Mitch Richards is one of four candidates running for Columbia City Council in the First Ward, which includes MU and downtown Columbia. The Maneater interviewed Richards about his political beliefs and his plans to better the community.

The Maneater: Why do you want to run for First Ward City Councilman and what makes you qualified?

Mitch Richards: Well, last year I was involved quite heavily in the campaign against the downtown surveillance cameras. That really got me involved. Also, there have been some troubling developments in the community in the last year or two, particularly with the installation of the red light cameras, license plate readers and iris scanners at the jail. I think it’s getting a little out of hand and someone needs to speak up.

M: How are you planning on fixing these issues?

Richards: Well I mean obviously a councilman is only one vote, but I can say how I would vote and react. I would say with very few exceptions, I would categorically vote against any type of surveillance technologies.

M: What political experience do you have?

Richards: Aside from the Political Action Committee and my involvement this last year, not much.

M: What do you think are the biggest issues facing the ward and Columbia?

Richards: Well, there are obviously the jobs and the economic issues. Particularly in the First Ward, there is a lot of unemployment. There are a very high number of Columbia school students who make use of free lunches because they can’t afford it. So there’s very obviously a poverty issue.

M: Since the First Ward contains the dorms and downtown, what do you think the relationship should be between MU and Columbia?

Richards: It should be a working relationship. The students are part of the community and if I were elected I would do anything to better forge that relationship.

M: Infrastructure is a huge problem in the First Ward, but the city’s budget is restricting. How will you overcome budget deficits to improve infrastructure?

Richards: I think it’s important to be very honest with people that the city has falling tax revenues, falling property revenues. I think it’s important to understand we are working in the context of very little money. What I can promise people is that I will be an excellent steward for what resources we do have.

M: Speaking of the budget, what do you think are the best ways to overcome economic pressures, right now?

Richards: I think the city has made pretty good strides so far in streamlining the process for creating a business or for developing land. I want to continue to support that and see what we can do to make it very easy to start a business or engage in economic activity.

M: Why should MU students pick you over the other candidate?

Richards: I’m 29 years old so I have a perspective that you might call the younger generation and with that in mind, I think there are a lot of people in the student community that have a very different view than folks who are maybe a different generation. I think my views are going to reflect some of theirs.