Six First Ward candidates for Columbia City Council fielded questions at a forum Thursday night addressing downtown development and infrastructure.
The candidates, ranging from two pastors, to a lawyer, to an MU student — Rev. Clyde Ruffin, John Clark, Rob Rasmussen, Nate Brown, Jake Loft and Rev. Rob Stewart — were present at the forum.
Residents’ and moderator Dan Cullimore’s questions centered on development and construction downtown, controversial fees and rates for utilities, and affordable housing.
Candidates agreed on general principles, like accountability, transparency and limited government, but diverged in discussions of what kind and how .
“We have a city government that is actively working against the people’s interest,” Loft said. “That’s the lesson Opus taught us. I’m running so I can put the people’s interests first.”
For future development downtown, Loft said he would address crowded traffic, parking and overloaded infrastructure before approving new development.
Candidates tied future development to a need for affordable housing and living wages throughout Columbia.
“Economic development ties into affordable housing because it helps home buyers be able to afford housing,” Ruffin said.
The developers are coming out ahead in the housing situation, Rasmussen said.
“When a developer stands to make a great deal of money from building those units, we have to make sure some of those units are affordable,” Rasmussen said.
Stewart raised cheers when he said that future development should pay living wages and try to maintain existing jobs.
Resident Pat Fowler asked candidates about Mike Matthes’ recent promise to reduce developers’ stormwater fees. Fowler said she lives along Flat Branch Creek and her basement floods every time it rains.
“You can imagine how disheartened I was that the city manager promised a reduction in stormwater fees to large institutions should the bond issue pass,” Fowler said.
Candidates said they held sympathy for Fowler.
“Our church is built on Flat Branch Creek, and this morning we were pumping out the basement,” Ruffin said. “I think any inequality in terms of the application of fees needs to be fair across the board.”
CoMo Council Watch will host another forum April 4 at the Activity and Recreation Center.
