Darrell Foster, Pamela Forbes, Mitch Richards and Fred Schmidt are running for First Ward Councilman Paul Sturtz’s position, which will be open for the April 5 election, as Sturtz has decided not to run for re-election.
Foster is a former educator and sports coach with a graduate degree from Indiana University. He said he would describe himself as a community servant and leader, and he volunteers with the First Ward Ambassadors.
As the only African-American in the race, Foster said he would like to provide inclusion for the minority community in the First Ward, which he feels hasn’t had someone to represent their issues for a number of years.
“We haven’t had anyone to step forward and speak up and reference the best interests of our community,” Foster said. “Not the best interests of those with special interests, not the best interests of businesses, but (of) those citizens that actually live in the First Ward.”
Forbes, a toolmaker and appointed commissioner on the First Ward Community Development Commission or CDC, said she thinks the African-American community has been underrepresented as well.
She went on to say lower-income people, people with disabilities, the elderly and working families have all been overlooked.
Forbes said she would vote to benefit these groups. Her position with CDC also makes housing an important issue for her.
“It’s important that the infrastructure is taken care of,” Forbes said.
Richards is a volunteer with Keep Columbia Free and an activist for government and police accountability in the city.
“I very much want to make sure that the relationship that people have and the perception they have of their government is a positive one,” Richards said.
He said he is also concerned with the economic challenges our country is dealing with at this time.
“I think people in the city in general are facing economic problems, but particularly in the First Ward where you have quite a bit of unemployment and things like that,” Richards said.
Richards said he thinks the city has done a fairly good job of attracting jobs and allowing for economic development, but he thinks it is too hard for people to start a new business or develop a plot of land and would like to streamline the process.
“We want to make it easier for people to create jobs,” Richards said. “Right now that should be the primary focus of the council, is economic development given the times that we’re facing.”
Schmidt, who worked in New York City, Los Angeles and Tokyo in finance, has been active in public service and neighborhood associations and has a background in accounting.
Schmidt said he is very interested in housing and said he thinks there are a lot of great housing options in the First Ward which would be good to promote, especially properties which are close to downtown and the university. Schmidt would also like to increase public transportation and make it easier.
“I’m an accountant so I will probably be active on the budget and pension issues,” Schmidt said. “Out of all the people on council or running for council, I’m the one who has a background in accounting and finance.”
