Economic development, crime top concerns for Jefferson City mayor candidates

JEFFERSON CITY — Economic development ranks high on the agendas for the capital's two mayor candidates but their strategies differ.

Carrie Tergin is running for a second four-year term as mayor of Jefferson City. Local business owner Tiwan Lewis is challenging her.

Lewis said the key to fixing many of the city's problems, from economic woes to crime, is to re-engage young people. She said the city should aggressively promote internship opportunities and other programs both in government and with local businesses. Lewis said young people need constructive activities both to stay out of trouble and to learn valuable job skills and life skills.

Tergin said her efforts to fix up Jefferson City's historic neighborhoods, bring events to the old state prison and build a new riverfront park have increased tourism and created employment opportunities. She said the city should continue to capitalize on its historic sites. Tergin said the police department already does a good job collaborating with other area agencies. She said city officials should continue to prioritize collaboration and public safety funding.

Lewis and Tergin disagree on the city's policy toward abandoned properties on Capital Avenue owned by Barbara Buescher. The city has seized some of those properties through eminent domain. Lewis said rather than seizing the properties, the city should work with Buescher and local non-profits and developers to find good uses for the old homes. Tergin said taxpayers already are footing the bill for basic outside maintenance on the homes and any teardowns are happening at public expense. She said the properties represent a serious liability to the city.

The two candidates also disagree on a ballot question that would change the city's term limits. Currently, nobody may serve more than two 4-year terms as mayor or four 2-year terms as a city council member in their lifetime. Proposition B would change the law so that someone could run again after two years out of office in the case of the council and four years in the case of the mayor. Lewis said she supports Proposition B. She said she sees no reason to automatically push someone out of office after a set period of time.

"If you're the person for the job and the community is accepting you and things are happening, why not allow that person to continue to run for office?" she said.

Tergin said she thinks eight years is enough for any public official to get things done.

"I think having turnover at the local level is a good thing," she said.

In addition to the mayor's seat, Jefferson City residents will decide contested races for municipal judge and city prosecutor. Brian Stumpe, Angela Silvey and Tim Anderson are running for municipal judge while Gaylin Carver and Scott Evans are running for prosecutor.

Voters in the capital also face a total of three municipal ballot issues, including the abovementioned Proposition B. Proposition C would allow the city council to remove the city prosecutor by a four-fifths vote if necessary. Proposition D would add a provision to the city charter dealing with conflicts of interest for city officials or employees who serve on another governing body, such as a voluntary board or a nonprofit corporation.