Three local lawyers are jumping at the opportunity to serve as municipal judge and city prosecutor next year.
City election filings for the April 2 ballot began Tuesday morning, with several mayor, Jefferson City Council, city prosecutor and municipal judge candidates lining up to put their hats in the ring.
Names are listed in the order they filed.
MUNICIPAL JUDGE
Brian Stumpe
Stumpe has served as the city prosecutor since 2011 and also works at The Law Offices of Stumpe and Schrimpf.
Stumpe said the municipal judge position would allow him to continue serving the community.
"(I can) continue my servitude to my community and make sure that our laws are adhered to and justice is given out in a fair and impartial manner," he said. "As the Capital City, we should have not just a municipal court but we should have the best municipal court."
While serving as city prosecutor, Stumpe said, he handled thousands of cases and helped with different programs. Stumpe added this experience would help him if elected as municipal judge.
If elected, he said, he wants to continue the community partner programs, as well as develop the DWI Portal program - an interactive web-based counseling program for first-time DWI offenders. He also wants to pursue more ways to reduce the city's recidivism rate.
"The goal is that we continue to develop the court so that it's not just fair and just but so that it's the benchmark for the state of Missouri," he said. "We (should) look at ways to develop new plans, new programs, new strategies that not only further the interest of our community, but also bring to light how to reduce our recidivism rate."
There are no term limits for municipal judge.
Angela Silvey
Silvey, an attorney with Silvey & Associates, said her drive to pursue the municipal judge position is to ensure individuals' experiences with "the first arm of the court system" are fair and just.
"(Municipal Court) is kind of their first look into the criminal justice system," Silvey said. "I just feel like it's very important to have someone that's going to be fair but also going to make sure that the laws are being followed."
The position is political since those interested must run for election, Silvey said. She added she has political experience since her husband, Ryan Silvey, served as a former Missouri representative and senator and is now on the Missouri Public Service Commission.
If elected, Silvey said, she would review ways to make the payment docket more efficient. When individuals enter into plea agreements and receive large fines, they may be placed on payment plans. Individuals placed on payment plans are required to appear in court to make those payments, she added.
"They may be sitting down there for four hours and losing money because they're having to take off work to come down to the payment docket," she said. "So, I want to see if there's a better way to make sure people aren't having to take off work to then pay $20 but they really could have made $40 that day (at work)."
Current Municipal Court Judge Cotton Walker will take over his new position as Cole County associate circuit judge in January. Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin will appoint a temporary judge who will serve Jan. 1 to April 2.
CITY PROSECUTOR
Jefferson City attorney Todd Miller was the lone person to file for city prosecutor Tuesday.
Having worked at Law Office of Todd Miller, according to a news release, Miller has represented clients in cases regarding criminal law, municipal law, bankruptcy, civil litigation, personal injury, wills and trusts, and estate planning.
Between his experience at his law firm and knowledge gained from serving as a former municipal prosecuting attorney and city attorney, the news release states, Miller believes he is prepared for the position.
"In addition to understanding Jefferson City, I also understand and appreciate the motivations driving those charged with a crime," Miller states in the news release. "While I will be compassionate when necessary, I will remain committed to this community's conservative solutions and support local law enforcement officers who are on the front line of both public safety and community relations."
Miller's top goal is to help the Jefferson City municipal court succeed, according to the news release. It notes state-mandated municipal court reformed passed in 2017 have challenged municipal prosecutors, but Miller said he believes he can implement these mandates efficiently.
MAYOR
Having first been elected in April 2015, Carrie Tergin plans to run for a second mayoral term after filing Tuesday.
Three of Tergin's goals when she first entered office were the Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment, riverfront access and East Capitol Avenue redevelopment.
"All of those projects were things that happened before I came on as mayor, but it's been an honor to take what everybody has done up to this point and move it forward and we want to keep moving forward," she said. "We look forward to seeing the excitement and progress there - the revitalization, the redevelopment happen now during this term. We've done the work to get it to this point so during the next term, it would certainly be exciting to see that come to fruition."
If re-elected, Tergin said she is excited to continue the momentum for those projects and see the new Capital City High School, set to open in the summer.
Tergin said she also hopes to continue fostering relationships.
"It's exciting to be the mayor and be able to spearhead a lot of these initiatives and be the lead, but it's just as equally important to have a good team," she said. "The first term was very important in building those partnerships, and now as we move forward, we see things are getting easier because we're already working together and we want to continue that."
WARD 1
After Jefferson City residents first elected him in 2017, Ward 1 Councilman David Kemna filed for his second term Tuesday.
"I'd love to continue to serve the 1st Ward and continue to be a voice for those that live within the 1st Ward, and not just them, but being a voice for others," he said.
Along with the Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment and the East High Street sidewalks remodel, Kemna hopes to see parks improvements, the new Fire Station No. 2 and a Missouri River port come into fruition.
If re-elected, Kemna said his primary goals would be to have "that communication line open between myself and constituents, being easily approachable when they have questions." He added he wants to continue growing the eastern side of Jefferson City.
With about a year and a half of council duties under his belt, Kemna said he hopes to be a "stronger voice" now that the "training wheels are off."
"I think people have some higher expectations when you go into your second (term), and I'm anxious to do that and being a part of more committees," he said. "After a couple of years, you kind of have an idea of how things are run. So, you have a voice, but maybe you'll have a stronger voice in some of those conversations your second term."
No one else filed for Ward 1 council member Tuesday.
WARD 2
Ward 2 Councilwoman Laura Ward filed for her third full term on Tuesday.
After former councilman Shawn Schulte vacated his seat in 2014, Ward was appointed to the council. She won her first full-term election in 2015.
"I've enjoyed serving the last four years and I think we have a lot of exciting things in the works and I'd like to continue to work on those and see them through to their completion," Ward said.
Ward said she is glad the city is looking at ways to preserve Jefferson City's older neighborhoods. She said she was also excited for the Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment, revitalization of East Capitol Avenue and development of the bicentennial bridge to Adrian's Island.
While these would remain some of her goals, Ward said, she also hopes to continue addressing stormwater issues and working on replacing the Dunklin Street bridge. She added she is working with a city engineer and the Old Munichburg Association to add historic characteristics to the replacement bridge.
"We felt that this was a great opportunity because that area is the historic southside, known as Old Munichburg, and that was the west entrance into that historic area that we could perhaps design some historic elements into the bridge," she said.
No one else filed for Ward 2 council member Tuesday.
WARD 3
While no one filed for the Ward 3 council seat Tuesday, current councilman Ken Hussey plans to file for his fourth and final term today. Hussey told the News Tribune he was out of town Tuesday and was unable to file.
Having first been elected to City Council in 2013, Hussey said he has developed connectivity with council members and hopes to see the current city projects through to the end.
"I enjoy serving on the council. I think we've got a good council that is accomplishing some nice things for the community," he said. "The chance to kind of finish out the eight years would be a good thing to bring to a close ideas and work we've done over the last six years."
Hussey said he was proud of the city's work on East Capitol Avenue, the Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment, stormwater enhancements and budget improvements.
He added he plans to continue serving the community and remaining vigilant of the city's budget.
"I'll continue to serve the way that I have - try to look at issues with not only how they impact the 3rd Ward but how do they impact the community as a whole," he said. "(I'll) try to make sure that the city's dollars are well spent, that we spend money in places that it's needed and that we keep an eye toward long-term plans and infrastructure and needs in the city."
WARD 4
Councilman Carlos Graham plans to run for his fourth and final term as the 4th Ward city councilman after filing for re-election Tuesday.
Graham was first elected to City Council in 2013 and said he enjoys meeting with residents.
"I care about the things I do and about the individuals I serve, so my whole piece is to continue to build relationships and work with those things that we need to get fixed in Ward 4 as well as the City of Jefferson," he said.
Graham said he plans to run on three principles: balancing the budget, supporting public safety and addressing aging infrastructure.
He plans to continue addressing stormwater issues, adding the city has made headway over the last couple of years after it allocated more funds for stormwater projects and a stormwater crew.
He also said he wants to continue addressing street and trash concerns, along with promoting development in the 4th Ward.
"Ward 4 is always growing and I want to work with the developers so we can develop more in Ward 4," Graham said. "I continue to hear sometimes that we have some developers who do not want to develop in Jefferson City because of all of the hurdles and issues. I want to be able to hopefully put something in place to make those hurdles minute and continue to move Jefferson City forward."
No one else filed for Ward 4 council member Tuesday.
WARD 5
Councilman Mark Schreiber filed for his third term as the 5th Ward city councilman Tuesday.
"I've really enjoyed my time on the council, and I love the interaction with citizens, not only in the 5th Ward but in the entire city," Schreiber said. "Since I'm now over 70 years old, this is an opportunity for me to continue to serve the citizens of our city and to make our city a better place for the younger generations coming up who will take our place."
Schreiber was first elected to the City Council in 2015 and said he is proud of the Missouri State Penitentiary redevelopment, new Fire Station No. 2 construction and new fire apparatus purchase.
He said his goals, if re-elected, would focus on improving infrastructure, working toward the East High Street project and continuing to address East Capitol Avenue.
"If you don't improve the infrastructure in older areas of this community, then those areas will continue to deteriorate and we cannot let that happen in Jefferson City," Schreiber said.
He added he also wants to continue upgrading the fire stations, expanding neighborhood watches, improving the Jefferson City parks system, and providing resources to the police and fire departments to ensure a safe community.
No one else filed for Ward 5 council member Tuesday.
Filing for city office will close at 5 p.m. Jan. 15.
Before a candidate files for a city office, he or she must have three endorsements from residents of the area the candidates wants to represent. He or she must also present a Missouri Department of Revenue Form 5120 to the city. Candidates are required to sign the form before a notary and file it with the DOR.
Candidate endorsement forms, links to DOR Form 5120 and other pertinent information are found on the city clerk's "Elections" page at jeffersoncitymo.gov/government/city_elections.php.