EARLY BIRD CANDIDATE SURVEY: Rick Buford, 4th Ward Council

Introducing the Columbia Heart Beat's Early Bird Candidate Survey from local journalists.   Survey questions went out to early filers only, for mayor and city council.  We won't be repeating the survey with any subsequent filers. 

 

Our first respondent, CarFax employee and 4th Ward council candidate Rick Buford, answers questions from:

 

George Kennedy, professor of journalism and columnist, The Columbia Missourian

Tyree Byndom, Host, Kore Issues, KOPN radio

Mary Daly, Managing Editor, The MU Maneater

Jonathan Sessions, columnist/blogger, Columbia Business Times

 

Answers may be reprinted or broadcast in any of these publications/formats.

Rick Buford's Answers

 

Tyree Byndom asks:  What type of legacy would you like to leave behind?

I guess 30 foot high flaming letters extolling my greatness is probably a bit much to hope for, so I would settle for the majority of my constituents to feel that they were fairly represented, and for Columbia to be a safer and more prosperous place.

 

 

George Kennedy asks:   

 

1.  What does “smart growth” mean to you?

Smart growth is yet another buzzword referring to a broad range of pro-environment concepts that are often talked about but rarely achieved.   The overall goals are an excellent philosophy to follow, preserving open space and encouraging alternatives to private vehicle use, while doing the business of a city, which is to provide a safe and prosperous environment for people to live and work.

 

2.  What should be the top 3 priorities for the next council?

The top priority of the next council should be addressing the safety and security concerns of it's citizens. The perception of increased crime will detract significantly from any other positive action the city might take.  I believe Chief Burton has a workable plan, but I would assure that we establish valid, public metrics to verify that we are making progress in ALL areas of the city.

 

Secondly, I believe fiscal responsibility deserves a much heavier emphasis in council discussions. Financial decisions should be accompanied by, at the very least, a conscious discussion of what return we expect on our investment, even if it is zero, as well as public metrics to provide feedback on long running projects.

 

Promoting economic development is, and should always be, a guiding philosophy of a city council. Making Columbia an attractive place for new business development, by assuring we have the infrastructure and policy in place to support it, both enhances every one's day to day life as well as providing for future expansion.

 

3.  Should council members be paid?

Beyond expenses incurred actually doing city business, NO.  Once compensation becomes a primary motivator for seeking a spot on the council, then the discussion turns away from the council person's responsibility to represent the people of their ward and opens the door for greed to do what greed does best:  corrupt the entire process.

 

I believe that one of the primary requirements for serving one's constituents is character. If you lack the character to volunteer the time required to research the issues important to your community, then you are likely not someone that I want in the job.

 

4.  What do you see as the proper relationship between the council and the manager?

 

The city council, as the the body culpable to the citizenry, establishes direction and policy. The city manager, answerable to the council, is responsible for implementing that direction. Anything in the charter that leaves that relationship unclear needs to be addressed and clarified.

 

Mary Daly asks:  What changes that would affect students could we expect to see if you were elected?

 

I have no student specific agenda. While students represent a significant fraction of the city's population, students will generally benefit the same as a non-student from a safer community and a wider job market.

 

Jonathan Sessions asks: 

 

1.  In this voluntary position, what are your expectations of necessary time commitment?

 

I expect to spend 20-40 hours per week between research and interacting with my ward. I like Mr Wade's idea of making himself available for a simple, sit-down conversation prior to council meetings, and would like to continue that practice either in person, electronically, or a combination of the two.  Unfortunately, I don't think I'm as big a fan of coffee, so it may have to be over pizza and/or beer.

 

2.   How do you plan to keep up with a demanding city council?

 

The same way that I keep up with a demanding job, a family, two dogs and a cat...by putting one foot ahead of the other and getting the job done. I would imagine that, just like any other job, there will be good days and there will be bad days, but how does one appreciate the good without the bad?   With a 5 month old special needs child as well as a very precocious 4 yeard old at home, the decision to pursue a council seat came only after a lengthy discussion with my wife.