EARLY BIRD CANDIDATE SURVEY: Sid Sullivan for Columbia Mayor, Pt. 2

SullivanColumbia mayoral candidate Sid Sullivan answers the Columbia Heart Beat's Early Bird Candidate Survey from local journalists.   Survey questions went out to early filers for mayor and city council.  Last time, Sullivan answered questions from Mary Daly and Tyree Byndom. 

 

Our team of questioning journalists includes:

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

 

George Kennedy asks:

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

Sullivan:  It is the development of our urban community in a manner that provides attractive places to live, work and play.  It anticipates the needs and costs of roads, public and commercial facilities and open space.

 

It provides incentives to develop the community the city wants with financial tools to fairly share the cost. It limits the scope of development to what we can afford while maintaining our current infrastructure.

 

It is not a Scott Blvd or Ballenger Lane twenty years in the making or flooded basements in older subdivisions created by new subdivisions upstream.  It is not new sewer lines while failing to maintain a crumbling infrastructure in our older city.

 

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

Sullivan:  Priorities include a) guiding the city through these tough economic times by focusing our resources and exploiting opportunities; b) examining the City Charter to improve the city governance and transparency, and c) developing a community where there is equal justice and safety for all and maybe even a teen center for our local youth.

 

3.    Should council members be paid?

Sullivan:  Of course!  Many willing and qualified community leaders cannot financially afford to serve on council. So, the City is deprived of their leadership.

 

This doesn’t affect me because I am retired, but do we really want to limit the mayor’s position to retirees?   The opportunity should be opened to all.  A minimum wage could attract more candidates but, by way of comparison: at 100,000 population, we are the only Missouri city our size that doesn’t pay our council.  

 

Boone County Commissioners, on the other hand, are paid over $80,000/annually. 

                                                                

 

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

Sullivan:   The Council sets policy and the City Manager executes that policy.  Any ambiguities in Council policy should be brought to council for clarification.   It wouldn’t hurt for City Council to review Departmental Policies to ensure compliance with the intent of Council Policy.

 

Jonathan Sessions asks:

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

Sullivan:  There are no constraints on my time as I am retired.   I already contribute by studying city plans, appearing before Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission to offer thoughtful suggestions.  I have published my views in the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Business Times. 

 

 

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

Sullivan:   I will be a member at large of the City Council.  The mayor chairs the council meeting, but the workload is the same for all.  I am involved in other volunteer organizations in the city, so as Mayor I would just be focusing my activities.