V. Hugh Lewis II/Columnist
The Jefferson City Council is at a crossroads with Ward 2, again.
Last week, Alderman Ray Hengst resigned.
This makes the third time in three years that the ward is short a representative.
I get why he quit. I don’t like going to Council meetings and seeing all the drama, fighting, rude responses, etc. But it’s the job right now, unfortunately.
This time, however, two people stepped forward and put their names in the hat to fill the once again vacant seat.
Kimberly Parsons promptly sent Council a letter requesting appointment. She’s a volunteer with FOJA, and obviously that’s a priority for her, but she also said she wanted to see the Ward have full representation and would work to stop the current attitude issues on Council.
Former Alderman Will Thomas was approached by two Aldermen about possibly coming back to Council. Will didn’t seek re-election two years ago due to health reasons. He’s better now and willing to serve again.
Great for both of them.
Parsons even offered to withdraw her request in favor of Thomas.
My question is why did two Aldermen choose NOW to work to try and find a replacement for the vacant seat?
I was told it was said that Ward 2 is the minority Ward and should have a minority on Council representing them.
OK. I have no problem with that. It’s what should be happening.
BUT, I do have a problem that Aldermen didn’t bother to seek out ANYONE, let alone a member of a minority group, during the other vacancies.
As Parsons put it, maybe they don’t want her on Council bad enough, so they went and sought out someone else.
Council has a balance some are trying to maintain. Half of the Council appears to be blindly in support of anything Mayor Finstrom proposes, supports or doesn’t like. The other half have expressed opposition to most of the things she’s proposed. With a full council, that means it could be a 3-3 tie, and the Mayor gets to vote to break the tie. With a vacancy, that tie opportunity is in limbo.
I’m not saying Hengst always voted with her, or always voted against her. I’m just saying there’s more work to do to support, or oppose, her priorities – thus the desire to get back to a potentially split Council.
While Thomas was in office, he focused on the needs of Ward 2 – not necessarily on what other Wards wanted for themselves. He also tried to look at what the City as a whole needed.
He focused on street sign replacements, drainage issues, water and sewer issues, the park, and general cleanup of his Ward.
That’s exactly what an Alderman should be doing.
But he also took into consideration needs of the City as a whole. Which is what every Alderman should be doing.
The feral cats issue is largely a Ward 1 issue. There are also stray and wild animals in the other wards, but those aren’t as talked about as those in downtown.
But, it’s time to move on. FOJA is funded for another year. The City has a Rabies Control Officer. The solutions aren’t perfect but they’re what we have.
Now, let’s see what needs to be done with the rest of the City’s issues and start addressing them.
Hopefully, whomever they appoint will push for that agenda.
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