Mayoral candidates discuss challenges, goals

Springfield voters will elect a new mayor and three new City Council representatives April 3, 2001.

A general election will be held Feb. 6, 2001 for the Zone 1 and general seat A spots, which are each being sought by three candidates. Danny Marler, Denny Whayne and David Brown are seeking the Zone 1 seat, which is currently occupied by Councilman Bob Vanaman.

Vanaman, Mayor Lee Gannaway and Zone 4 Councilman Russell Rhodes are not seeking re-election. General Councilman A Tom Carlson is not seeking re-election for his council seat but is running for mayor against former state representative Chuck Wooten, who served on council during the '80s and serves on the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport Board.

Carlson served as Springfield's mayor from 1987 to 1993, as well as serving two previous terms on City Council from 1983 to 1987. Billy D. Tharp, John Murphy and Mary Collette are seeking Carlson's seat. James Moore and John D. Wylie are seeking Rhodes' seat.

General Councilman B and Mayor Pro Tem Gary Gibson is running unopposed for re-election to his seat.

The following are the mayoral candidates' responses to questions pertaining to the challenges that lie ahead for the new mayor, as well as their goals for the city. Responses from the candidates running for the zone and general council seats will appear in the Dec. 18 and Dec. 25 issues of the Business Journal.

Gannaway, who was out of town and unavailable for comment for this story, is an attorney and has served three two-year terms as Springfield's mayor. He was first elected mayor in 1995. Carlson, also an attorney, said he's seeking the office of mayor a second time to continue the progress council has made since Gannaway was first elected.

"With Mayor Gannaway not running again, I thought I could provide the best service to the community in the capacity of mayor because I've been involved with many of the issues we're dealing with now from the very beginning," Carlson said.

He said the agenda for Springfield's next mayor will include keeping on track the development of the Partnership Industrial Center, as well as the development of Jordan Valley Park, and also dealing with the city's traffic and crime problems.

"I think dealing with these things (is) of immediate concern, and I think you have to have somebody (as mayor) who has been there and lived it to help the city address the issues," Carlson said. "I don't think it would be easy for somebody who has not been as involved to number one, work with the other members of council, and secondly, to get the community's support, which is absolutely necessary."

Wooten, who retired from the General Assembly in 1998 after 10 years as a representative, was a Springfield city councilman for five years before resigning his post in 1988 to serve in the state assembly. Wooten's last year on council was spent as mayor pro tem under Carlson.

"There are a couple of reasons I decided to run for mayor this year. One, I think the people should have a choice. When I found out that Gary Gibson was not going to run for mayor, I decided at that time that I would consider running. ... The other reason is that I think the next two years is going to be a very important time for Springfield," Wooten said.

Wooten said working with the Springfield Police Department to lower Springfield's all-time high crime rate should be at the top of the next mayor's list of priorities.

"We could see this crime wave coming several months ago. The mayor and council has no control over the top administrative people in the police department, but can offer suggestions. I think one of the things we've got to look at is the (people who make up the) top echelon in the police department," Wooten said. "Then of course, there's the traffic situation."

He said his time in Jefferson City will give Springfield an advantage if he's elected mayor.

"I have a relationship with the state legislature I was up there 10 years. A lot that goes on in Springfield in the next two years will be based on what is decided in Jefferson City," Wooten said.

He cited the Wonders of Wildlife Museum, the Missouri State Veterans' Cemetery and the Southwest Missouri State University Meyer Library addition and improvements as projects he helped secure funding for.

"If I had not had a good relationship with the people up there and the ability to work with the budget committee, none of those projects would be here," Wooten said.