Zone 1 candidates outline plans for north side

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The three candidates for the Zone 1 council seat would each bring specific experience and views to City Council.|ret||ret||tab|

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Whayne stresses experience|ret||ret||tab|

Zone 1 candidate Denny Whayne is a sales and leasing consultant with Thompson Pontiac-GMC-Cadillac, but he has experience with public policy. |ret||ret||tab|

Whayne served as a field auditor for the city from 1975 to 1985 as well as serving on the City Utilities Citizens' Advisory Board and the city's Community Development Block Grant Committee. |ret||ret||tab|

A graduate of Central High School, Whayne calls himself a "homegrown public servant."|ret||ret||tab|

"I am familiar with the workings of the city structure," he said. "I was approached to run for this seat, and I want to think that if I was asked to run for it, that people think I have something to bring to the table."|ret||ret||tab|

Whayne said the issues that prompted him to run for the Zone 1 seat include neighborhood watch programs, infrastructure issues and growth.|ret||ret||tab|

"The growth of the north side of Springfield is really starting to materialize, but we need to keep that fire burning," Whayne said. |ret||ret||tab|

He agreed with Vanaman that sewer issues are an important factor for the north side. |ret||ret||tab|

"I know there has been some controversy on the east side about sewers, but I think everyone possible should be on city sewers," Whayne said. |ret||ret||tab|

He added, "I've watched Springfield grow over the years, and I hope I've got some insights that will be helpful. I'm going to be a good listener."|ret||ret||tab|

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Brown urges involvement|ret||ret||tab|

Zone 1 candidate David N. Brown has lived in northwest Springfield all his life, and he said he's running for council to urge north-side citizens to be more involved in the further development of their part of Springfield. |ret||ret||tab|

Brown is the owner of Medi-Transit, and he also works as an investigator for the Greene County Medical Examiner. |ret||ret||tab|

"I'm on the Traffic Advisory Board and I've talked to (Bob) Vanaman about this on the northwest side of town, it's hard to get people involved," Brown said. |ret||ret||tab|

"There has been a lot of growth in northwest Springfield, and there's much more potential (for) growth. The airport's going to double in size, and I think it's really important for northwest Springfield to get involved," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

Brown said more northwest Springfield residents need to serve on public boards and committees to ensure that their voices are heard regarding the planning and development of the northwest side, which Brown said is "exploding" with growth. |ret||ret||tab|

"We have the development of Lowe's, and with corporations like that locating on the north side, there's going to be much more attention focused over there," Brown said. |ret||ret||tab|

Brown agreed with Vanaman that sewer issues are important to further the development of northwest Springfield, adding that sidewalk conditions, traffic and street widening are also issues for citizens in Zone 1.|ret||ret||tab|

Marler targets crime rate|ret||ret||tab|

Zone 1 candidate Danny Marler, another Springfield native, is no stranger to the council race. |ret||ret||tab|

Marler has run for City Council twice before, and he said that he lost a previous council election by only 33 votes.|ret||ret||tab|

"People here in Zone 1 asked me to run because they like my ideas, and the only thing I'm going to care about if I get elected is Zone 1," Marler said, adding that Zone 1 is in desperate need of more police patrols and improvements to its streets, sidewalks and drainage ditches. |ret||ret||tab|

Marler added that one reason he's running for City Council again is because the wants to do something about Springfield's high crime rate. |ret||ret||tab|

Crime is an issue that is close to home for Marler, whose daughter, Tina Waller, was found murdered in Kansas City in April 1998. |ret||ret||tab|

Her husband, Michael T. Waller has been charged with the crime and is awaiting trial.|ret||ret||tab|

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