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The State Paper Endorses Belinda Gergel
March 21, 2008
COLUMBIA CITY Council District 3 voters are being asked to choose between two campaigns spending an unprecedented amount to solicit their votes.But beyond their six-figure warchests, there's a big difference between the leading candidates - Belinda Gergel and Brian Boyer - in the April 1 race. Mrs. Gergel would be the better council member.
A historian and former Columbia College professor, Mrs. Gergel is thoughtful, straightforward and transparent. She would bring much-needed pragmatism, focus and purpose to the council. She would be a fitting replacement for Anne Sinclair, who has served the entire city ably for nearly 20 years. Mrs. Gergel would likewise serve all of Columbia, not just one district.
Mrs. Gergel stresses the need to improve police protection, better protect older neighborhoods and help the city craft a strategic plan that directs future growth. She calls for measurable goals to replace the floundering about that has characterized the city’s approach to issue after issue. She advocates more useful public transportation, and would have the city recommit to the comprehensive, regional approach on homelessness that it abandoned.
As a member of the committee that studied the city’s government structure, she favored a strong-mayor system (as does this board) only to find she was in the decided minority. In light of that, she says she would work to make the current structure operate as well as it can, which would be far better than it has. She would still support a referendum on strong mayor.
Both Mr. Boyer and a third candidate for the District 3 seat, Reed Swearingen, have positions similar to Mrs. Gergel’s on several issues, including getting the city’s fiscal house in order and reducing crime.
Mr. Boyer, a proponent of strong-mayor, has an admirable resume. He is a graduate of West Point and served as an Army Ranger in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star. In his brief career as a developer, he has helped increase the city’s stock of affordable housing. But he doesn’t have Mrs. Gergel’s breadth of vision or relevant experience.
Mr. Swearingen is likable and offers some good ideas, but he also lacks experience. Beyond that, he does not seem to possess the drive needed to bring about change in Columbia. He says that if elected he would serve as best as he could, but he doesn’t seem to care especially whether he gets that opportunity.
A late attempt to sully the Gergel campaign by raising questions about Mrs. Gergel’s husband, attorney Richard Gergel, having done legal work for the city is little more than a cheap shot. Months ago, the Gergels did all the right things to disclose that information and Mr. Gergel ceased work for the city. Members of his firm continue to work for the city as part of a separate legal entity, but Mr. Gergel gets no financial benefit. We’re comfortable with Mrs. Gergel’s pledge to recuse herself in instances where the council is considering hiring or compensating Mr. Gergel’s partners.
Columbia, in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and change, is beset with serious problems in its police and finance departments, and lacks overall direction. It needs the kind of strong, informed, visionary, accountable leadership that Belinda Gergel offers.
Editorial Posted in The State