LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Barbara Hoppe has outstanding record

COLUMBIA — Barbara Hoppe deserves to be re-elected for City Council because she has the following  record of excellent service:

• She supports not only smart growth and responsible economic development such as IBM and the small business incubator but also quality of life issues such as Stephens Lake Park, the parks tax and the storm water ordinance.
• She has helped individuals and neighborhood associations in her ward with  problems such as trash, parking, noise, speeding and development issues. Whether it's helping the  neighborhood associations, the university students to get Black and Gold bus service or the neighbors in the trailer park forced to find a new place to live, Barbara does not play favorites.
• She has established coffee hours to meet with citizens to discuss issues to try to help them. They know they can come to her for help when they have a problem.
• Unlike her opponent,who is running a campaign of negative ads and is endorsed by business and development interests with  a narrow agenda, Barbara is  campaigning on her outstanding record. She has proven she cares about making Columbia a better place for all its citizens, not just a wealthy few.

Marion Mace is a Columbia resident.