Voters Guide: COLUMBIA CITY COUNCIL, FIRST WARD

ALMETA CRAYTON 409 Oak St.

Almeta Crayton, 45, moved back to Columbia in 1992 after spending two years in St. Louis and has held the council seat for six years.

Crayton is a single mother who said she wants to continue giving a voice to low-income families. In her next term, she plans to address the dropout rate in Columbia schools, unemployment and the allocation of city money to impoverished areas. She also hopes to see more opportunities for home ownership and entrepreneurship in her central-city ward. Keeping up with city growth is also important to her.

Crayton, who earned her high school diploma in her hometown of St. Louis, balances her day between taking care of her 15-year-old son, working in the Gentry Middle School cafeteria and providing aid to Columbia’s most impoverished areas. She runs an outreach center, called the Successful Neighborhood Resource Center, at 212 Lincoln Drive.Crayton said her job representing the First Ward is not limited to attending council meetings. She said she also listens to residents who call and write to her with concerns.

Crayton said she might run for a fourth term on the council in 2008, depending on her health.