HINDMAN GETS FIFTH TERM: Mayor’s win a historic one

Darwin Hindman won a record fifth term as Columbia’s mayor Tuesday, and voters elected two new council members who cited the need for better planning and targeted growth as major platform planks.

The council races were among the big-ticket items on a Columbia ballot that also featured a $60 million school bond issue, a school board race and, for some, a library tax issue. Across Boone County, 21,738 people, or 24 percent of registered voters, cast ballots on Tuesday, according to County Clerk Wendy Noren’s office.

Karl Skala and Jerry Wade, both of whom have experience on the Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission, were elected to represent the Third and Fourth Wards, respectively. Skala won a nail-biter over businessman and property owner Gary Kespohl, while Wade handily defeated opponent Mike Holden, his colleague on the planning commission.

The addition of Skala and Wade creates a council that’s sharply divided in terms of experience. The freshman representatives will join Barbara Hoppe of the Sixth Ward, who is completing her first year, and Laura Nauser of the Fifth Ward, who is finishing her second. But Hindman will be entering his 13th year as mayor, Chris Janku will begin his 17th year representing the Second Ward and Almeta Crayton will begin her ninth year representing the First Ward.

Hindman said Tuesday night that he isn’t concerned, and he cited the new members’ planning and zoning experience as key.

“The council is going to get along fine,” he said. “We have a good mixture of experience.”

More than 3,100 people voted for Clark, but Hindman cruised to victory with about three-quarters of the vote. At no time during the campaign did it seem his re-election was in doubt.

Retired teacher Charlie Devore, 63, who voted at Blue Ridge Elementary School, cast his ballot for the incumbent.

“The mayor is pretty much the leader of our city, and he’s done a pretty good job so far,” he said.