It isn't exactly surprising that all four candidates running for a seat on the City Council said they would listen to the concerns of neighborhood associations.
After all, ignoring the opinions of association members would be ignoring the constituents who elected them, something no public official in their right mind would ever admit to doing. Listening to neighborhood associations is particularly important when council members are considering plans for new developments, Sixth Ward incumbent Barbara Hoppe told the Missourian.
Her opponent, Rod Robison, pointed out that while he's in support of working with neighborhood associations, they don't necessarily represent everyone in the neighborhood.
There are a plethora of reasons why citizens don't participate in neighborhood associations: Meetings may conflict with other activities, the time commitment may be too great, etc. Robison said he supports encouraging citizens to get more involved.
Second Ward candidate Jason Thornhill told the Missourian that he too thinks involvement is key, but it's up to the individual to get involved. "If you don't know what's happening, and you don't participate, you shouldn't complain about what's going on," Thornhill said.
Do you think the opinions of neighborhood associations are representative of the communities they represent and should weigh heavily into decisions made by the City Council?