MUNICIPAL BALLOT BREAKDOWN: A look at the Columbia candidates and issues on the April 6 ballot

Now that the deadlines have passed for candidates to file for positions on the Columbia City Council and Columbia School Board, here’s how the ballot will look on April 6. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Candidates for mayor

Paul Love

Robert McDavid

Sal Nuccio

Sean O’Day*

Sid Sullivan

Jerry Wade

*O'Day's petition has not yet been certified by the Columbia city clerk

Candidates for Third Ward council representative

Gary Kespohl

Karl Skala

Candidates for Fourth Ward council representative

Rick Buford

Daryl Dudley

Tracy Greever-Rice

Sarah Read

Candidates for School Board (three seats open)

Dan Holt

Jan Mees

Philip Peters

Jonathan Sessions

James Whitt

BALLOT ISSUES

There are also several issues on the ballot. They are:

• A $120 million bond issue for Columbia public schools that would pay for a new high school, a new elementary school, new gyms at Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools; several maintenance and renovation projects in other school buildings; and technology upgrades.
• Five amendments to the Columbia city charter, including (1) a proposal allowing the city to hire a Water and Light director who is not a registered engineer; (2) a proposal that would allow the city manager to appoint an assistant city manager as acting city manager; (3) a proposal to give the city clerk up to 30 days to certify submitted petitions and to remove the cap on the number of signatures allowed on a petition; (4) a proposal to allow internal fund transfers year-round; and (5) a proposal that would ease restrictions on the types of investments banks can make with city money.
• A proposal authorizing the placement of security cameras downtown. The measure is on the ballot as a result of an initiative petition.