From the Roundtable: Election results favorable, not a mandate for radical change
Although many business people were pleased with the results of the April 6 municipal election, they should not get too puffed up and overconfident. Moving the public’s attitudinal pendulum need not beckon radical behavior within the private sector.
Lots of cash and the much-debated endorsements by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and two public safety unions had only a marginal effect on Dr. Robert McDavid’s landslide victory in the mayoral race.
Once McDavid threw his hat in the ring, the other contenders didn’t have a chance. McDavid’s public demeanor, sartorial appearance and clear articulation of the issues (while eschewing destructive comments toward popular programs such as city parks) put the well-known physician into the winner’s circle well before Election Day.
Gary Kespohl’s abundant financial support and Chamber endorsement undoubtedly helped the second-time challenger pull off a come-from-behind victory over incumbent Karl Skala in Ward 3. I thought Skala had it in the bag, but that assessment came before the campaign got messy. Although Skala’s deep interest in public policy and intensity were laudable during his three-year term, meddlesome tendencies articulated during the past few months, particularly moves to weaken the city manager’s position, undoubtedly figured in his narrow loss.
In Ward 4, an even greater surprise was newcomer Daryl Dudley’s late-developing victory. Four candidates sought the south of Broadway seat vacated by Jerry Wade, who gambled that he could stay on the City Council by winning the mayoral race but lost by a wide margin. With extensive financial and Chamber support backing Dudley, the business community was determined to defeat his strongest challenger, Tracy Greever-Rice, and there’s little doubt she lost because of this. On the other hand, many had already disqualified her because she had a third party obliterate comments left on a daily newspaper blog site. Candor and transparency are primary requirements for candidacy, and Greever-Rice earned defeat because of this blunder.
The business community has high expectations from Mayor McDavid, which is why the Chamber leadership backed him so heavily. It will be interesting to see how favors are followed, earned or perhaps spurned. One positive change would be faster-paced and streamlined City Council meetings. Then we need to start paying the mayor and other City Council members and not quibble over how much.
Like predecessor Darwin Hindman, an attorney, McDavid is an entrepreneur. Transitioning from medical residency to a successful obstetrical practice, Mayor McDavid might be the best prepared among us to appreciate Columbia’s citizenry and the issues at hand. It will be interesting to observe how the retired physician’s “bedside manner” plays out as he leads the city forward.
Outcomes in the recent election gave the business, development and entrepreneurial aspects of our community a narrow “save” from the potentially gloomy scenario that some feared. Now it’s time for those interests to act responsibly as they protect what they’ve gained and not let victories go to their heads.