Columbia organizations to host a town hall for city council candidates

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Multiple Columbia organizations have partnered together to host a community town hall for Columbia City Council candidates running in the April election for Ward 1 and Ward 5.

The event is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church in Columbia.

Columbia City Council Candidates Don Waterman and Gregg Bush are running against each other for the fifth ward seat and are anticipated to be in attendance, along with Nick Knoth who is now the only candidate running for the ward one seat.

The event comes after current councilwoman Pat Fowler announced on Wednesday that she was ending her campaign for re-election. Fowler says, she was dropping out to focus more on family concerns.

The candidates in attendance are set to answer questions from the community, as well as speak on topics including housing, public infrastructure, protecting public services, homelessness, and accountability to Columbia residents. 

Multiple people are also scheduled to speak at Saturday's event including sponsoring organizations Laborers Local 955, Local Motion, Missouri Faith Voices, and Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.

Organizers also say candidates will also be asked to sign a Neighborhood Pledge. The pledge states the candidate is committed to the Columbia Community as well as working on advancing priorities and updating the community on any progress that is made.

Organizers say, the Neighborhood Pledge was developed in 2019 with a coalition of community groups and Columbia residents to bring community issues and values directly to our elected officials and candidates running to serve our communities.

If you haven't already, you still have until March 8 to register to vote.