Columbia mayoral rivals all like growth
By Nick Pistor

Special to the Post-Dispatch 03/17/2005
All candidates
for mayor like growth

The three candidates to replace Lester Schneider as mayor of Columbia in the April 5 election say they are in favor of continued growth.

Growth has been steady during Schneider's 12 years as mayor. The 2000 census put the village's population at nearly 9,000, up from 5,524 in 1990.

Schneider, 69, who has undergone heart treatments, said concern about his health was his primary reason for not seeking re-election.

The three candidates, all of whom support real estate and population growth, are: Ward 3 Alderman Kevin Hutchinson, former mayor John Coats and dance studio owner Sergei Mali.

Hutchinson said he was hoping to continue Schneider's progress and move the city forward.

"I want to continue to maintain the city as a quiet, bedroom community where families can raise their kids," Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said he hoped to strengthen the city's downtown and expressed concern that strip malls and commercial centers were taking focus away from the downtown.

"I want to make the downtown area more of an historic place, where people can go to eat at restaurants and walk around," he said.

Coats, who was mayor of the city from 1989 to 1993, is running to keep the city's real estate engine going strong.

"I think growth is good," Coats said. "We've got a lot of new subdivisions, and I want that to continue."

Coats said his focus is on high-end real estate growth. Columbia consistently ranks as one of the Metro East's wealthiest ZIP codes with a median house value of $127,600.

"Who wants to have development like Cahokia had in the '50s and '60s?" Coats said.

Mali is running to cut real-estate taxes and bring a creative approach to government.

"I have a well-developed creative side that is seen through my dancing, choreography and sense of humor," Mali said. "This ability to think in a creative manner allows me to look at problems or situations and to come up with creative solutions to solve various issues."

The main issue that could use a creative solution is the problem of transportation.

All three candidates support the building of a $500 million highway, known as the Gateway Connector, that would link Columbia with Troy.

Some area residents, including a group known as Stop 158, are opposed to the highway project, saying that it will contribute to sprawl.

Kevin Hutchinson said the bypass was necessary because of the growth.

"The bypass is inevitable, but I think it needs to be coordinated so that it is located as far south and west of the city as possible," Hutchinson said.