BEAT BYTE -- 1/22/09
Local Realtor Thornhill Files for 2nd Ward Council Seat
COLUMBIA, 1/22/09 (Beat Byte) -- Jason Thornhill, a long-time local real estate agent specializing in residential property, has filed as a candidate to succeed retiring city councilman Chris Janku in Columbia's Second Ward.
A partner at Weichert-Realtors/First Tier and William Woods University business administration graduate, Thornhill told the Heart Beat that he wants to focus on three major priorities: crime reduction; job creation; and better communication, particularly between folks at City Hall and the Roger Wilson County Bldg.
"Being a Realtor, I am well-positioned to understand the state of crime, taxes, quality of life, transportation, etc. in all areas of the city," he added.
With wife Leslie -- a registered nurse at Boone Hospital Center -- Thornhill is the father of 3 1/2 year old twins, a boy and girl.
He earlier sat on the Parks Commission for Boone County and has been a member of the Columbia Cosmopolitan Show Me Club, a service organization. He is presently a Boone County Fair Board member. His mother and father were decades-long employees of the University of Missouri, Columbia.
In answer to the question, "Is Columbia/Boone County really better off than it was a decade ago?" Thornhill offered this take: "If you like parks and trails and are independently wealthy, yes. If you work for a living, own a small business, pay property taxes or enjoy sitting on your porch and not worrying about your car being broken into, probably not."
Thornhill will face local public school teacher Allan Sharrock in the April election.
RELATED:
Jason Thornhill Blog and Profile
http://activerain.com/bigblacklab
-- Mike Martin for the Columbia Heart Beat
I honestly cannot find much other (independent) information about sir Thornhill, so thanks for the LITTLE amount of information on this character. With such a dense rental market in Columbia, it seems (irrationaly) difficult to trust a real estate agent in such a position as city council member. Allan Sharrock doesn't even seem that much better, especially with their corresponding proposals to concentrate on reducing crime through costly negative enforcement, jails, lawyers, and judges, plus our time on jury duties (not that they should be banned or anything). The city could instead spend as much money (and should spend more) developing the city's own waste system, namely recycling and the lack of a sewer system downtown, as well as supporting more educational programs for youths and young adults, who could bare new job titles. Bettering the city and its outdated infrastructure would create more long (enough) term jobs and general opportunities for more Columbians. This may not be the quickest way to reduce crime, but we must support and pursue this initiative solidly and together. When resources are available, especially when they're desired (jobs/responsibility); humans find and consume them, and prosperity stems from increasing achievements (gaining income and respect) during the pursuit of happiness, and the general welfare rises; more people begin trusting one another; and a community has a chance at not only surviving, but also doing so in a tranquil and effective way. If you require a gun to assuage your anxiety, please keep it unloaded with the safety on, and attempt not ever aim it at a nonviolent person. Thanks for listening, and please follow through on pushing a more socially-conducive agenda.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Allan on record wanting more jails, enforcement, ect ect? I haven't read any such comments.
ReplyDeleteHe did mention youth programs in the maneater.
http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/1/23/candidates-file-city-council/
I have never said I wanted more jails. I would like to know what ideas and solutions the new police chief has for crime in Columbia. If more police are his/her recommendation then that is something that I could support, pending budget issues. I think with strong youth intervention programs and job growth we can help deter crimes in the future.
ReplyDeleteAllan Sharrock