Few people represent
what used to be the political face of 4th Ward Columbia City Council member and
now Mayoral candidate Jerry Wade like Catherine Parke, Ph.D.
An English professor emeritus with a Stanford University
pedigree who taught at Mizzou for 30 years before retiring in 2002, Dr. Parke
won the William T. Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching. She is an expert on
18th-century literature, has an art studio at Orr Street, and a history of
volunteer service to Columbia that is nearly unmatched, a trait she probably
inherited from her father James, who founded the Veterans’ Administration
Volunteer Services program.
Time and talent have also been kind to departing Columbia
Board of Realtors director Carol Van Gorp, who for the past
seven years has helped transform a comparatively low-key professional
organization into a politically-engaged, broad-reaching powerhouse that not only
represents folks who sell houses, but encourages its members toward
positive community impacts.
On most local political issues, Dr. Parke and Mrs. Van
Gorp couldn't be farther apart. But on their
mutual criticism of Mr. Wade's Mayoral campaign -- and a mailer he recently
distributed -- they've found ironic common ground, albeit for different reasons
they've written about below.
Dr. Parke says Mr. Wade has become a hollow man, forced
into political hypocrisy because -- at critical moments -- he's failed to stand
behind what he claims are his guiding ideals.
Mrs. Van Gorp blasted Mr. Wade for attacking her
constituents in his mailer, in which he asks if voters want big
developer/Realtor special interests running the town -- or Jerry Wade. The
Columbia Tribune reports that Mr. Wade has apologized, but not before
ruffling the feathers of nearly every real estate professional in town.
Between June and August 2008, Mr. Wade did two things his
"core constituency" has never forgiven: He became the lone City Council swing
votes that approved CrossCreek -- now a barren, clearcut mud slick -- and the
Lemone/Maguire project, a $5.5 million road extension critics have contended
will have massive, long-lasting adverse environmental impacts.
Mayor Hindman, and fellow council members Chris Janku and
Laura Nauser also voted for the projects. But they hadn't promised their
constituents the same rose garden Mr. Wade promised his constitutents during his
2007 4th Ward race against Mike Holden and for many years prior.
Mr. Wade said bad laws forced his legislative flip flops.
"Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade, who was the only
council member to change his CrossCreek vote from March, said although he still
might not like the nature of the development, the city is
bound by its laws," the Columbia Tribune reported.
"This project is probably going to have more of a
long-term impact on policies in Columbia than any other project we’ve
seen," Wade said. "It will probably result in more changes to our
governmental process than any other, and that will clearly benefit our
community."
The rhetoric behind them forgotten, those changes never
occurred, leaving Mr. Wade dogged by a conundrum: How to re-engage his
disaffected "political" base during his Mayoral campaign.
In a February
interview, the Columbia Business Times picked up on Mr. Wade's dilemma,
implying he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.
"You’ve been the swing vote that ensured the passage of
several initiatives backed by the business community," the Business
Times reminded Mr. Wade. "Nevertheless, based on candidate petitions,
leaders of the Chamber of Commerce and other representatives of the local
'business establishment' are backing Bob McDavid. Why do you think they haven’t
openly backed you, and what are you doing to get votes from the business
community?"
"As a councilperson, I have voted on issues after carefully weighing the
facts, listening to the pros and cons, doing my best to understand the impact of
the vote on Columbia, and deciding what I believe would be best for Columbians
in both the long and short term," Mr. Wade answered. "As mayor, my approach to
issues will not change."
In other words, Mr. Wade believes his swing votes to
approve the Cross Creek and Lemone/Maguire Bridge projects were best for
Columbians in the long and short term. Voters will either agree or disagree
with his position, and can judge his potential effectiveness as Mayor
accordingly.
RELATED:
WADE HYPOCRITICAL: On development/special interest
issues by Catherine Parke,
Ph.D.
In a recent campaign
mailing, Jerry Wade claims to distinguish himself from another candidate by
offering a clear choice with regard to his record on (1) sound
planning/development; and (2) being free of influence from special
interests/high-stakes developers.
But Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes (2004)
and of City Council Meeting Minutes (2008), during Wade’s tenure on both bodies,
present different facts.
As a member of Planning and Zoning Commission, Wade voted (on 11/04/04) AGAINST the motion to deny rezoning of property at West Broadway and Fairview. This property subsequently became the West Broadway Walmart Supercenter.
As 4th Ward City Council representative, Wade voted (on 08/18/08) FOR the Crosscreek Development.
These votes show Jerry Wade not offering
the choice Columbia needs -- and that he claims to offer -- with regard to sound
planning and development and supporting the interests of all.
Particularly in difficult economic times, we must have a
Mayor and other elected officials who are substantially informed, experienced --
and grounded in the courage of their convictions -- to work
successfully on our behalf.
Mayor candidate Sid Sullivan offers a record of
well-informed, thoughtful, successful work, a base of knowledge
and experience in both public and private sectors, and thorough-going honesty.
Sullivan’s two successful careers in the public sector
(social services and corrections in Springfield, IL, and Cook County, IL) and
private sector (high-profile, competitive business career with Roche Diagnostic
Systems) demonstrate the capabilities he will bring to his work with and for our
city.
Sullivan offers voters the genuine choice
for Mayor.
RELATED:
West Broadway Rezoning for Walmart
Supercenter
Planning and Zoning Commission
11/04/04 Meeting, pp. 5-44.
Crosscreek Center Development
Plan
Columbia City Council Meeting Minutes (8/18/08, pp.
15-37, B228-08)http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Minutes/2008_minutes.php
WADE V.
REALTORS: Board prez Carol Van Gorp cries
foul
On receipt of the same mailer from the Wade for Mayor
campaign Dr. Parke received, Columbia Board of Realtors president Carol Van Gorp (left) responded.
Dear Jerry:
First of all, let me say how much we appreciate you taking
the time to speak to our members for Net week. The interview can be seen on
www.columbiarealtors.tv. We privately
discussed some of the negative turns that other campaigns have had, and I
assured you that our organization was very neutral in the mayoral campaign and
had not participated in any disparaging efforts.
However, I was very dismayed when I received a copy your
recent campaign literature, which said this:
Your Choice for Columbia’s Mayor Could Not be
More Clear
A candidate recruited by Fred Parry, Don Stamper
and the Central MO Development Corporation…or Jerry Wade
A city of urban sprawl, strip malls, fast food
chains, and run-off….or Jerry Wade
A city run by and for special-interest Realtors
and high-stakes developers…or Jerry Wade.
Come on, Jerry -- you’re killing me!
First of all, that is a very low-blow and insult to Jason
Thornhill who is the only REALTOR® (yes, it should all be in caps with a
registration symbol) I know who has any part in running the city.
And there is Doug Wheeler on Planning and Zoning. Did you
mean him?
Why would you insult them?
And who are "Special-interest realtors"? What is their
special-interest? Did you mean all of our members who volunteer their time at
various civic and philanthropic organizations so that our city can grow and
prosper? Or did you mean my members who work really hard to help families find
a beautiful, safe home and neighborhood?
Just who did you mean, Jerry?
Carol S. Van Gorp, RCE, CAE, CIPS, e-Pro
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Columbia Board of REALTORS
2309 I-70 Drive, N.W.
Columbia, MO 65202
2309 I-70 Drive, N.W.
Columbia, MO 65202
RELATED:
Anyone who insists that the word "realtor" be spelled in all caps with a registered trademark symbol is someone not to be taken seriously.
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