Two candidates are vying for the two-year Sedalia City Council First Ward seat in the April 7 municipal election.
Adam Porter is running against incumbent Jack Robinson.
Each candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire. Answers were limited to 150 words and are listed in alphabetical order by last name. The candidates' responses have only been edited for grammar, clarity and punctuation.
Why are you running for office?
Porter: I’m running for city council because I care deeply about Sedalia and the people who live here. I want to bring strong leadership, support public safety, and make sure our city government listens to and represents the citizens.
Robinson: I am running for City Council because I believe that it is the duty of those with the time and the desire to give back to the community through service. It is a management position that calls on a background of good judgement and practical skills in a wide area.
What are your qualifications?
Porter: My qualifications are simple: I’m a resident who cares deeply about Sedalia and the people who live here. I listen to the concerns of working families, believe in responsible budgeting, and support making sure our police, firefighters, and city services have the resources they need to serve the community. Most importantly, I’m willing to step up, work with others, and put the interests of our citizens first.
Robinson: I ran a successful business in Sedalia for over 40 years, engaging with a wide variety of community members. Though I will represent one ward or geographical area, essentially the Council melds together the needs and wishes of the whole community, so having a knowledge of the many facets of the community and understanding their needs is essential. In that respect, I have in the past served on the School Board, the Hospital Board, the Water Board, the Downtown Tax District and a local bank.
What would be your top priorities in office?
Porter: My top priorities would be strengthening public safety, making sure our police and firefighters have the tools and support they need, maintaining and improving infrastructure, and ensuring the budget for Sedalia is managed responsibly while staying connected and accountable to the people we serve.
Robinson: My top priorities are to maintain fiscal responsibility while attending to the physical ones - streets, water, sewage disposal, public safety and all the other things that make Sedalia so special.
What goals do you have for office if you are elected?
Porter: My goals, if elected, are to strengthen public safety, support our police and firefighters, improve infrastructure, and make sure the budget in Sedalia is handled responsibly while keeping city government transparent and responsive to the people.
Robinson: My goals are to get these things done while not losing sight of the economic development forces which let our community grow.
Why should people vote for you?
Porter: People should vote for me because I care deeply about Sedalia and its people, I will listen to the citizens I represent, support strong public safety, and work to make responsible decisions that keep our community safe, strong, and moving forward. The future of Sedalia is important to me, and we should all be working together to make a safe and secure place for our children, children’s children, our friends, our families, and incoming families to grow up in before safety and security are out of reach.
Robinson: Vote for me if you want intelligent, unbiased decision-making and transparent outcomes, based on factual information - what we used to call "truth" - not influenced by favoritism or social media ravings.
Compiled by Chris Howell.
