The Gadfly is a series of letters offering commentary on local issues and published in the Warrensburg Gazette.

Dear Editor

Another local election is almost upon us. Warrensburg voters must choose among 4 candidates for a single slot on the City Council. Since the February primary was eliminated, it is likely that a candidate will win with not much more than 30% of the vote. Based on the radio debate, a printed interview and a few commercials, one can gain a general impression of the candidates. The general impression I’ve gleaned is that one candidate’s main issue seems to be improving downtown, a second candidate favors recycling, a third wants to stress emergency services and the fourth wants his sewer fixed.

I’ve heard more commercials for a Hospital Board candidate than for any other position. There was a hotly-contested race for this board last year, as well. It makes one wonder what there is about the Hospital Board that makes it enticing.

There are some uncontested races, as well. Both incumbents for the Warrensburg R-VI School Board are unopposed. One of them has already served 12 years on the Board; I wonder what the tax rates were when this person was first elected. While I generally oppose term limits as restrictive, it would be nice to see at least one school board member who would represent for the taxpayers instead of the school administration.

The other uncontested races are for the Ambulance Board. Apparently, those who brought us the board and the tax have washed their hands of the project, since they could not bring forth a candidate to challenge the “exceptional” management shown so far.

The most important election is the one for Warrensburg’s city council, as Warrensburg’s economic health affects the whole county. That makes it even important to all of us that voters become informed about the candidates and select the one whom they think will do the best job for Warrensburg – and for all of us.