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, and again we must go to the polls with only sketchy knowledge of the qualifications and positions held by candidates for city and school board. I’m sure that a few articles will appear between the time I write this and election day. Any articles will be too late to help those who have voted absentee during the month the ballot has been available and probably too superficial to allow intelligent distinction among the candidates.

According to the Missouri Department of Education website, the Warrensburg R-VI School Board spent over $22,000,000, a significant portion of it from local property taxes, in the1999-2000 school year. Yet, the people who aspire to gain or keep seats on this board remain mostly anonymous to the voters. With investment portfolios in steep decline, I’ll bet many retirees would like to know how the candidates stand on controlling costs as well as what they want to do ‘for the children.’ Does a candidate support or oppose making it easier to pass school bond issues? Does a candidate understand what test scores on the Missouri Assessment Program mean? Where can we see the candidates to judge for ourselves?

We know little more about our City Council candidates. With all the interest in underage drinking on West Pine Street, it would be nice to know just where each candidate stands on possible solutions. Their thoughts on where they’ll find money to run the new bus service would be interesting, as would some background in cost containment.

I looked through local websites for information on the election. At least the City lists the names council candidates on their website. The school district website doesn’t mention the election. The Chamber of Commerce website still lists Mel Carnahan as Governor.

Maybe voters will get responsive & detailed information sometime, but I doubt it.