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Several Springfield City Council Seats are up for grabs, and the election is Tuesday. In this second segment of our two-part series, KSMU’s Justin Lux takes a look at the remaining candidates.
Cindy Rushefsky is up for re-election for the Zone 2 City Council seat. Rushefsky has been serving in the position for the past four years, but she points to her time spent as the council liaison on the Police-Fire Pension Board as another reason why she thinks she should continue the job.
“I really would like to be able to stay through this critical time to make sure we get that pension fund finally on a solid footing so the city does not get into this type of situation again,” she says.
Rushefky says there is much work to do, but she sees the divide between north and south Springfield and, in her words, the “have’s and have-not’s” as the biggest area of concern.
“I think the best way to deal with that is to try to open up not only the process of government. I think we need to include as many people as possible in the process of government, but I think we also need to open up the way we think about problems,” says Rushefsky.
Rushefksy is opposed by Jan Fisk, who runs a transportation business with her husband, Howard. Fisk sees her experiences in community and customer service as her defining traits.
“Every time I pick up my phone I’m creating a job for my employee and I’m providing customer service for my client,” Fisk says.
Fisk says it may sound redundant, but her biggest concern is growing the city’s economy.
“We have to generate taxes, we have to create jobs, and that’s why I hope to, with my business background, to look at the issues and see if it’s positive attitude and if it’s going to work for Springfield, let’s do it,” she says.
Completing the ballot will be Stephen Pennington and Jerry Compton for the Zone 3 seat. Pennington, who has lived in Springfield since 1965, says the fact that he’s so familiar with the city makes him an attractive candidate.
“I think I have an experience in growing up and watching it change over the years since I was a child living here. I believe I have a perspective that has seen some of the good changes and bad changes,” Pennington says.
Pennington says as a city, Springfiled must challenge itself to produce local jobs that keeps money in the city and supports its own local economy.
“I believe that we have the ability to create those jobs, whether that be in farming and agriculture or other manufacturing jobs,” he says.
Pennington is up against Jerry Compton, who could not be reached for an interview.
The election is Tuesday, and polls open at 6 a.m.
For KSMU News, I’m Justin Lux.
