2023 Voter Guide: Candidates running for city council elections in Monroe County
Welcome to the Belleville News-Democrat’s Voter Guide for the mayoral and city council races in the April 4 election in Monroe County.
The News-Democrat has contacted the candidates running in contested seats for mayor and city council and asked them to complete a candidate questionnaire.
While this article has information about candidates in municipal races in Monroe County, you can go to this page at bnd.com to get links to read about candidates running for local and school board positions across the metro-east.
Here are the responses from the Monroe County candidates who have replied: (The candidates are listed alphabetically.)
Columbia City Council Ward 1
NAME: PAULA HUTCHINSON
Age: 55
Campaign website or social media page: Paula Henderson Hutchinson on Facebook
Office seeking: Ward 1 alderman
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for public office before? No
Occupation: Branch sales director
Education: Some college
Highlight your civic involvement: Co-founder and past president of Helping Strays of Monroe County; Sister Cities of Columbia; and past Columbia PTA member/volunteer
Who are your top three campaign contributors? N/A
Why are you running? To bring a fresh perspective to the city council.
What is the top issue in your race and how would you address it? The home rule referendum. Education is key. On my campaign flier, I provide reference links and additional information to educate the citizens of Columbia.
Why should people vote for you? I love this community and will bring a fresh perspective to the city council. I am a lifelong resident of Monroe County. My family has made our home in Columbia. I have watched my three children grow in the community and through the Columbia school system become successful adults. As a founder, past president and board member of Helping Strays, we have listened to and met the needs of the community. With no government dollars, we built an organization that has saved thousands of animals and developed community education and animal-welfare programs, saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars. I am the branch sales director for a national company, overseeing and being a trusted liaison and adviser for hundreds of companies. Communication, education and listening has been the key to my success. My fresh perspective is listening to the community, communicating with the community and bringing my knowledge and experiences to the Columbia City Council, to be your voice.
The BND has not received a response from the following Columbia City Council Ward 1 candidate: Jack “Jay” Riddle.
Columbia City Council Ward 2
NAME: LAUREN NOBBE
Age: 36
Campaign website or social media page: www.facebook.com/laurencnobbe
Office seeking: Ward 2 alderman
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for public office before? No
Occupation: Project coordinator at Mid America Contracting
Education: Gibault Catholic High School, graduated 2004; Southeast Missouri State University, earned bachelor’s degree in historic preservation with minor in art history, 2008
Highlight your civic involvement: Secretary, City of Columbia Plan Commission; founder, Main Street Business Association
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Fully self-funded; not accepting contributions
Why are you running? To help our community and our small business owners. I was born and raised in Columbia, and it has always been my home. I love this town and believe it captures the best of both worlds – small-town living with big-city amenities. There is so much Columbia has to offer, and I know I can help us not only survive but thrive. I want the chance to help Columbia be all that I know it is and can be.
What is the top issue in your race and how would you address it? The top issue I plan to address is helping small businesses in our community. As mentioned before, Columbia has so much to offer, but our businesses do not get the full support they need/deserve. I want to be, at the very least, a sounding board for them. I may not always be able to help, but I want them to know that I am here to listen and be their voice. If I can help make the owners feel that they are being heard and helped, that is a very big step in the right direction of helping them succeed. Being a former business owner in Columbia, I know the obstacles they face. They should be getting all the support and help they can get from the city and the community.
Why should people vote for you? Mainly, because I care. This town means so much to me. Not only our roots, but our future. We are going to have to work really hard to keep all that we have here, and I am more than willing to do that. In my opinion, the key to our success is honoring our past but also planning for our future. It’s a balancing act, and at the end of the day, I only have this community’s best interests at heart.
The BND has not received a response from the following Columbia City Council Ward 2 candidate: Kevin Martens.
Waterloo Mayor
NAME: STAN DARTER
Age as of April 4, 2023: 73
Campaign website or social media page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089782187691
Office seeking: Mayor
Are you an incumbent? No
Previous offices sought: Waterloo Alderman Ward 3
Occupation: Retired
Education: BS Computer Science with 30+ Years Programming/Design/Management Experience
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement:
Waterloo War 3 Alderman, 8 Years
HSS Board, 9 years - Past Board President
VFW Life Member
Waterloo American Legion Vice Commander
Clifftop Nature Preserve Life Member
Waterloo Optimists 10+ Years
Waterloo Planning Commission
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Stan Darter/Kyle Buettner/Chuck Pittman
Why are you running? I will provide accelerated infrastructure updates combined with recreational opportunities to insure a quality of life update for Waterloo.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? After 16 years with the same mayor, it’s time for change combined with a fresh outlook for the future of Waterloo.
Why should people vote for you? I have proven leadership skills combined with the ability to listen. Waterloo needs a broad spectrum of talent and ideas to take us into the future.
The BND has not received a response from the following Waterloo Mayor candidate Thomas Smith.
Waterloo City Council Ward 1
NAME: JOEL VOGT
Age: 34
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/JoelVogt4Alderman/
Office seeking: Waterloo City Council (Ward 1)
Are you an incumbent: No
Have you ever run for public office before: No
Occupation: I’ve been in the mechanical engineering field specializing in plumbing and fire protection since 2012 and have been a licensed professional engineer since 2017 at a company in Belleville.
Education: I attended college at Missouri S&T in Rolla and have a civil engineering B.S. and architectural engineering B.S.
Highlight your civic involvement: I have many friends and family in the great local service organizations, and I expect the good working relationship that the city has with these organizations would only be strengthened if I were elected to council.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? I’m entirely self-funded.
Why are you running? One of the main reasons for my candidacy is to ensure that the future of Waterloo is bright for my daughters. I want to keep Waterloo prosperous, safe and a great place to raise a family.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? In a time with inflationary issues and broad economic uncertainty, I want to keep the city focused on what benefits the taxpayers most and exercise budgetary restraint where necessary. Any programs or issues that are outside of the core programs already in existence should be looked at with an open mind, but with the end goal of doing what is right for the taxpayers.
Why should people vote for you? I will provide unique experience and perspective to the city council when guiding decisions on how city utilities are operated and maintained into the future in the best interests of taxpayers. I want the city to be wise with the taxpayers’ money. I do not have any personal end-goals for city-funded projects. Additionally, I want the city to be a willing partner with the business community, working with business owners to uphold the high standards that we expect in Waterloo equally, but not be an undue burden to business development.
The BND has not received a response from the following Waterloo City Council Ward 1 candidate: Amy Grandcolas.
Waterloo City Council Ward 2
NAME: JAMES (JIM) HOPKINS
Age as of April 4, 2023: 67
Campaign website or social media page: None
Office seeking: Alderman Ward 2 Waterloo, ILL
Are you an incumbent? Yes
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) Yes.....ran for this position.
Occupation: Retired Ironworker Local 392
Education: High school (73) Columbia, ILL
Please list highlights of your civic involvement:
20 years serving as Ward 2 alderman
Fiscal responsibility in all 20 years.
Increasing the appeal, and tourist traffic to our downtown area, such as help for the city’s Pumpkinfest, car shows and street festivals. In addition, the 3-D Event Letters, “Love the Loo “ & by being chairman of the Beautification Committee that sponsored our mural contests, bought new planters for decorations, and the Christmas lights program. I also currently serve as a trustee to the Waterloo Public Library.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Me
Why are you running? To continue proven fiscal responsibility,... to “stick-up” for Ward 2 ! ! ! & to preserve the beauty and the charm of “our” Waterloo.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? Completion and operation of the proposed new water plant and water tower. Address it by making ways for proper bids, EPA approval and payment.
Why should people vote for you?
20 years experience, with a very high meeting attendance record, that will continue.
I have always prided myself to return calls, emails or being there in person.
I am the better candidate to represent Ward 2 in upcoming city decisions.
Thank You Jim Hopkins
The BND has not received a response from the following Waterloo City Council Ward 2 candidate: Andrew Biffar.
Waterloo City Council Ward 3
NAME: JOSHUA PERSCHBACHER
Age as of April 4, 2023: 40
Campaign website or social media page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085769745078
Office seeking: Ward 3 alderman
Are you an incumbent? No
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought) No
Occupation: Defense contractor
Education: B.S. From SIUC - M.S.Ed from NIU
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Founder of The Vetwork, 501c3 focusing on supporting veterans transition into civilian life. Director of fundraising for St. Louis Blues Warrior Hockey, 501c3 focused on aiding the physical, mental and emotional health of disabled veterans through the sport of ice hockey.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Self-funded
Why are you running? I had several people approach me about running when our incumbent alderman decided to run for mayor and after serving in the Navy, I feel continuing to serve the community at home is our duty. I think it’s important to give back to our community and with two young children I want to do my part in shaping a future for them while showing how to serve locally.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? I think it’s twofold. The 2018 Waterloo comprehensive plan outlined housing affordability and availability of local jobs as two big issues for our residents. To me this is a bit like the chicken or the egg. We need affordable housing that is attainable for young people beginning careers and starting families. Business often don’t find Waterloo a feasible location due to a lack of a qualified workforce. We don’t have the population base to support job growth in Monroe County which leaves us as a bedroom community. This isn’t sustainable in the long run.
Why should people vote for you? During my 40 years I’ve lived in over a dozen different cities, while traveling to a dozen different countries. I think that perspective, that diversity of thought and experience is needed on the council.
The BND has not received responses from the following Waterloo City Council Ward 3 candidates: Jason Goff, Jason Jones Sr., Steven Poettker and Jeffrey Vogt.
Waterloo City Council Ward 4
NAME: DENNIS BULLOCK
Age: 49
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/bullock2023/
Office seeking: Waterloo City Council Ward 4
Are you an incumbent: No
Have you ever run for public office before: No
Occupation: Vice President Program Management
Education: Accounting & finance degree
Highlight your civic involvement: Member of the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, Explore Waterloo and investor in Monroe County StartUp
Who are your top three campaign contributors? Self-funded
Why are you running? I feel that the City Council has an opportunity for better planning and expanded communication with residents and businesses. I feel that I can bring a wealth of experience to the table to properly represent the city.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? Waterloo City Pool, Streets & Safety, support of local small business
Why should people vote for you? Having three local business in Waterloo I have a vested interest in success and prosperity of Waterloo. This compounded by my professional experience I can bring real world impact to the city council along with the residents and business’ of Ward 4.
NAME: GARY MOST
Age: 57
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/GaryMost4Waterloo
Office seeking: Waterloo City Council Ward 4
Are you an incumbent: No
Have you ever run for public office before: Waterloo Community Unit School District Board of Education
Occupation: President, Marketicity, LLC
Education: SIUE - BS, mass communications
Highlight your civic involvement:
Waterloo Optimist Club - 27 years
St. Paul UCC - 28 years
Waterloo Community Unit School Dist. Board Member - 8 years
St. Paul Cemetery Board, President - 6 years
Monroe County Coalition for Drug Free Communities, executive board member - 10 Years
Monroe County StartUp, executive board Member - 6 years
Hometown Harmony - 7 years
Piranhas Swim Team - 13 years
Waterloo Good Neighbor Award May 2022
Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Who are your top three campaign contributors? N/A
Why are you running? I love and am proud of the Waterloo Community. My goal is to use my 30+ years experience in marketing, strategic & budgetary planning, project management and communications to help keep the great things about our community great and to work to improve those things that will make it even better for families, businesses, employees and all residents (taxpayers).
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? Key issues include a focus on developing and maintaining a sound infrastructure (new & existing roads, the new city water plant, our power plant, sewer, public safety - WPD, etc.) and detailed plans for the continued growth our community will inevitably experience in the years (and decades) that follow. We need to manage for growth without losing the charm, personality and character that has made Waterloo so attractive for longtime residents, new residents and visitors.
Why should people vote for you? I have a long and well established history of service to the community and local organizations. I believe that my professional experience in marketing, planning, strategic development and communications will benefit not only the residents of Ward 4 but Waterloo as a whole. I am not afraid to ask hard questions, push for what I feel is right or work hard to achieve the best possible outcomes with positions I am dedicated too.
The BND has not received a response from the following Waterloo City Council Ward 4 candidate: Justin Stephens.
