Scott City Council candidate profiles

Jerald Hillman (Ward 1)

Age: 61

Spouse: Cherie

Children: Three adult children

Employment: Retired construction worker; owns Candles Unlimited.

Education: high school graduate

Memberships: Knights of Columbus Council 6420 (Faithful Navigator and fourth trustee) purchasing again for the fish and chip fries; finance committee member and usher at St. Joseph Catholic Church; retiree president of the Laborers' Local 1104.

Reason for running: Our chief of police asked me one evening if I'd consider running. Maybe I can bring in some new ideas.

Other experience: Being a business owner for six years. I also was a superintendent for a large construction company for many years and dealt with many people in 30-plus years of construction. I helped work on Bill Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and the Cape LaCroix flood control project.

Main challenges: Like every other town, we have growing pains. Keeping the money managed right. Businesses need more promotion.

Main assets: We're small enough that you can feel like you're safe but large enough that we have so much to offer people. We have just about everything in Scott City that you need.

Communication: I will go to the meetings and when they have a problem I will take it up with the mayor. We can discuss things and try to work out sensible solutions that benefit everyone.

Bill Schwartz (incumbent, Ward 1)

Age: 68

Spouse: Wanda

Children: Eight grown children in their blended family

Employment: Wanda

Education: High school graduate

Memberships: Elks Lodge 1810; Kelso Knights of Columbus; usher at St. Joseph Catholic Church

Reason for running: We got a good group of people and we work real good together. I really enjoy it. I'm doing my best to help the city.

Other experience: three years in office

Main challenges: Getting the new I-55 corridor; storm-water retention.

Main assets: The parks. The City Council works together real well, getting grants to improve several things in town. It's just a joy to go to these meetings, we know we're going to get things done.

Communication: The newspaper, public access cable channel. And people make an effort to find out what goes on in town.

Tim Rushing (Ward 2)

Age: 38

Spouse: Renee

Children: Ryan and Aaron

Employment: S&W Cabinets shipping/receiving manager

Education: high school, college course in the military

Memberships: N/A

Reason for running: Working for Ward II for changes and improvements needed for the ward and the city.

Other experience: Experience with management and leadership.

Main challenges: Drainage, interstate intersection, and growth for the city.

Main assets: Nice quiet town close to interstate with the ability for growth.

Communication: My phone is always open I will listen to peoples opinions and ideas for the city.

Jarrett Bollinger (Ward 2)

Information was unavailable.

Rob Henderson (incumbent, Ward 4)

Age: 44

Spouse: Dawn

Children: None

Employment: insurance agent

Education: associate's degree in biology from St. Charles Community College, 1992; extra college hour at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo.

Membership: River City Rodders, a car club.

Reason for running: I was very alarmed when I heard there were three ethanol plants moving into Nash Road, the highest concentration of ethanol in the United States. I didn't want to the largest producer of anything polluting in our area.

Other experience: I chose Scott City as my home and plan to retire there. I want to see what's best for the city in the present and in the long-term future.

Main challenges: The 13 inches of rain was a challenge. The Ramsey Creek bridge is an ongoing issue. Getting another I-55 entrance.

Main assets: We have the small town feel with not being so isolated to all the other services. I really do like where you walk into the hardware store and they know your name instead of going to a chain and you can't find anyone. It's a nice feeling to know the people who you do business with and know who they are.

Communication: One thing I do wish we did have was more public participation in our city council meetings. It's a small enough town, they know how to get hold of you if there's a problem.

Andrew Bard (Ward 4)

Age: 30

Spouse: Crystal

Children: Kaylea, 7

Employment: Owner, Computer 21, LLC

Education: Some college

Memberships: Scott City Chamber of Commerce, Cape Chamber

Reason for running: It's very simple; it's time for me to get involved. I won't pretend to know all the issues facing the city. I'll learn those when I get into office. But I will say that with my daughter in second grade, it's time for me to get in there to help the city any way I can. My focus right now is economic development and a general cleaning up of the appearance of Scott City to those living outside the city.

Other experience: My only experience comes from my grandmother's raising and the starting of my own business nearly nine years ago. I won't claim to have political experience and quite frankly I'm not too happy with the whole political process, but I know work has to be done and I'm willing to do it. That's the best I think anyone can offer and still be telling the truth.

Main challenges: There are two big issues I see at the moment (other than the interchange rebuild, but I believe that's being handled as best it can right now) — A) The city does not support itself. There's no loyalty among Scott City residents to Scott City businesses and that has to change. We cannot expect Scott City to grow if we will not shop at its local businesses. B) There's a perception outside of Scott City that the city has nothing to offer. The phrase "podunk" has been said to me many times as I tell people I'm running for office. This bothers me a lot. The town has some problems, sure, but every town does and they're not problems we can't solve if we just get our hands dirty. We have to move forward with the greater good in mind.

Main assets: We're hard workers. We're mainly blue-collar, dirty-hands, workers. We're not the doctors, we're the nurses ... not the lawyers, but the paralegals ... i.e., we are the real people who make things happen. I like that. I feel more at home with those kinds of people, the "salt of the earth" if you will. We understand that you can't expect handouts and if you want something to change, you have to work to make it change. There's no doubt that the our residents are our best asset. Of course, economically, it doesn't hurt that we're so close to Cape, but none of that matters if no one is willing to do the work it takes to take advantage of that position.

Communication: I like to do everything in e-mail. I know some people will not like it, but between work, home, and (hopefully) being councilman, there's a lot on my plate. E-mail helps me keep track of it all. Consequently, everyone will be able to email me at ward4@computer21.biz if they have a concern or issue.

Norman Brant (Ward 4)

Age: 55

Spouse: Judy

Children: daughter, 35; son, 32 and one grandson, Cody, 10

Employment: Scott County highway department superintendent

Education: Scott City High

Memberships: VFW Men’s Auxiliary; former baseball coach and Sunday school teacher; serves on city’s police board.

Reason for running: 22 years on city council

Other experience: I miss being involved with the people. I feel like I have an advantage over a lot of others. ... I know most people in town and I know all the history of the town and how it has developed.

Main challenges: Cell phones are not being taxed like land lines. That hurts every city and county in the state. Our sewer system needs to be addressed pretty soon. This has been a problem with the flooding.

Main assets: We have an ad hoc committee that does streets. ... We have a lot of volunteers that make this city pretty. Scott City is loaded with history.

Communication: I know so many people here in town that if they have any questions, they call me. I’m always running into people on the street.