Wes Hoeffken, candidate for mayor in Columbia, IL
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Name: Wes Hoeffken
Political party (if applicable): N/A
Age as of April 6, 2021: 64
Campaign website or social media page: WesHoeffkenForMayor on Facebook
Office seeking: Mayor
Are you an incumbent? No
Previous offices sought: City Clerk from 1993 - 2009 & 2014 - 2021
Occupation: Retired after 41 years in information technology
Education: BA in accounting and business administration
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Worked 6 years as a volunteer EMT-B with the Columbia Emergency Medical Service.Serving my 17th year as a member of the Monroe County Nursing Home Memorial Endowment Board. (Served as the Treasurer, Chairman, and currently the Vice-Chairman.)Serving my 23rd year as Columbia City Clerk. Served 5 years on the Columbia Plan Commission.Served 7 years as the Columbia EMA Director.Serving my 7th year as a member of the Monroe County LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Commission).
Why are you running? As we embark on our journey over the next decade, life will tease our imagine as we are faced with establishing a new normal. We must use our foundation of experience to foster thinking out of the box.
The City needs proven leadership. We need someone who will lead the City Council to make solid and responsible decisions. Decisions that represent the interests of our residents, not the interest of a select few. We need to protect the rights of our citizens. We need to do what’s right for Columbia! Politics cannot overshadow public safety. The decisions of the City Council should never interfere with providing for the health, welfare, and safety of Columbia residents.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? It would be a luxury if there was only one top issue. Ask this question of 10 people in Columbia, and you will receive 10 different answers. In today’s society we have too many people focusing on what to do at the end of the week, or some who are more concerned about what to do by the end of the day. It is our responsibility to focus on what we are leaving for the next generation. We need to create an infrastructure that preserves an environment, lifestyle, city, county, state, nation, and world that will allow our children and grandchildren the opportunity to seek their goals, just as we sought ours. This does not mean we quit enjoying life, it means we need to be conscious about what we do and how we do it. We need to preserve what we have, so others can enjoy. As the Mayor of Columbia, I will work with the City Council to: • Focus on seeking alternate revenue sources to help mitigate the impact of increasing real estate taxes. • Conduct a thorough review of existing zoning code and adjust accordingly to meet the needs of all residents and businesses.• Proactively work with existing business to create opportunities to increase their revenues• Develop a strategy to entice new businesses to move to Columbia.
Why should people vote for you? I have been actively involved in the management of the City since 1993 and can use this experience to guide the City into the future.
This story was originally published February 25, 2021 at 3:03 AM.