DANNY R. ROWDEN Rowden, who was appointed to the board of aldermen in June 2012, said he believes in giving back to the community he calls home. “I have experiences that can help our city grow and improve,” he said. “The mayor, board and employees are working hard to improve our services. I want to continue to be a part of those efforts.” Rowden listed several priorities and goals he plans to pursue should he win election to his first full term as Ward 1 alderman, and growth and economic stability for the city topped the list. Additionally, Rowden would like to see the city advance its economic development efforts and continue the professional development of all the city’s departments. “Through improved policies, procedures, planning and development, we can make Wright City an even better place to call home,” he stated. A primary focus of that municipal improvement effort calls for expanding Wright City’s economic development base, Rowden asserted, noting that the effort must include working in partnership with county, state and federal officials to accomplish the goal. “The city has been working hard to find new opportunities to bring sustainable business to the city,” Rowden continued, adding that the city is “working in partnership with the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council. “A small city in today’s economic conditions will find it nearly impossible to attract development on its own,” he said. “That is why I believe strongly in Karen Girondo and her efforts with the Greater Warren County EDC in conjunction with the mayor and board of aldermen. This team approach will help us succeed.”

MATT BARBEY “The American Dream has always been most fruitful when individuals can work together as communities,” Barbey said of his decision to seek the Ward 1 alderman’s seat. “I want to have a dialogue with the people of Wright City about what they want for their city. “Finding ways to inspire people to actively and consistently work toward common goals is absolutely critical for growth and improvement as we move forward,” he added. “I feel like there is a heavy need for more people to facilitate this, so I am stepping up to the plate.” When asked about his priorities if elected, Barbey said he wants to understand what his constituents want him to accomplish. “I am currently giving out surveys so that everyone in my ward can start being a part of this conversation,” he said. Barbey said it will be critical for the city to focus on economic development in the immediate future. “However, I think that a lot of the needs and wants of the city are changing with the demographics, and we must focus on understanding the citizens better and making sure that the city’s decisions reflect their ideas of improvement,” he remarked. “A large part of this is communication with citizens and how they are now getting their information in different ways,” Barbey added. “If we want people to be engaged, we need to find better ways to communicate with them. ”Assessing the city’s efforts to attract new businesses and promote economic development, Barbey pointed out that the city has experienced some “great successes and some unfortunate losses” over the past two years. “Honestly, I think that the people of Wright City have a ton of great ideas and great relationships, and we need to get more people to the table,” he stated. “I hope that people take my call to action for a real conversation seriously and get excited about playing a part in the prosperity of everyone in the city.”