The race for the Ward 3 seat on the Warrenton Board of Aldermen features two candidates with experience as public servants. Incumbent John Clark has served as Ward 3 alderman since 2007, and previously served on the board as alderman representing Ward 2 in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Donald W. Broering got his first experience as an elected official serving as an alderman in Chillicothe, Ill., before being elected to serve as Ward 3 alderman in Warrenton. Profiles of the two candidates appear in the order in which their names will be listed on next Tuesday’s election ballot.

JOHN CLARK Clark, a 51-year resident of Warrenton, is seeking election to his fourth two-year term representing the city’s third ward. “Warrenton has given me so much,” Clark said of his desire to continue serving on the board of aldermen. “This is a way I can give back.” Clark said the city can and should be more user friendly. “With the use of social media, such as our webpage, Facebook and Twitter, we can better communicate with each other,” Clark said. “We are all working for the same goals and communication is the key. Let’s get everyone involved, not just the city.”

Economic Development Clark asserted that the city’s focus for the immediate future should be on economic development, employment and job creation “so that a family — our children — can work and raise a family right here in Warrenton. ”By providing good employment opportunities, people would be less likely to shop outside of Warrenton and citizens “will have more money to spend on other things besides gasoline.”

Contracts Clark cast the lone dissenting vote when the issue of employment contracts was presented to the board of aldermen in April 2012. “I did not vote for the two employment contracts, but this was not a reflection on the employees involved. I wanted to be fair to all employees,” Clark stated. “I do not think, generally, (employment) contracts are necessary.”

DONALD W. BROERING Of his decision to run for the Ward 3 alderman’s seat this year, Broering is seeking to “provide the residents of Warrenton a choice and offer impartial leadership with integrity so that all citizens are treated fairly.” Broering said if his election bid is successful, his priorities over the next year would be moving forward on the proposed overpass west of Highway 47 and improving public safety by providing the police department with additional equipment and more road patrols. The proposed Interstate 70 overpass would help Warrenton offer a “business-friendly environment that would help all businesses in the city and entice others to come to Warrenton,” Broering asserted. He also stated that he would seek to have computers installed in all of the police department’s patrol vehicles, as well as increasing the amount of time officers are on road patrol and shorten response times to calls for service. As far as the city’s focus is concerned, Broering said that in addition to the western overpass, the city also should work to revitalize its downtown area. However, in terms of economic development, Broering believes the city could do better. “In the past year, I’ve not seen a whole lot of development and the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council has not shown a lot of progress,” he remarked. “In both of these areas, I would stress major improvements.”

Expansion of Contracts Rather than repealing the city’s decision to offer employment contracts to two staff members, Broering said he feels the city has been remiss in the past year in not expanding the contracts to all department heads. “Warrenton is one of the few cities that does not provide this protection for its staff,” he remarked. “In this competitive age with the increasing demands — both economic and legislative — one must recruit and maintain the best possible personnel available. This cannot be done if the department heads are in fear of their jobs due to the political whims of the elected officials. “Warrenton has weathered the past recession and still been able to provide city services due to the innovative efforts of the city staff and employees,” Broering continued. “The city staff and employees are entitled to this protection.”