KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the first time, all nine Kansas City mayoral candidates participated in a forum about issues that matter to voters.
The race for Kansas City mayor is crowded. Its comprised of several council members, a former secretary of state, business owners and lawyers.
Scott Wagner, Quinton Lucas, Alissia Canady, Jermaine Reed, and Scott Taylor are all council members running for mayor.
Rita Berry is a businesswoman, Jason Kander is the former Missouri Secretary of State, Phil Glynn is the head of Travois, Inc. and Steve Miller is a partner with Mille/Schirger, LLC.
“People don’t live issues one at a time. They live life," said Jason Kander.
One of the topics discussed was crime.
“There are a lot of people who say police aren't part of the answer. I think they are," said Councilman Quinton Lucas.
Other issues were jobs, affordable housing and transportation.
“The lack of affordable housing is destabilizing families in our community," said Phil Glynn.
Tax incentives and where to invest was also a hot-button issue.
“Whether something is a good investment or a bad investment really depends on what comes back to the people," said Councilwoman Alissia Canady.
“Do you believe in investing in the growth of the city or merely maintaining what you’ve got," said Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner.
"There is this straw band of tax incentives and everyone is against it when they are running. The real story is how we have a process that is good for evaluation and make sure it is right," said Lucas.
"The northland can be an opportunity throughout the city if we treat it right. That we are thinking ahead on the airport. Making sure people can get to the airport to build it and making sure and get to the airport for the day to day jobs that come with that," said Kander.
"Everything we are talking about when it comes to what we can do for the Northland boils down to this. Do you believe in investing in the growth of a city or maintaining what you’ve got?" said Wagner.
"We don’t want to be contained on the east side. We want opportunities all across Kansas City and we want to make sure they are inclusive opportunities," said Canady.
"I supported Twin Creeks. It would bring 60 to 70 thousand residents in the Northland. It is important because more people will be paying taxes that will go to the general fund which can be used in all neighborhoods in the city," said Taylor.
"We have to stop using these tax incentive programs in neighborhoods that are already successful or with major city investments like an airport," said Glynn.
"Just because you build it doesn't mean its good. We want to make sure the community can benefit from it," said Councilman Jermaine Reed.
"What we need to look as is. Do we have a global plan, that doesn't just focus on individual developments but how they hit into a plan?" said Steve Miller.
"We have great fountains of love on the Plaza but we forget about the ordinary people. East north south or west. We need to bridge together because we are a great city," said Rita Berry.
