Watch: League Of Women Voters Ward 2 Candidate Forum

UNIVERSITY CITY, MO — The League of Women Voters will hold a forum for University City's second ward council candidates Wednesday, March 28, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the University City Public Library. That's tonight. So, head up to the library's second floor auditorium and bring your questions for candidates Jerrold Tiers and Tim Cusick.

If you can't make the forum, you can watch it live here on Patch or on our Facebook page.

Ward 2 is the only contested race in University City this year. Councilmember Terry Crow is running unopposed for mayor, an office currently held by Shelley Welsch, who is not seeking reelection. Councilmember Steve McMahon is running unopposed for reelection in the first ward. And former University City School Board president Stacy Clay is running unopposed for a seat in the third ward, after incumbent Rod Jennings dropped out of the race.

Seats held by councilmembers Paulette Carr and Bwayne Smotherson will not be up for election for another two years.

Councilmember Michael Glickert is also not seeking another term, leaving the second ward council seat to either Tiers or Cusick.

Tiers, a retired electrical engineer, wants to improve the city's schools and has said a declining tax base is to blame for much of the city's woes.

"The primary issue is the perennial lack of money that hampers the city. The tax base is shrinking, leaving fewer people and businesses to shoulder the tax burden for the city," Tiers told the South County Times. "For too long, economic development has been talked about, but far too little has been actually done. We need to make sure the welcome mat is out for businesses, to encourage them to locate in University City, and to help them succeed. The main focus of this should be Olive Boulevard, but not to the exclusion of other areas."

Cusick, who manages a St. Louis crematory, previously ran twice as a Democrat for the Missouri statehouse. Transparency in government and Washington University's property tax exemption are his signature issues.

"Washington University is the largest landowner in University City," he told the South County Times. "By all accounts, the approximate 150 properties they own, they pay no property taxes. Yet they depend upon the services that University City provides. All University City residents pay for these services through their property taxes. We need to begin challenging conversations with Washington University concerning this imbalance. We must start putting our taxpayers and our city's interests first."

The election will be held April 3.

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