Clayton Mayoral Candidates Agree Reducing Deficit Biggest Priority

Balancing the budget, increasing community partnerships and stimulating economic development. Those are the top three priorities facing Clayton, according to the three candidates running for mayor.

The candidates - Alex Berger III, Michelle Harris and Harold Sanger - took part in a student-led forum moderated by the College Democrats Club at Washington University on Wednesday night. Sixteen people attended the event.

The three candidates agreed that the No. 1 priority facing the city is reducing the $3.6 million deficit. They explained that the city is currently on a three-year plan to accomplish that. Part of the plan includes reducing personnel through an early retirement program.

Harris said the plan was sound. However, Sanger and Berger said they have issues with the it.

"The question is are we going to reduce personnel so as not to affect city services," Sanger said. "We've got to think about getting additional income, not just cutting services."

Berger said that the early retirement program will result in a loss of experienced personnel that will affect city services. He said there needs to be a change in the process of how Clayton operates.

"We have been status quo and have spent as we want," he said. "The action needed is not singular, and we need to go quicker than another two and a half years."

The candidates said the two other priorities that would help them reduce the deficit included partnering with other community entities to share costs for services and purchases and stimulating economic development.

The majority of other questions posed by the moderator revolved around how students can learn more about local government and how they can become involved.

Another candidate forum will be held in mid-March. Stay tuned to Patch for more information on that event.

The mayoral position is the only open seat on the Clayton Board of Aldermen in the April 2 election. That's when Mayor Linda Goldstein will hit her two-term limit. The seat carries a three-year term.  

Read more about the race on Patch:

• Clayton Mayoral Candidate Blogs: Why I'm Running
• Three Running for Mayor in Clayton