Mayor candidates consider riverfront development prospects

The city of Columbus has been working on a riverfront project as a way to solve several problems on East Fork White River in the downtown area.

We asked Republican mayoral candidates Jim Lienhoop and Glenn Petri about the city’s redevelopment plans for the downtown riverfront.

Lienhoop said that for more than a century, the city has turned its back to the riverfront

Petri said he is skeptical of what the city hopes to accomplish as far as recreation.

The primary election is May 7th and the contested mayoral race is on the Republican ballot. There have been no Democrats file to run for the mayor’s office in the November general election.

About the candidates

Jim Lienhoop, 65, is currently serving as mayor and formerly worked in accounting. His wife is Pam and they have two adult children and a son in law. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business with an accounting concentration from Indiana University in Bloomington. The mayor previously served on the City Council both winning office as an at-large council member and filling in for former councilman Craig Hawes, when Hawes was serving overseas. The mayor is a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church. In his official role as mayor he says he is involved in many community organizations but also is proud to have been a co-founder of the Olympian Quarterback Club. He also served on the board of the United Way and of the Heritage Fund.

Glenn Petri, 69, is retired although he says he still keeps a couple of customers as more of a hobby than a job. His wife has passed away. He has a son and daughter, and two grand children. He has a degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in natural sciences with a specialization in urban planning. He has run for city and Bartholomew County Council before but not been elected.