Community center, smoking ban debated at candidates' forum
By: Troy Montigney
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
A proposed community center, the state of economic development, and a recently implemented citywide smoking ban proved to be some of the most contentious issues discussed at Wednesday's candidates' forum.
Presented by WGRE-FM in conjunction with the Greencastle League of Women Voters and the Banner-Graphic, the debate enabled citizens running for mayor, treasurer and city council to outline objectives and priorities for their potential terms of office.
Mayoral candidates Steve Butts and Sue Murray stood on opposite sides of the smoking ban issue. Republican Butts said individual businesses should be granted the right to ban or allow smoking on their premises. But Murray, a Democrat, said she supports the smoking ban and that 26 state governments have passed similar legislation for their constituents.
"I think we have a responsibility to protect our citizens and our community," she said. "We do things for the safety and the welfare of the majority of our citizens."
Butts said the victor of the Nov. 8 election should do everything in his or her power to strengthen the presence of local business in Greencastle.
"The next city administration must place its priority on redevelopment of existing business," he said. "Only through economic development can we regenerate the community and provide the services needed by our citizens."
Butts and Murray offered different assessments of the local business climate. Butts said Greencastle lost 12 or 13 local businesses this year, an "exodus" that he found alarming. Murray, however, said 36 new businesses opened in Greencastle in 2006.
The candidates to replace outgoing democratic mayor Nancy Michael also argued about the city's need for a community center.
"I think it would be wise to utilize the facilities that we have," Butts said.
Murray said there is currently no space for classes such as yoga sessions or life skills courses to be offered to community members.
"A community center is something this particular area has talked about for the 30 years [my family has] lived here," she said. "The issues of how to build it and how to sustain it are obviously going to be the ones that continue to be challenging for us."
Butts, Murray and the candidates for other city positions were questioned by a panel that included Banner-Graphic Editor Lisa Meyer-Trigg, Karen Martoglio of the Greencastle League of Women Voters, and sophomore Elizabeth Elliott of WGRE News. Elliott asked candidates about their ideas to improve "town-gown" relations between DePauw students and Greencastle residents.
Men's swimming head coach Adam Cohen, the democratic candidate for city council, first ward, said he will do his best to improve what the Princeton Review cited as one of the ten worst town-gown situations in the entire country.
"I've seen the deteriorating relationship over the past 20 years between our town and DePauw University," Cohen said. "We need each other, and we are both to blame. I work at DePauw and I volunteer for the city. I'm in a unique position to help fix that."
Presented by WGRE-FM in conjunction with the Greencastle League of Women Voters and the Banner-Graphic, the debate enabled citizens running for mayor, treasurer and city council to outline objectives and priorities for their potential terms of office.
Mayoral candidates Steve Butts and Sue Murray stood on opposite sides of the smoking ban issue. Republican Butts said individual businesses should be granted the right to ban or allow smoking on their premises. But Murray, a Democrat, said she supports the smoking ban and that 26 state governments have passed similar legislation for their constituents.
"I think we have a responsibility to protect our citizens and our community," she said. "We do things for the safety and the welfare of the majority of our citizens."
Butts said the victor of the Nov. 8 election should do everything in his or her power to strengthen the presence of local business in Greencastle.
"The next city administration must place its priority on redevelopment of existing business," he said. "Only through economic development can we regenerate the community and provide the services needed by our citizens."
Butts and Murray offered different assessments of the local business climate. Butts said Greencastle lost 12 or 13 local businesses this year, an "exodus" that he found alarming. Murray, however, said 36 new businesses opened in Greencastle in 2006.
The candidates to replace outgoing democratic mayor Nancy Michael also argued about the city's need for a community center.
"I think it would be wise to utilize the facilities that we have," Butts said.
Murray said there is currently no space for classes such as yoga sessions or life skills courses to be offered to community members.
"A community center is something this particular area has talked about for the 30 years [my family has] lived here," she said. "The issues of how to build it and how to sustain it are obviously going to be the ones that continue to be challenging for us."
Butts, Murray and the candidates for other city positions were questioned by a panel that included Banner-Graphic Editor Lisa Meyer-Trigg, Karen Martoglio of the Greencastle League of Women Voters, and sophomore Elizabeth Elliott of WGRE News. Elliott asked candidates about their ideas to improve "town-gown" relations between DePauw students and Greencastle residents.
Men's swimming head coach Adam Cohen, the democratic candidate for city council, first ward, said he will do his best to improve what the Princeton Review cited as one of the ten worst town-gown situations in the entire country.
"I've seen the deteriorating relationship over the past 20 years between our town and DePauw University," Cohen said. "We need each other, and we are both to blame. I work at DePauw and I volunteer for the city. I'm in a unique position to help fix that."
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