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City candidates' debate like dress rehearsal for November
Haywood Ware sees the role of mayor as "more of a city manager" and wants to spread redevelopment attention all around the town.
Jim Wright, meanwhile, vows to hire a deputy mayor for Greencastle -- "and that's a fact."
Tanis Monday is "super excited" about prospect of a community center being a viable option for the city this time around.
And Benny Whitlock wants to keep children safe from dangerous old buildings and Fourth Ward traffic hazards, while allowing seniors and those less mobile to use golf carts along local pathways.
Those were perhaps the highlights of the debate portion of the City of Greencastle Candidates Forum Wednesday night at Watson Forum in the DePauw University Center for Contemporary Media.
Airing live on the radio and community access channel over local cable TV, the debate was sponsored by the Greencastle League of Women Voters, WGRE radio and the Banner-Graphic.
With the exception of two races -- one for each party -- the City of Greencastle primary debate was a dress rehearsal for the main event before the November general election. Working from dueling podiums, Ware and Wright squared off in the GOP race for mayor, while Monday and Whitlock vied in the Democrat Fourth Ward City Council battle in front of an audience mainly composed of fellow candidates and their families.
Ware, who has lived in Greencastle the past five years, said he "moved here on purpose" after learning about the community and DePauw University. As mayor of the City of Pflugerville, Texas, from 1992-98 he saw that community grow from 4,000 to 23,000 by the time he left office and said he has the experience and willingness to help things evolve here as well.
When he was elected in Texas, Ware said it took him two years to figure out what he was doing but that experience would benefit Greencastle. "I can hit the ground running. I can start from Day One," he said.
Ware said he's not running because he's angry or because he thinks Mayor Sue Murray hasn't done a good job as she finishes her self-imposed second and final term.
"The city is being run well now," the Republican candidate said, "I just think it needs to go in a little different direction."
And although he said "I love DePauw University," Ware said too much city effort has concentrated on the campus and the downtown while other areas of town remain in need of curbs, sidewalks and street repairs.
"We don't promote the north side of town at all," he said, adding that "DePauw University is a wonderful thing. I moved here because of DePauw but I think there are other people" and areas that need attention.
Wright agreed, noting that the Greater Eastside is another of those areas long in need of infrastructure attention.
He also reminded the audience of the work that was done in Commercial Place/The Avenues in putting in the first sidewalks and storm sewers while Wright served as street commissioner under Mayor Mike Harmless.
Addressing the DePauw issue, Wright said he always worked well with the DePauw administration, especially former longtime physical plant director Jim Daugherty. He also suggested the city is in need of additional police officers to keep the community safe.
DePauw and Greencastle, Ware said, are "connected at the hip" but he believes too much time and energy has been directed there when, for example, people have to walk in the street down South Arlington past his house to get to the park.
Curbs and sidewalks need to be improved all over town, Wright readily agreed but that will take grant dollars to fund.
"I'd like to see the streets improved," he said, "but like I said, it takes money."
Both men like the concept of the community center, which the city hopes to build by partnering with the YMCA or someone else for maintenance and operations after building it with a bond issue to be paid back through funds from the continuation of the city's Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.
"I think we do need it," Wright offered. "The money has to be found somewhere," suggesting the city solicit donations and even get DePauw involved if that's what it takes to make it a reality.
Ware wasn't quite as optimistic.
"I think it would be wonderful," he said, "but we can't afford it. We can use TIF dollars, yes, but who's going to run it? Another thing, if you put it at the sports park, half the kids in town aren't going to be able to get there to use it. It's not safe (getting there along Indianapolis Road)."
Meanwhile, making his three-minute statement unopposed Democrat mayor hopeful Bill Dory said he wants to "continue to grow Greencastle as a warm and welcoming community" and is humbled at being asked to "take the baton from Mayor Murray and move the community forward."
The Stellar Community Project work, now four years in the making, will be completed by the time of the next mayor takes office, "but that doesn't mean the work will be done," Dory said.
Meanwhile, Monday and Whitlock, the two competing Fourth Ward Democrat candidates, focused attention on their area on the south and southeast sides of town.
"There are challenges all across the Fourth Ward, just like there are all over the city," Monday said, citing the need for better sidewalks and handicapped ramps.
But the area has its strengths, too, she said pointing specifically to the new Zinc Mill Apartments development and the expanding People Pathways project of community trails.
Whitlock agreed, noting however that he is aware of several abandoned homes and places in the Fourth Ward where "young children can get hurt."
"I've got a problem with that," Whitlock said. "We either need to repair those or take them down."
In addressing the possibility of a community center, both Council candidates believe it's an idea whose time has come.
Whitlock, however, also stressed the need to improve neighborhood parks too. For example, Mapleberry Park in the South End should be more than just a basketball court, he said.
"They need a swingset," simplified Whitlock, who called himself "an old retired correctional officer."
Monday, the executive director of Beyond Homeless Inc. shelter and former director of the Putnam County Museum, reminded the audience that during the community summit "when the minds came together," a community center "was one of the top things"on the local wish list.
"My son is eight years old," she said, "and I'm super excited about it (the possibility of a community center).
"It's an incredible thing that we're working toward that," she continued, "looking at the viability within our community. We need to make sure it's sustainable."
The issue of using tax abatement to attract new industry and help existing industry expand was also questioned.
Monday, who sits on the Greencastle Redevelopment Commission, called it one of the economic development tools necessary for the city to expose its "many assets" to companies looking to relocate or build a new facility.
Whitlock agreed to an extent.
"I don't see anything wrong with tax abatement," he said, "as long as they don't take it and run out 10 years later."
He also suggested that the Greencastle/Putnam County area has many talented people to offer companies.
"We need to start taking care of our people," Whitlock said, "and make sure they hire local people first."
Taking advantage of his three minutes as an unopposed primary candidate, incumbent Fourth Ward Councilman Tyler Wade, a Republican, called the Council seat "not a job I take lightly," adding, "I work every day to make Greencastle better."
Wade said he has a three-prong campaign of education (including creation of an advisory panel of teachers and parents), job creation and the challenge of maintaining a strong financial future for the city.
All unopposed city primary candidates in attendance were given three minutes to make a statement about their candidacy. The others whose races were not impacted by an opponent Wednesday night are:
-- Lynda Dunbar (R) and Eric Wolfe (D), city clerk-treasurer.
-- Wally Hinkle (R), Harry Maginity (R) and Dave Murray (D), City Council at-large (two at-large candidates Mark Hammer (R) and Gary Lemon (D) were unable to attend due to prior commitments).
-- Danny Mesecher (R) and Adam Cohen (D), City Council First Ward.
-- Stacie Langdon (R) and Brian Cox (D), City Council Second Ward.
-- Harold Barger (R) and Steve Fields (D), City Council Third Ward.
The forum will be rebroadcast on Greencastle's local cable access Channel 3 periodically until the primary. Most broadcasts begin at 7 p.m.