Council candidates square off at forum

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March 18, 2010

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Thu Mar 18, 2010, 11:24 PM CDT

By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

Issues ranging from economic development to getting Missouri Southern State University more involved in the community drew comments Thursday night at a forum featuring candidates for posts on the Joplin City Council.

The five candidates seeking three general council posts answered questions at a televised forum held at MSSU and sponsored by The Joplin Globe, Empire District Electric Co. and KGCS, the university’s television station.

Candidates Mile Woolston, Jack Golden, Kelly Maddy, Trisha Raney and Kevin York answered questions from a media panel, and questions from residents viewing the program that were relayed via the Internet on Facebook.

Economic development

To a question on what the city should do to encourage more economic development, Raney said it should encourage additional development downtown, and further expand public transportation, walking trails and the city’s athletic complex.

Woolston and Golden both noted the importance of bringing more business to town. Woolston, the only incumbent among the five candidates, cited the city’s longtime partnership with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and Empire District Electric in that effort. He said the city is looking to get the Joplin School District more involved, because of the impact tax incentives can have on the district’s tax base.

Golden, a former longtime community development director for the city, noted success in filling two industrial parks, and in partnerships with Webb City and other communities. He said attracting businesses with “a common theme” would help further development downtown.

Maddy said the city should foster programs that would encourage residents to shop in Joplin. He also noted the city’s partnership with the chamber, and said the chamber should offer training to help local businesses market products and services online.

York said the city’s low crime rate and cost of living help, but that a more attractive community and more entertainment offerings could help bring in more businesses.

Asked how the council might get Missouri Southern more involved in the Joplin community, Maddy said students and teachers in university art and other programs should be encouraged to join in community events such as the downtown art walk held each month during the Third Thursday event.

Golden said the city, school district and university should be sharing properties in a meaningful way, “especially now, since tax dollars are tight.”

Approachability

York said current members of the council are “mature” and might seem unapproachable to students, and that he would work “to represent all age brackets.”

“It comes down to communications; both sides have to be approachable,” Woolston said.

Raney said college communities where businesses promote the university seem to have a stronger bond, and that college students and groups should be invited to get involved in city programs.

The candidates split on whether the city should mandate smoke-free restaurants.

Maddy, Golden and Woolston said the decision should be up to the business owner. York said he would listen to residents and perhaps favor a vote on the question.

Raney said she believes the city could properly get involved as part of the health code, adding, “Secondhand smoke is a huge health issue. ... Seventy-five percent of people don’t smoke, but still, most restaurants allow it.”

Memorial Hall

The candidates also agreed, with some exceptions, that the question of whether Memorial Hall should be converted as a site for an expanded Joplin Museum Complex should be left to voters. A proposed sales tax of one-sixth of a cent to fund that project also is on the April 6 election ballot.

“Memorial Hall means a lot to a lot of people, so the people need to decide,” Golden said.

Raney said she believes Joplin would benefit from an expanded museum. “But Memorial Hall has a lot of activities, and where they would go needs to be addressed first,” she said.

Woolston said a majority of residents, in a poll, supported an expanded museum. The hall, he said, is used about 120 days a year and is supported by a $450,000 city subsidy.

Maddy said voters were given only one plan, and that abandoning the hall would be an insult to veterans. “There needs to be a plan where events at the hall now would go,” he said.

Questioners at the event were Carol Stark, Debby Woodin and Greg Grisolano, of the Globe; Alexandra Nicolas, of The Chart, the MSSU newspaper; and Rhonda Justice, of KOAM-TV. Judy Stiles, of KGCS-TV, served as moderator.

The event was filmed in KGCS studios, and nearby Corley Auditorium was available for observers.

Eric Wright, who filed to run for the council but then dropped out, praised the event.

“It was really a good opportunity for people to hear from the candidates,” said Wright, who is a Maddy supporter.

“I think it was really good, but some candidates didn’t answer all the questions,” said Krista Stark, who is working on Raney’s campaign.

Six residents were invited observers in the studio, and they offered their reactions on-air to questions at the end of the forum.

“I think the council needs five open seats; I was impressed with all of them,” said Sandie Morgan.

Reruns

The forum will be re-telecast over KGCS-TV at 7 p.m. Monday, March 22; 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 24; 7 p.m. Sunday, March 28; 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 30; and 8 p.m. Sunday, April 4.