Council Candidates Speak at Forum

Six candidates for the Monticello City Council fielded questions from moderator Danny Norris at a candidate forum and prayer vigil last Thursday at Springfield Baptist Church.

It was the first of two forums planned, with the second being today, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at the Visitors’ Center, sponsored by the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce.

Rev. Jimmy Horton opened Thursday’s forum with a prayer, and then read from the Bible. He said he had been in Monticello 37 years and had seen changes, and hoped to see more.

Mr. Norris laid out the rules of the forum, saying there would be no personal questions allowed, and there would be no rebuttal to opening and closing remarks.

Randy Strozier, candidate for Mayor Pro-tem went first. He said he had been on council before and it was good and not so good. He said they accomplished a lot but there’s a lot left to be done. He said he knew a strategic way to lower the light bills. He said it’s been said if we lower light bills the city will go broke, and that is wrong.

Stone Workman, also a candidate for Mayor Pro-tem went next. He said he’s lived here 25 years. He said you don’t get to choose where you’re born, but his son was born here, and made it clear Monticello is home. He said he served many years ago with Susan Holmes, Jackie Bell, and Otis Clark, among others, and that he had to leave to work elsewhere. Now he is retired, doing consulting work from home, and has time to serve.

He said that it was diverse council, but they could all work together. “We didn’t know what we couldn’t do,” he said, and listed some of those achievements, like the building of the Monticello Government Complex, Funderburg Park, Southern Crescent Technical Center, and he said he hoped we can od it again.

Alton Standifer, also a candidate for Mayor Pro-tem, said Monticello is a special place for him, and he wants to make it a place his peers can come back to and work, and live.

He talked about his service in college, and said his heart has always been to come back here and serve Monticello. He wants to build opportunity. Mr. Standifer says he drives 50 miles a day to go to work. He wants to create opportunities here. He wants to make finances less of an issue, and try to fix the light bills.

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Jenny Murphy, a candidate for City Council, District 2, Post 2, said she wants the best for our city. We have a wonderful community, she said, and she wants to continue to improve it. She said she wants a place where locals come to spend their money and visitors want to stop and visit. She said she looks forward to serving.

Shaun Bell, also a candidate for District 2, Post 2, said this election is very important because “we have to stop this business as usual.” He spoke of the burden on the elderly, disabled and unemployed, and said change is necessary. He said he is committed to represent the city to the best of his ability, to represent honestly and fairly, and not to be influenced by a group.

He said he would make informed business decisions, and promised not to simply defer toe others. He also said he won’t accept gifts. He promised to tell the truth, be transparent, and make no back room decisions.

Mr. Bell said that the dismantling of the police department was supposed to save the city a half-million dollars and asked where that money is now.

The first question posed to the candidates was what are their plans for economic development.

Mr. Workman was the first to answer. He said that the city has de-populated, and we have to bring in business to re-populate the city. He said we brought Permatherm, and Baxter is going to help. But, he said the industrial park is full and that we need to purchase more land. He named a number of people at the state who work in economic development, and said he was the best at working with those people ate the state level. He also mentioned grants to help cover the expenses associated with economic development.

Mr. Standifer said we have to be strategic in attracting new industrial, and said that education ties in because we have be sure we’re creating an educated work force.

The next question asked the candidate for their plans for the Get Ahead House, saying it has bene overlooked because of budgetary constraints.

Mr. Standifer said that education is so important and the GAH is so helpful with the students and their education He said he benefitted from attending there, and said the city needs to look to invest in it as it pays a huge benefit.

Mr. Strozier said the GAH is a great entity for Monticello. He said even though it has donations, that is not enough. He then addressed the economic development question, saying it is hard to attract a very large business in Monticello and we don’t have the infrastructure. He said we will have to tap into Jackson Lake or some other sources of water.

Mr. Bell said we have to figure out where our money is now. It’s really all over the place. We need to get people up there who are accountable for the funds, he said.

Mr. Workman said he is supportive of the GAH, and that with the city and private donations it can thrive. He mentioned the funds from Morehouse and what a phenomenal success story it is, particularly with eh teenage pregnancy prevention initiative.

The next question was “How will you help citizens to understand that they’re equal and they have a voice a a citizen?”

Mrs. Murphy said I think we’re all equal, and we need to all be positive. To get more people who want to be here, we have to share what a great place it is to live, to have children and raise children.

Mr. Workman said neighborhood revitalization would go a long way, and would help lower utility bills, as we get more consumers. He suggested to bring the feds in to work with t city and offer low interest loans through the USDA.

The next question concerned zoning and code enforcement.

Mr. Standifer said we need to try to find a way to communicate with the homeowners, and the owner needs to be held accountable.

Mr. Strozier said the homeowner must be held accountable, but said that sometimes you have trouble determining the homeowner who often has moved away. He suggested placing an ad in the Atlanta paper seeking the owner.

Mr. Workman said it’s not a matter of what it’s a matter of will. Will you actually go after someone. It’s difficult, expensive and time-consuming, he said. He suggested the city could work with the county.

Mrs. Murphy said that there is definitely a need for stronger enforcement, and said she didn’t know all the answers but she’d do what she could to address the problem.

Mr. Bell suggested forming a committee with someone dedicated to solving the problem.

Cornell Williams, who arrived late, then spoke.

He said for the last four years it’s been tough dealing with stuff going on in the city. Light bills, water, sewer, police department being dismantled, racial profiling by the sheriff’s office, and for some reason it’s been divided. Nobody wants to talk about it, he said. He also said he is 46 years old and nothing has changed. He said that for four year the constituents have known if they call me, I’m coming. I’ll stand up for what’s right.

The next question was, “As a candidate do you think there’s a chance to void or break the MEAG contract?”

Mr. Bell said all contracts can be broken.

Mr. Williams said contracts can be broken and there’s a fine line between robbery and getting the right amount of money. If we can’t get out of the contract, then let’s do something else, he said.

Mr. Standifer said contracts can be broken, but the other part is there are consequences. All opportunities have consequences he said, and there are pros and cons to everything. The core of the issue is to make bills more affordable, he said.

Mr. Strozier said contract can be broken, and there may be consequences but we would be better off if not under a contract.

The follow-up question was “Would you be willing to sell the electrical service?”

Mr. Workman said we have guaranteed $60 million in bonds to MEAG, and the solution is to grow Monticello and use the electricity we’re bound to buy.

He said there has never been a municipality in the United States to get out of a contract like theirs or even merge with a county. “They’re never going to let us do that,” he said. We have got to make lemonade out of lemons he said.

Mrs. Murphy said all this talk is the light bill, but in essence the monthly city bill is electricity, gas, water, sewer and garbage. She said people in the county talk about how much cheaper their bills are, but they pay for garbage on their tax bill and have to maintain wells and septic tanks. She suggested we grow the city.

Mr. Bell said he’d have to know the pros and cons, but yes, anything that would help the city lower the utility bill he is for.

The next question was, “Does anyone have a plan to bring racial profiling by the sheriff’s office to an end?”

Mr. Bell suggested they hold the officers accountable. They should have body cameras, better equipment in the cars.

Mrs. Murphy said she was not aware of racial profiling, and thought if anything, it is just picking on young people in general.

Mr. Workman said the sheriff is elected…take it up with him, and if that doesn’t help, there’s always the ballot box.

Mr. Strozier said the only thing is to ask the present council why you don’t have a police department. You have to hold the sheriff’s department accountable.

Mr. Standifer said the war on police is not just here. We have to be involved in the community and let the leader of the officers know. Make your voice heard, he said, and mentioned the countless young black men who have lost their lives to police.

Mr. Williams, said it does go on, and they aren’t all; young, but they are all black. There is racial profiling, he said.

He said we need to fellowship. We’ve got to get people who know the neighborhood, know the people.

In their closing statements the candidates said:

Mr. Bell—I’ve given you an overview; I’m available to discuss my views in detail. I’m here to serve the citizens, I am truthful, transparent, responsible, and accountable.

Mrs. Murphy said she is available to talk one and one, and said she loves the city and wants to make it better, and asked for the votes.

Mr. Workman said “We’re just a bunch of friends here, and all want the best for everyone in the city. He told an anecdote about marriage, and likened working together on the council to it. He said we have to work together to lower utility bills, and to be positive.

Mr. Strozier thanked his pastor, and said he is honest has integrity and will do the best he can to work together for a better Monticello.

Mr. Standifer stressed fiscal responsibility, strong leadership, saying people matter. He wants to work for a community in unity, and talked about the importance of education. He said he would truly be a servant.

Mr. Williams said he stands on his record, and would like four more years to accomplish more. He said he would need a strategy and plan to get rid of the abandoned houses. He said the GAH is a good program, and it’s not just for blacks. He said it is important to show up for stuff like this and stop taking from the kids. He talked about some of the success stories that have come out of the GAH.

He said the police department will be coming back if he gets elected, and can get two more to fight for the employees of the city. He encouraged all to vote for him.

Mr. Norris closed the program by encouraging those who do not win to share their ideas with the ones who do. He reiterated it is a beautiful town and a beautiful place to live.

Rev. Horton closed the program, and called on Rev. Glover for the closing prayer.