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Mayoral, town council candidates attend forum |
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Tuesday, 11 September 2007 |
 Boone Town Council candidates meet Monday evening in Plemmons Student Union to share their views and goals with students and the community. Trey Mahoney
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by LAUREN LAWSON
News Reporter
by BRITTANY SPENCER
Intern News Reporter
Both
mayor and town council candidates gathered Monday night for a town hall
forum sponsored by the ASU Debate Union and Student Government
Association.
The forum opened with candidate introductions and continued into the question session, moderated by
Dr. Adam J. Newmark, a professor of political science.
The candidates began by sharing their views to a crowd of over just 100 people, fewer than 75 of whom
were students, about the importance of student votes in local elections.
“Students have the absolute legal and moral right to vote,” incumbent council member Bunk Spann said.
When asked about the relationship between the Town of Boone and
Appalachian State University, the candidates were divided between those
who believe the current relationship is strained and those who saw it
as “creative tension.”
Incumbent Lynne Mason said, “At times we have differences, but we work it out.”
The issue of university and town council relations led into discussion of the new Reich College of Education building.
Mayoral candidate Tim Wilson said, “Based on building ordinances, if
the university could give the town council an area somewhere else for
greenway and trees…they could work together and find a
compromise.”
Blocker said he liked the site the university had chosen.
“The university has already purchased the land. Why waste money purchasing other lots?”
Spann said the real issue is the serious water problems facing Boone.
“As of 2004, we are at 76 percent and 86 percent capacity of water…we are currently looking into a new water source,” he said.
“We do have a plan. We’ve found a location, had the engineering done
and hopefully now we can purchase the land on the New River,” incumbent
Dempsey Wilcox said.
One question posed by the audience asked for the candidate’s position on Boone’s liquor policy.
While the majority of candidates refrained from expressing their
personal position, Jeremy Blocker and Ethan Dodson said they were in
favor of allowing the sale of liquor by the drink.
“I’m not saying I want to drink every time I go out to dinner, but it
would be nice to have the choice to drink at restaurants,” Blocker said.
Another audience generated question asked about support from a local
group called Citizens for Change. Candidates Steve Phillips, Dodson,
Dempsey Wilcox and Tim Wilson all indicated they were supported in some
way.
SGA member Nathan H. Smith said, “I was pleased to see debating among
the candidates. It was great – they rolled up their sleeves and got
down and dirty.”
The only candidate missing from the forum was Rob Taylor.
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