Mayoral Candidates face off at April 19th Forum
Community questions for candidates are rolling in and The Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce and Davidson Local are teaming up to share more about local candidates. For those who attended Chamber forums in the past, expect a few twists on the traditional format.
This will include multiple community moderators.
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MEET CITY OF LEXINGTON MAYOR CANDIDATES
6 to 8pm
John Clowney
Jason Hayes
Donald Holt, Sr.
Rosa Terry
For over a month, one of our interns, Sidney Briggs, has been calling candidates running for Lexington City Council, Mayor of Lexington, Lexington City Schools Board of Education and Davidson County Commissioners to collect their email addresses. She has begun the process of submitting questions to them in an effort to share their platform.
We published answers from the council and mayoral candidates. Answers are verbatim.
We appreciate Sidney’s commitment to her fellow residents.
1. What are your plans to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and recover from the damage it has already caused?
John Clowney: Lexington is returning to relative normalcy in terms of citizens feeling comfortable going out and being in social settings. We need to support our small businesses that survived the economic hardships from the pandemic, because they likely experienced increased debt loads due to the structure of the federal government financial aid. I own a business in the Depot District that was heavily impacted by the last two years, but we are starting to notice more customers at our location not only in Lexington but around the state. A part of my platform focuses on ensuring businesses have the proper resources and coaching to get their debt loads reduced and strengthen their balance sheets. In terms of personal recovery and growth, I think it is essential that individuals are connected to the physical and mental health resources they need as part of pandemic recovery.
Jason Hayes: The pandemic has affected the citizens of Lexington on multiple levels – loss of family members, friends, income, educational opportunities, and fellowship in church & community to name a few. As mayor, I would follow the recommendations of the CDC, our governor, local health officials and city manager in order to open up our community responsibly and safely, continuing to support the CDC’s guidance on vaccinations and boosters as well as being ready and prepared to react when necessary if we have increases in positivity rates. The financial impact on our city due to COVID has also been significant. As a result, I believe that City Management and elected officials should be extremely cautious in taking on additional debt to ensure that we have the resources to fund city business and infrastructure in the months and years to come.
Donald Holt: COVID-19 is still taking lives, 465 people died on April 8, 2022. Worldwide over 6 million people have died and there are currently 498, 570, 009 confirmed cases in 226 countries and territories. By the time this article is published these numbers will be obsolete. Covid-19 is a formidable foe. To combat this deadly virus residents must continue to do what has been proven to work such as washing hands, using sanitizer, getting vaccinated, and wearing a mask when appropriate. Economies worldwide have stalled and entered a recession because of the affects of this virus. How do we recover from the damage it has already caused? Economic recovery is possible, everyone has a part to play (federal, state, county, city governments and residents). In order to recover economically we must restart our journey towards growth and prosperity. Our city must be attractive to people, corporations and developers as a business friendly community. A community that is people oriented and positively engaged with the local school system. Of course, growing our tax base is also an essential aspect of our economic recovery. With great economic growth, city officials will need to be good stewards and impactful with their new found economic growth. We can grow and flourish as a city while being safe.
Rosa Terry: First of all, Lexington, and many other cities throughout our country, were already challenged by the economy before COVID19. COVID19 only advanced the existing conditions to another level unforeseen. We cannot, the world cannot afford repeated disasters on the scale of COVID19, it has devastated families and businesses locally, as well as the state, and the country. The lockdown measures that have been necessary to control the spread of COVID19, which I’ve supported from day 1, even though it slowed economic growth and activity for Lexington, it was necessary to save lives. The City of Lexington will continue to work to bring back economic growth and development, to continue to search for ways to bring new businesses to the area, and therefore more jobs for our residents. As Mayor of Lexington, I will hold our City Council and City Manager to be good stewards, open and transparent to our city residents about any Coronavirus Aid that has been awarded to Lexington by the State and the County and how such funds have been allocated to benefit the Lexington Community.
2. What are your ideas to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging in Lexington?
Clowney: I think every voice deserves to be heard and we need to let everyone know their opinions matter. There are factions of our population that feel marginalized and disenfranchised. This is a problem in many communities across the country, and for us to experience real inclusivity, our leaders need to seek feedback and be active on a street by street level across Lexington. As mayor, I want to grow my relationships with community leaders I've met while Board Chair of United Way and actively set up forums where I can hear from constituents regularly and empower people to meet others outside of their wards. It's important to remember that every idea from each individual cannot be implemented, but we can set goals and a strategic framework while working on the achievable changes to make Lexington more inclusive for all.
Hayes: If elected mayor, I would promote an open and transparent environment in which every voice is given an opportunity to be heard and every citizen has a seat at the table. I would fully support and encourage a City Council that brings ideas and concerns of their constituents forward, ensuring that each council member takes an accurate “real-time” pulse of their wards, regardless of race, economic status, and area of influence. I do not feel like a “real time” assessment of the city pulse happens nearly enough today. I would wholeheartedly support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within our city and the city workforce, striving for an employee base that reflects the community that it serves.
Holt: As a city Councilman I voted to hire a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. If elected Mayor the first thing that I'll do is set a meeting with our DEI Officer before anything is promoted as a city-wide campaign. Before setting a promotional agenda I think we have to meet with various community leaders, workers, and residents to get a real feel for what our campaign should say. A serious campaign has serious preparation. I have no doubt that Dr. Patricia Smyre, Lexington's DEI Officer is way ahead of me being the consummate professional that she is. My leadership experience tells me that we must send a clear message that discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in the workplace and/ or in pursuit of employment or housing.
Terry: To promote diversity, inclusion and belonging in Lexington, as Mayor, I will work with, listen to, and expound on suggestions and ideas presented to the Mayor and Council from our DEI Officer, Dr. Smyre. I am a firm believer in allowing people that the city pays to do a job, be allowed to do their job. I will encourage our DEI Officer to follow the mission of the city as she moves forward with the vision for the city. I believe that the Mayor and City Council as a whole, should be open and honest with our citizens, keeping them aware of what is happening in our city, inviting our citizens to come to the table to discuss and offer solutions as to how Lexington can best serve the Community, reaching out to the everyday citizen, not just the privileged few that are always asked to be at the table. As Mayor, I will regularly host “town hall” meetings to hear from the citizens and keep them abreast of what city government is doing.
3. What improvements in infrastructure do you support that would help with the rebuilding of the Depot District and other parts of Lexington?
Clowney: There's been a lot of private investment in the Depot District, the first phase of which was made by Bull City Ciderworks in 2016. Since the craft cider company opened the doors, we have seen significant interest and growth in the immediate area, however, there is still a need for various infrastructure improvements including parking constraints/issues, street redesign / repair, sidewalks and lighting. These developments are not only important to the existing businesses, but also the future passenger rail stop. All enhancements in the Depot District will benefit Lexington overall by encouraging people around the state to come here and explore our Uptown as well as Downtown shopping and dining establishments. The Depot District creates a place for people to live, work and play which will make our city more liveable and aid in procuring additional investment in our city. Without development and growing businesses, our city will not keep pace and maximize its growth potential.
Hayes: I would encourage the council to consider and prioritize the areas of infrastructure (buildings, streets, utilities, services, etc.) that are necessary to move our city forward in a transparent and equitable manner. Not only in the Depot District, but throughout our community, taking into consideration the budget and federal/state funding that we have available to us as a municipality, the infrastructure priorities that our council sets with city management on an ongoing basis, and how/when we pull each lever for the best interest of Lexington citizens. It will be extremely important for the new mayor and council to evaluate the needs of our city today, where our citizens want to take it, and how we prioritize the funding that we have available to us. It is also important for the new mayor and council to be flexible, understanding that what may have been created or visioned a decade or even five years ago may require further analysis and vetting to ensure that our citizens are aligned on how we move Lexington forward over the next decade.
Holt: The improvement of infrastructure in the Depot District is already underway. The City of Lexington and private property owners have begun making adjustments and improvements to their buildings and land. Roads paved and repaired is the number one infrastructure priority for residents. Many areas of the city such as on #8 highway near Parkway Plaza are experiencing growth and will have an adjusted traffic pattern once work is completed. However, our neighborhoods need road work as well. Through the eyes of the Mayor, Lexington only looks as good as its worst looking part of town. Underground pipes are bursting at an alarming rate; some of them are at least 50 years old and require immediate replacement. Due to our growth we must update our wastewater systems, add an additional power station or two and update our natural gas systems.
Terry: I am in support of the work and infrastructure re-building and renovations that are happening in the Depot District. We also, need to spread this re-building throughout our City, while also being sure that the Depot District encompasses the entire population of the city, in that events will be planned that appeals to all people, that all citizens feel that they are invited, welcomed and can enjoy the Depot District, that we remember that our Uptown small businesses should not be left out when promoting the Depot District and what they can offer to visitors to our great city. I think we are all aware that the Depot District is still a work in progress, but it is our job as Mayor, City Council, and citizens to see that the vision compliments Lexington and serves all our citizens. In our communities we need to remain diligent in addressing dilapidated properties, no matter who the owners are, work together and harder at keeping neighborhoods clean and addressing problems/issues in the communities in a timely manner.
4. What is your opinion on the best way to support our homeless population in the wake of increasing poverty due to the pandemic?
Clowney: There needs to be an open and honest conversation about poverty and homelessness in our community. Many resources are available for physical and mental health, like the United Way provided 211 system which connects individuals in need of help to the proper agencies and resources. Beyond emergent care needs for our homeless and at risk population, we need to focus on getting these individuals financially stabilized and productively living in our community. There are many jobs available in the community that are paying living wages. We need to connect those in need of gainful employment with those in need of income and financial resources. Homelessness is something that can unexpectedly happen to anyone, but it should not be a long term lifestyle if the whole person is being cared for and helped by the community resources that are available.
Hayes: There are so many agencies, civic groups, churches, and individuals providing much needed support to Lexington citizens in need in our community, including our homeless population, and I am so grateful. I think we can do even more. I am concerned that our poverty rate a decade ago was 21% and it is now approaching 30%. There are many municipalities that are partnering and actively addressing the poverty in their communities (Winston Salem is a great example). Poverty is a complex issue that cannot be solved with one or two simple solutions. If elected mayor, I would strongly encourage and support the development of a formalized Poverty Plan that brings key community stakeholders together to set specific, measurable goals, while also leveraging what already exists in terms of agencies, services, community outreach and identifying the gaps that exist. My vision of this plan would include the following key areas of focus: 1) Housing, 2) Food Insecurity, 3) Physical & Mental Health Support, 4) Education, and 5) Workforce readiness. I believe that with the proper commitment, focus and partnerships with City Government and Community Stakeholders, we can start to chip away at our local poverty rate and ensure that the basic needs of our citizens are being met.
Holt: Allow me to begin by thanking Crisis Ministry (CM); they are doing more than an incredible job with their available resources. Our homeless population according to CM is about 800 people. We need a larger shelter that is equipped to care for more people. A capital campaign was started to raise money for this, but fundraising was hindered because of factors such as COVID-19 and a down economy. I met with Ashley Phillips, the Executive Director of Davidson County First Hope Ministries who is very knowledgeable on how we can help our homeless community. I am leading an Earth Day Cleanup Project Saturday, April 23rd from 9am-12pm on Albemarle St. where there is a tent city. We are going to help them however we can.
Terry: In my opinion, the City/City Council/Mayor should maintain an open dialogue with the Crisis Ministry Director and their Board of Directors to address our homeless issue. What do they need and what can we, as the city provide? Crisis Ministry provides shelter, emergency food assistance, free clothing, access to Mental Health services, among other services to adults, families, the mentally challenged, Veterans, and Senior Citizens. This is not just for the city to try to solve, all of us can help Crisis Ministry in some form or another, they need volunteers to help man their facility, and donations would be greatly appreciated. As Mayor, along with City Council, I would look into Crisis Ministry having a working relationship that will not only benefit them, but also, Lexington Behavioral Health, Center for Emotional Health, Community Action, Pastor’s Pantry, local churches, etc. This is indeed a community issue, and we need to try to help ease the burden as a community.
5. If you could choose one word to describe what you want your impact on Lexington to be, what would it be?
Clowney: Progress. As a city we have gone through the stages for preservation, stabilization and we are positioned with the right resources for real growth. There is a lot of talk about the Depot District and Uptown, but for real progress we need to encourage and foster growth and development in every corner of our city. There is a lot of positive momentum and we have experienced a lot of great changes, but there is still a lot of opportunity for growth and development throughout the city.
Hayes: Fairness
Holt: Growth-centered
Terry: My one-word description is Change.
