Improving housing and increasing safety services in the 2nd ward were some of the main issues addressed by incumbent Sam McLean and challenger Tony Wilkerson at the neighborhood candidate forum.
As far as improving housing in the ward, McLean believes there needs to be more home-ownership.
“You own a home, you take pride in your house,” said McLean. “So it really doesn’t really take quite that same look at things. We really need more home-ownership and we have to find a way that we can develop that.”
Whereas Wilkerson says it's more important to address the housing concerns of the constituents.
“Neighbors are concerned about the guy next door not taking care of this property,” said Wilkerson. “Neighbors are concerned about the guy whose got the big four by four parked in the front yard. Those are issues that are very genuine and sincere to those people.”
And when it comes to increasing safety services in the ward McLean says it's all about managing the funds well.
"Eighty percent of our budget goes to fire and safety,” said McLean. “That’s the fire and police department. That only leaves 20 percent for the rest. So we have to maintain our budget and that’s what council does."
But Wilkerson believes the best way to increase interest in safety services is by getting people involved at a younger age.
“We can go into the school system,” said Wilkerson. “Create a kind of cadet program. We can get young guys where they can come in, or young ladies and be mentored by police officers about all the proper steps and procedures that they need to take to become police officers or firefighters in the future.”
As both candidates prepare for the November 5th election, they say they are confident that they are the best fit for this role because of their experience.
“I’ve been a city councilman for the city for 12 long years,” said McLean. “I enjoy doing what I’m doing. I think if I hadn’t done a good job I wouldn’t have been re-elected. So my platform is to make sure that we stay within our budget for the city.”
“Knowing the responsibilities of maintaining a budget, and deadlines for budgets, also dealing with the customers that we deal with on a daily basis, hearing their concerns and striving my best to please them,” said Wilkerson.
