Mayoral candidates discuss issues in forum

The candidates talked about the economy and public safety.

By Pierce Courchaine

Published Feb. 12, 2010

Columbia mayoral candidates Bob McDavid, Paul Love, Sean O'Day, Sid Sullivan and Jerry Wade gathered Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce for the second mayoral forum.

The candidates received questions from the moderator and public in attendance and discussed the issue of Columbia's economy.

"The only way we want to increase revenue is economic activity," said McDavid, a retired doctor.

He said the city needs to find ways to generate economic activity other than raising taxes.

"Our revenue is significantly less than our expenditures," Love said. "We need to increase sales tax revenue. We can't make money magically."

Love, a network administrator at the Web site CarFax, said he also supports preferential economic breaks to local contractors.

"That money cycles in our community," Love said. "That million dollars comes back as tax revenue."

O'Day, a 23-year old POS coordinator at Patricia's Foods, said he wants to make minor changes to keep the downtown area thriving and the money local. Increased time at parking meters and improved public transportation were among the suggestions O'Day made.

"We need to keep the jobs in the community, but we also need to keep our costs down," said Sullivan, a retired math teacher.

Sullivan said although improving public transportation is important the key to stimulating the economy is bringing income to Columbia.

"We (should) take a look at developing Columbia as a retirement community," Sullivan said. "That's not bringing in industry, but that is bringing in income. That's something we can build industry around."

Sullivan also said he supports events, such as the upcoming True/False Film Fest, that bring in money to the city.

Wade, Columbia's Fourth Ward councilman, said he is concerned with people spending money in places other than Columbia, like the Internet.

"It is a major, fundamental change to spending money," Wade said.

Wade said he is happy with the foundation Columbia is building the economy on.

"The city is extremely well financially managed," Wade said. "Our community has been very positive in investing in their future."

The candidates, who were allotted two minutes to answer each question, addressed missed issues in their closing statements.

O'Day said the ordinance to put cameras downtown would create a paranoid environment and would not deter crime.

"People will find a way to block that camera," O'Day said. "We need to increase police presence instead."

McDavid said people should not focus on the crime statistics.

"It doesn't matter what the numbers are, it's how people feel," McDavid said. "We have got to make Columbia appear safer. That's how we recruit businesses and people."

Concerned with the number of college students that leave Columbia after graduating, Love mentioned the need to provide reasons to not only come to Columbia, but to also stay in the city.

"Every year, Columbia loses 8,000 brilliant minds," Love said. "We need to bring jobs here to keep those people here. We need to make sure that the youth in this town has a place to work."

Before the mayoral forum, a forum for Third and Fourth Ward council seat was held. All council candidates were in attendance. Local bar owner Sal Nuccio was the only mayoral candidate not present at the forum.