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By Leon G. Russ
HOMETOWN NEWS
The Spartanburg League of Women Voters held a candidate forum Monday night at the Spartanburg County Public Library headquarters building.
The forum featured the two mayoral candidates, City Councilman and small business owner Junie White and self-employed salesman Mike Fowler.
It also featured Thomas Belenchia and Cate Ryba who are running for City Council District 4 that is being vacated by White in his bid for mayor.
The mayoral candidates fielded questions from the league and the audience that was jammed into the Barrett Room.
Fowler and White agreed on some issues including the arts, they are important to the city, attracting visitors and generating tax revenue, and the environment, specifically the importance of recycling.
In other areas there were disagreements and often times White’s experience on city council contrasted sharply with Fowler who is running for public office for the first time.
Parking sparked the greatest area of contention. Fowler stated, “Our problem is we have no parking downtown. He said it is needed to attract more businesses. Fowler specifically stated $3.1 million was wasted on Morgan Square and he would tear it up for more parking.
White countered saying Morgan Square was beautiful and noted “we have three parking garages within a quarter of a mile Morgan Square.” He continued sarcastically, “That’s just what we need, more blacktop.”
Another area where White’s experience showed was when they were asked about the city budget. Fowler stated he couldn’t specifically comment on it because he didn’t have it before him but as mayor would “go line by line” through the budget.
White noted council has “cut, cut and cut” the budget so that “even though times are tough we’re still in good shape.”
Asked what was the most pressing problem in Spartanburg Fowler responded, “Jobs, jobs, and jobs.” He also noted the high school dropout rate and domestic violence.
White countered by saying, “I wish I had a magic wand to create jobs.” He then explained education was the most important thing for the city of Spartanburg because education would lead to better jobs.
Only once did the forum become a bit personal. When Fowler stated “we’re just throwing money around,” specifically noting the $4.2 million renovation of the downtown airport and stating festivals like Creative Tastes and the International Festival “need to generate revenue,” White responded by saying, “Mr. Fowler you got a lot of learning to do.” He said, “Hospitality taxes pay for the festivals, the money does not come out of our pockets.”
The forum for the District 4 seat showcased two very capable individuals, either of who would be an asset to city council.
Thomas Belenchia, a small business attorney and Cate Ryba, a Media and Communications Officer with Mary Black Hospital both showed they are ready and extremely capable of taking a spot on city council in January.
In their opening statements Belenchia stated he wants to expand small business and the tax base while creating job opportunities while Ryba tied her lifelong Spartanburg residency with her “experience, values, passion and creativity.” She specifically pointed out her previous work as part of the city’s economic development team.
Asked about the city budget Ryba said the city had done a good job at cutting non-essential items saving $900,000. She added while looking for more areas to cut she “wouldn’t cut our cultural events.”
Belenchia said only police, fire and sewer would be safe from budget cuts should he be elected. He said, “The other services are non-essential.” He also vowed to look at return on investment as a key to whether or not to cut a program from the budget.
Both candidates were asked about the city’s master plan. Ryba stated she worked on it as the project manager and that parts of it were already being implemented. “I’d definitely be for adopting it and supporting it.”
Belenchia said, “The master plan is a wonderful idea but the biggest rub is the downtown code which is the enforcement of the master plan.”
He added, “It has to be left to private enterprise, without them it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Belenchia also touted lowering the business-licensing fee as a way to encourage more businesses to locate in the city.
Ryba touted establishing a small business downtown recruitment program such as was done in Rock Hill “to entice business owners to locate downtown.” She also said there should be a one-page form explaining what new business owners need to do to open in Spartanburg.
Union Street revitalization was touched upon with Ryba stating the Hot Spot Skate Park has already attracted new businesses and adding the business corridor redevelopment program should focus on Union.
Belenchia called Union Street “a tough area” and stated most of Union is zoned industrial and needs to be rezoned before anything can be done.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.
lruss@hometown-news.com
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