Neighbors grill District 3 New Albany City Council candidates

Election 2007

Related Photos

Discussion

October 11, 2007

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL The News and Tribune Thu Oct 11, 2007, 02:51 PM EDT

Two District 3 New Albany City Council candidates fielded questions from a lively audience of their neighbors Wednesday evening.

Democratic incumbent Steve Price and Republican challenger Brenda Scharlow sat side by side at a table in front of more than 20 members of the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association at Muir Manor.

The event was a question-and-answer session, not a debate, and there was little interaction between the candidates, other than the occasional reference by one to the answer of another.

Though moderator Greg Phipps told the audience that questions should be directed to both candidates, Price drew the majority of the attention. Members expressed skepticism about Price’s governing philosophy and accountability to his constituents.

“We don’t feel like we’re being represented,” said Helen Spudich, who wondered why Price professed to not considering the removal of one-way traffic a priority when most of the affected area is in his district.

Price told Spudich the city needs to spend money elsewhere first — especially on crime prevention — and he told the audience, “There’s other people who think I am representing them.”

Price’s questioners included Charlie Harshfield — one of his opponents in the Democratic primary — and at least four plaintiffs suing the council for unequal representation.

Though Scharlow wouldn’t call increasing two-way traffic a “top priority,” she said she’s in favor of the traffic-calming possibilities.

“It does affect business owners” trying to attract customers, Scharlow said.

Neither candidate was in favor of installing a rental-inspection program. Both said existing ordinances could do the job if enforced more frequently.

Courtney Paris, who like Scharlow and Price owns rental property, said the occasional inspection fee should be considered the cost of doing business and a method to keep away landlords looking to cash in quickly.

“If you want to own property in New Albany, there are a series of steps you need to take,” Paris said.

Both candidates weighed in on fiscal policy. Scharlow described a budget strategy she honed when raising eight children and starting the Tumblebus business, one that would rely on economic development.

“You don’t take a budget and make it work. You bring in investment and make your budget bigger, and then you make your budget work,” Scharlow said.

Price stressed the need to differentiate between “wants and needs” in departments’ budgets.

“We’ve got $10 worth of ‘wants’ and $1 to go around,” Price said.

After Price wondered aloud whether a purported Main Street development plan was being suppressed by some government forces, Jeff Gillenwater asked Price why he would not name the targets of his complaints.

Price said he didn’t like to do so without having all the facts, but “you’ve got the right to question, you’ve got the right to bring things up.”

Roger Baylor told Price he had voted in step with colleague Dan Coffey on 98 percent of this year’s ballots.

“We have like districts,” Price replied. Coffey represents District 1, and both districts include parts of downtown New Albany.

Scharlow saw less urgency than Price did in the need to build or acquire more space for city government. She said she would prefer to construct a bigger City-County Building to keep all local services behind the same doors, “but it’s not the time right now,” Scharlow said. “We need to get more money first.”

Phipps apologized for not inviting Libertarian candidate Thomas Keister to the forum; he had not known Keister was on the ballot.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Election 2007

NEWS ANALYSIS: New Albany's races by the numbers Three of every eight people who voted in Tuesday’s city elections took care of business with one stroke of a pencil.

November 7, 2007 1 Photo
It's Bob Hall heading back to the mayor's office in Charlestown The mayoral victory represented a near sweep for Republicans in Charlestown, as GOP candidates knocked off several Democrat incumbent councilmen.

November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Jeffersonville voters bring back Galligan “Winning is better than losing,” said Galligan, to his supporters after results were posted. “In the next four years, I hope to prove worthy of your support.”

November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Few changes on Jeffersonville City Council All of the Jeffersonville City Council members who had opposition Tuesday won re-election, meaning six of the board’s seven current members will return for four more years.
November 7, 2007 1 Photo
He's Back: England tops Hubbard in New Albany mayor's race Doug England completed his historic return to the New Albany mayor’s office Tuesday night, taking 52 percent of the vote, and 21 of 34 precincts, against Republican and former sheriff Randy Hubbard.
November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Democrats keep council control in New Albany New Albany voters kept all five incumbent City Council members in office Tuesday and chose four newcomers to replace current members not on the ballot.
November 7, 2007 2 Photos
Democrats sweep Georgetown races; Greenville board unchanged The Georgetown Town Board will have a new look beginning Jan. 1, while the Greenville Town Board remained intact following Tuesday’s election.
November 7, 2007
Democrats keep control of Clarksville Democrats hung on to control in Clarksville, as attempts by Republicans to gain a foothold on the Town Council failed during Tuesday’s election.
November 7, 2007 2 Photos
Pierce pulls out win in hotly contested Jeffersonville judge’s race Democrat attorney Ken Pierce defeated fellow attorney and incumbent judge Scott Lewis for the Jeffersonville City Court judicial bench in Tuesday’s election, taking nearly 57 percent of the vote.
November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Lowe retains judge seat in Sellersburg Sellersburg Town Court Judge R. Thomas Lowe kept his seat in the general election Tuesday, but may have to justify a need for the position to a new Democrat Party-controlled Town Council.
November 7, 2007
More Election 2007 Headlines

Election 2007

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Neighbors grill District 3 New Albany City Council candidates

Site Map

Contact Us