With the exception of two, Blue Ridge City Council candidates participated in Fannin County Chamber of Commerce’s Candidate Forum Wednesday, October 6.
Held at the Fannin County High School Performing Arts Center, each council candidate was asked three questions pulled from a bowl at random by moderators Steven Miracle and Manda Gwatney.
Candidates for mayor were asked to answer seven questions, and all candidates were given the opportunity to make both opening and closing statements.
Questions asked involved how candidates plan to balance tourism and resident concerns as well as plans to work with other local governments, their plans for parking, their stances on affordable housing, an aquatic center and city-manager forms of government, and their plans to improve infrastructure.
“Twelve years ago, I inherited the city that was struggling financially with outdated infrastructure, but we have confronted many issues, found resolutions and moved forward for the betterment of the city,” Mayor Donna Whitener said in her opening statement.
Whitener said if re-elected she would like the zoning maps and strategic plan to be re-evaluated, have officials trained in zoning and planning, and find a better line of communication with citizens.
“As an experienced council person, I made the decision two years ago in a meeting that the city needs a new leader and new chief executive officer,” Post 2 incumbent and mayoral candidate Rhonda Haight said. “I decided then when the election came around I would run for mayor.”
If elected, Haight said she would protect the small-town feel and promote unity, transparency, controlled growth, a city manager and affordable housing.
“I wondered and sat at home, and nobody in their right mind would want to get into this thing. This is a mess,” Post 1 candidate Jack Taylor said in his opening statement. “You know, my daddy used to say, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Folks it’s broke. It needs to be fixed.”
Mentioned areas of interest involved focusing on residential concerns.
Since Taylor was asked whether or not he supports the city’s architectural guidelines, note that the city has none. However, in answering, he said he wasn’t familiar with them and made some proposals.
Post 3 incumbent and Post 2 candidate Mike Panter said that if re-elected, he would work to make the city safe, financially-sound and prosperous.
“The decisions you have to make on a day-to-day basis (as a councilman) are not as easy as a lot of people think,” Panter said in closing. “We all have our knee-jerk reactions, what we think or what we want, but other issues have to be taken into consideration.”
In her opening statement, Post 2 candidate Angie Arp said, “I decided to run for city council again because I am concerned about the citizens and how the current direction of Blue Ridge is going to continue to impact them. I believe the city needs leaders who will remember who they work for and represent, the citizens.”
She said if elected she would address citizens concerns and protect the history and charm.
“As a candidate that does not own a business, does not own property, does not have affiliations, does not have a hidden agenda, I pledge to work for you, the community, and only you,” Post 3 candidate Brian Higgins said in his opening statement.
He said his goals if elected are to sustain economic growth, evaluate and improve infrastructure and address parking and citizen needs.
On the opposing side, Post 3 candidate Christy Kay mentioned areas of interest that included growth, unity and residents.
“I have, I feel like, every reason to run, and I am invested into this town,” Kay said in her closing statement. “I’ve kind of sat back and watched. I don’t, I’m not a politician. I don’t like getting necessarily involved in this, but I see a direction that my town is going that honestly kind of breaks my heart.”
Post 4 candidate Jacqueline Kiker-Brown said in her opening statement, “The residents of the city and county are the heartbeats of this town, and I want to make your voices heard. I want to make you a priority.”
If elected, she said she would like to see workshops between the local governments and work on communication with residents.
Post 4 candidate Richard Arnold said if elected he would promote a city-manager and protect residential areas.
“I’ve been kind of standing on the sidelines, being kind of a gadfly most of my life, a political junkie, but it’s time to jump into the arena, and I think I’ve got the skills and experience to bring some good attributes to city council,” Arnold said in closing.
Post 4 candidate Dr. Bill Whaley said if elected, he would treat the citizens with respect and listen to their goals as well as come up with a strategic plan for the city.
“I know that we need business experience in this town, and I know that I can help it,” Whaley said in closing. “I made decisions instantly in Vietnam and intensive care units and emergency rooms upon which your life and your family’s life depends.”
Post 5 incumbent and candidate Nathan Fitts said, “With such growth and popularity, we have got to come up with a sustainable growth plan and implement it. Not only do we have to implement it, we have to follow it. That means no more spot zoning, no more giving favors here and there looking for favors in return, and no more inconsistencies that create problems that divide our community.”
Mentioned areas of interest included homelessness and affordable housing, parking, and unity within the city office and with the county.
Post 1 candidate and incumbent Herald Herndon and Post 5 candidate Bill Bivins were not in attendance.