{"id":6210,"date":"2013-10-19T12:10:29","date_gmt":"2013-10-19T16:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=6210"},"modified":"2013-10-19T12:13:14","modified_gmt":"2013-10-19T16:13:14","slug":"videos-aauw-candidates-forum-aauw-2013-10-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/10\/videos-aauw-candidates-forum-aauw-2013-10-15.html","title":{"rendered":"Videos, AAUW Candidates’ Forum @ AAUW 2013-10-15"},"content":{"rendered":"

\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\nWater was a popular topic, as you can see in these\r\nvideos of the\r\n\r\nCandidates’s Forum by AAUW<\/a>.\r\nSame location (VSU Continuing Education Building)\r\nas the one\r\n\r\nChamber held<\/a>,\r\nbut this time the audience got to ask questions.\r\nYes, Virginia, they do all live in their districts, and some of them have widely divergent views about what cities or school boards should do.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nLocal\r\n\r\nAAUW President Diane Holliman<\/a> gave a welcome, and then\r\nDr. Luke Fowler moderated.\r\nHere’s\r\n\r\nthe list of qualified candidates<\/a>.\r\nHere’s\r\n\r\nMatthew Woody’s writeup in the VDT<\/a>.\r\n

\r\nValdosta City Council District 2<\/a><\/H3>\r\nJohn Hogan and Calvin Graham Sr. were present; Sandra J. Tooley was not.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJohn Hogan<\/a> pointed out that a road issue could really be a drainage issue,\r\nso it’s necessary to look at context.\r\n

\r\n\r\nCalvin Graham Sr.<\/a>\r\nsaid he was retired military, lived in the district, and had\r\nbeen spending a lot of time volunteering.\r\nHe indicated the Dept. of Labor and the senior citizens building\r\nmoving in were signs of growth in the district.\r\nHe indicated drainage problems in the Spivey Lane area.\r\n

Issues?<\/H4>\r\nAsked by the audience\r\nwhat issues the candidates thought important,\r\n\r\nJohn Hogan<\/a> said working together to finish projects.\r\n

\r\n\r\nCalvin Graham Jr.<\/a>\r\nthought the widening of Forest Street and the overpass on Hill Ave.,\r\nplus the water treatment plant.\r\n

\r\n\r\nSPLOST VII?<\/a>\r\n<\/H4>\r\nCalvin Graham Jr. expressed concern about the jail, communications,\r\nand leadership.\r\n

\r\nJohn Hogan said communications were needed between the city and the county\r\nand finishing the water treatment plant in a reasonable amount\r\nof time while considering effects on citizens of the city and county\r\nwas important.\r\n

\r\n\r\nLive in their district?<\/a>\r\n<\/H4>\r\nYes, they do.\r\n

\r\nCouncil colleagues?<\/H4>\r\n

\r\nBoth expect no problems.\r\n

\r\nRenewable energy?\r\n<\/H4>\r\nJohn Hogan worried about the expense of solar panels,\r\nand gave a time to recover costs far too long.\r\nCalvin Graham Jr. said he’d have to research the question.\r\nNeither of them seemed well-informed on this question.\r\n

\r\nWhat do you do for a business?\r\n<\/H4>\r\n

\r\nJohn Hogan owns and operates a taxicab company and says he\r\ngets to meet all sorts of people and see everything.\r\n

\r\nCalvin Graham Jr. said Matthis Auditorium and various events\r\nsuch as Juneteenth could be used to bring in more business.\r\n

\r\n\r\nHow to serve all of District 2, from downtown to southside?<\/a><\/H4>\r\n

\r\nCalvin Graham Jr. said he liked to call it one area, but\r\nparts of southside were like a ghost town, plus around the overpass\r\nwas an accident waiting to happen, so money needs to be spent there.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nJohn Hogan said people from southside don’t go downtown,\r\nso there are contrasting priorities, such as historic preservation\r\ndowntown vs. drainage southside, both of which need to be priorities,\r\nalong with downtown businesses.\r\n

\r\nThat’s a gully there we kind of have to cross over.\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

Closing<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nCalvin Graham Jr.<\/a> synopsized his opening statement\r\nabout military experience and time to do the job.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJohn Hogan<\/a> said being elected wouldn’t change him,\r\nand said:\r\n

\r\nNot only do we have veterans within our district,\r\nbut also we have other heroes as well,\r\ncrossing guards, police officers, convenience store workers,\r\nday care workers.\r\nThey are heroes as well, and they should be acknowledged as such.\r\nSo if you put John Hogan in that seat November 5th: I gotcha.\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\r\nValdosta City Council District 4<\/a><\/H3>\r\n\r\nAlvin Payton Jr.<\/a>, the incumbent, said he\r\nwas the captain of the 1972 state champion\r\nValdosta High School football team, was head of the Kiwanis, Mayor Pro Tem,\r\nand has numerous other accomplishments, including\r\nworking relationships with Lowndes County Commissioners.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJunior S. Jackson<\/a>\r\nis much younger, but he is on the KLVB board, among other accomplishments,\r\nand he is concerned about providing jobs for graduates here.\r\n

\r\nIssues?<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nJunior S. Jackson<\/a>\r\nsaid jobs for college graduates and making a strategic marketing plan to\r\naccomplish that.\r\n

\r\n\r\nAlvin Payton Jr.<\/a> said relocation of the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment\r\nPlant and jobs.\r\nHe talked about work being done by the Industrial Authority\r\namong others to attract businesses, including the VLCIA director\r\nheading to France soon to talk to companies there.\r\n

\r\nColleagues on the Council?<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nAlvin Payton Jr.<\/a> said sometimes conflict is good,\r\nsince everybody needed to have a point of view,\r\nand relationship building was important.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJunior S. Jackson<\/a>\r\nsaid he didn’t forsee a problem.\r\nHe talked about city staff and getting the people of the district involved.\r\n

\r\nSPLOST VII?\r\n<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nJunior S. Jackson<\/a>\r\nsaid he was for it and already had been campaigning for it.\r\n

\r\n\r\nAlvin Payton Jr.<\/a> talked about the LOST tax,\r\ncurrently back in dispute.\r\nHe advocated sticking with the same percentages as previously\r\nto meet the 17 October 2013 deadline.\r\n(And that’s what’s happening<\/a>.)\r\n

Safe and social neighborhoods?<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nAlvin Payton Jr.<\/a>\r\nadvocated more neighborhood watches and continued support of the Valdosta\r\nPolice Department.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJunior S. Jackson<\/a>\r\nadvocated scare tactics in schools.\r\n

Help young males in this area who may have lost hope?<\/H4>\r\n\r\nJunior S. Jackson<\/a> pointed to himself as a good example.\r\n

\r\n\r\nAlvin Payton Jr.<\/a>\r\nalso pointed at himself and talked about his ten years of\r\npublic education experience and how being an example of a better way\r\nwas important.\r\n

Closing<\/H4>\r\n

\r\nYes, both candidates live in their district.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJunior S. Jackson<\/a> thanked the AAUW and said pick the best candidate.\r\n

\r\n\r\nAlvin Payton Jr.<\/a>\r\nalso thanked AAUW and also everyone else for participating.\r\nHe asked for support to re-elect him.\r\n

\r\n\r\nValdosta City Council District 6<\/a><\/H3>\r\nNone of these three candidates bothered to stand up to speak.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRobert Yost<\/a>, the incumbent,\r\nsaid he loved talking to people about the city and he’d worked hard\r\nfor the district and the city in his twelve years on the Council.\r\nHe said the university, the mall, neighborhoods, and I-75\r\nin district 6 made it “very unique”, and there was a lot more work to do.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRichard Miller<\/a>\r\nsaid he was a life-long resident of the area, as well as many of his relatives\r\nand ancestors; he’s an architect with a degree from Valdosta Tech\r\nand has taught at Lowndes High and owned a business in Remerton.\r\nHe has received the historic preservation award for his work in\r\nrestoring historic buildings, and he understands building and zoning codes.\r\nHe said he was very concerned about residents of Meadowbrook Drive\r\nwho had to deal with raw sewage.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJoseph Wheeler<\/a>\r\nsaid he was for a two-term limit and a pay-as-you-go government.\r\nHe works as a heavy equipment operator for the city,\r\nand he opposes SPLOST VII.\r\n

Issues<\/H4>\r\n\r\nRobert Yost<\/a> said rebuilding the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment\r\nPlant was the most important issue,\r\nand SPLOST VII was needed to fund it.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRichard Miller<\/a>\r\nsaid the sewage treatment plant and the force main to supply that plant\r\nwere among the primary issues, and he already voted for SPLOST VII\r\nin early voting.\r\nPlus what happens if SPLOST doesn’t pass?\r\n

\r\nIf you don’t vote for SPLOST, you will not be giving yourself a raise\r\nbecause property taxes will go to the maximum.\r\nNot only that, but that’s still not going to be enough funding\r\nto pay for the projects.\r\nSo there’s still going to be another tax implemented on top of that.\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\nThe money will be loaned to the city and the county, but it has to be paid back.\r\nHe also advocated all new projects using permeable paving to\r\nreduce stormwater runoff: government projects should be forced to do that,\r\nand incentives should be provided for private projects.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJoseph Wheeler<\/a>\r\nsaid the city should pay for those projects through cuts and layoffs.\r\n

\r\nWe don’t need Mathis City Auditorium. Shut it down.\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\nHe also advocated not hiring a meter reader.\r\n

Demolition of historic buildings?<\/H4>\r\n\r\nRichard Miller<\/a>\r\nsaid a lot of them look a lot worse than they are,\r\nalthough some were too far gone.\r\nHe said the answer is to get private money involved in the rehabilitation.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJoseph Wheeler<\/a>\r\nexpressed outrage that the owner couldn’t demolish a building that had\r\nbecome “functionally obsolete”.\r\nHe said owners should be given incentives to rehabilitate: “lower his property taxes”.\r\nAlso get owners on either side to donate.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRobert Yost<\/a>\r\nsaid it was Council’s job to protect and repair Valdosta’s\r\nbeautiful historic buildings and businesses when possible,\r\nbut it wasn’t always possible.\r\nSometimes rules and regulations get in the way, and sometimes they help.\r\nIn addition to preservation, he advocated tearing down abandoned\r\nhomes and buildings that cause safety problems.\r\n

New wastewater treatment plant and how to fund it?<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nJoseph Wheeler<\/a> said “Cut, cut, cut” and use donations and contractors (“1099”).\r\n

\r\n\r\nRobert Yost<\/a>\r\ncarefully distinguished the drinking water treatment plant,\r\nand the wastewater treatment plant.\r\nHe pointed out the wastewater plant was required by federal\r\nregulations to be rebuilt, not fixed.\r\nHe said he believes it will be finished in two years,\r\nand the force main will also be fixed, helping alleviate\r\nwastewater overflows in district 6.\r\nHow do we pay for it?\r\n

\r\nMy first question to Mr. Wheeler would be:\r\nYou’re an employee of the city and you’ve talked about cutting.\r\nWhat’s your next job when we cut yours?\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\nYost said every council decision has repercussions and affects\r\npeople in many different ways.\r\nHe noted the Valdosta City Council had not raised anybody’s taxes\r\nand kept a balanced budget, which requires funding.\r\nHe said visitors don’t pay to build local roads or emergency services,\r\nso “the easiest way, the best way” to get 30% to 60%\r\nof the $55 million to pay\r\nfor these projects is through SPLOST, rather than property taxes\r\nor user fees.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRichard Miller<\/a>\r\nalso wondered what the question was.\r\nModerator said the audience question actually said water treatment plant.\r\nSince nobody knew of any new water treatment plant, Miller assumed\r\nthe question was about the wastewater treatment plant.\r\n“It’s mandated; we’ve got to do it.”\r\nHe said it didn’t matter what else was in SPLOST; the main purpose\r\nwas these water projects, and otherwise property taxes would have to go up.\r\n

Colleagues?<\/H4>\r\n\r\nRobert Yost<\/a>:\r\n“Not as long as they vote the way I want them to.”\r\nHe advocated continuing to work well together.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRichard Miller<\/a>\r\nsaid it was important to bring new ideas to the table,\r\nand listen to personnel bringing forth issues and information.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJoseph Wheeler<\/a>\r\nsaid yes there would be disagreements, “many of them, many topics, constantly.”\r\nBut he expected they’d get through them, by coming over to his side.\r\n

Live in the district?<\/H4>\r\n\r\nYes, yes, and yes.<\/a>\r\n

Compensate residents for sewage on their property?<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nJoseph Wheeler<\/a>\r\nwondered how you would calculate that compensation,\r\nand then advocated two free years without property taxes.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRobert Yost<\/a>\r\nsaid he couldn’t discuss it since the city was being sued by the\r\nresidents of Meadowbrook Drive.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRichard Miller<\/a>\r\nsaid people had been dealing with this for five years,\r\nand the least the city could have done would have been\r\nto have people out there immediately to clean it up,\r\nand they were due some compensation.\r\n

Closing<\/H4>\r\n\r\nRichard Miller<\/a>\r\nsaid he is semi-retired, has the time,\r\npledges to work for all the citizens, has friends on the County Commission,\r\nand was ready to work on issues such as WWTP and LOST.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJoseph Wheeler<\/a>\r\nsaid thanks for the invitation and solicited votes.\r\n

\r\n\r\nRobert Yost<\/a>\r\nalso said thanks and said he wasn’t retired;\r\nhe’s the COO of Special Olympics Georgia,\r\nand he wants to continue to serve after 12 years.\r\nHe also put in a plug to vote for SPLOST.\r\n

Valdosta School Board District 1<\/H3>\r\n

\r\nEdgar Cornelius Tooley was not present.\r\n

\r\n\r\nLizzie Shumphard<\/a>\r\ngave a bio, including her extended family.\r\nHer main issue was the Pre-K program, followed by students who don’t speak English.\r\nShe said she’d previously worked with the Southside Recreational Facility.\r\nShe is for reducing class sizes.\r\nIn closing, she said she had the experience in the classroom,\r\nand she wants students to get a good foundation at an early age,\r\neven if it takes getting retired teachers into the classroom.\r\n

Valdosta School Board District 2<\/H3>\r\n\r\nVanassa L. Flucas<\/a>, the incumbent, said she’s a transplant who’s\r\nbeen on the school board for several terms.\r\n

\r\n\r\nJames L. Nelson<\/a>\r\nput on a cap and gown\r\nand talked about the dropout rate and how 3\/4 of the dropouts are black.\r\nAlso low CRCTC scores, language arts, reading, especially in science,\r\nmath, and social studies.\r\nHe refered to this as the achievement gap,\r\nand said it was because of Title I,\r\nwhich he said may need funds redirection,\r\ngiven a 47% dropout rate in the black community.\r\n

Issues<\/H4>\r\n

\r\n\r\nJames L. Nelson<\/a>\r\nreiterated his platform from his opening, emphasizing the achievement gap.\r\n

\r\n\r\nVanassa L. Flucas<\/a>\r\nsaid tackling the graduation rate “not just for black students, but for all students” including\r\ngetting students interested,\r\nand increasing parent participation;\r\nparents currently don’t even go to the school board meetings,\r\nand never show up at school unless there’s a problem with their child.\r\n“It’s also a home component.”\r\n<\/p>\r\n

Other Cities<\/H3>\r\n

\r\nThe candidates from the smaller cities, Dasher, Hahira, Lake Park, and Remerton,\r\ndid not show up.\r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\nHahira had its own forum\r\nsee\r\nat the Hahira Historical Society, which most of the Hahira candidates\r\nattended, except the incumbent Mayor;\r\n\r\nthe VDT writeup by Stuart Taylor 11 October 2013<\/a>.\r\n

Video Playlist<\/H3>\r\n

\r\nHere’s\r\n\r\na video playlist:<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n