What is your goal for downtown
redevelopment?
Incumbent Commissioner Bruce Wilkerson
At this point, the most important part of downtown redevelopment is attracting quality businesses and office and professional jobs, Wilkerson said. “What I push for in any city-related project is that it’s handled well financially and that the commitments are followed throughout,” he said.
Incumbent Commissioner Joe Denning
Constructing and completing the majority of the planned projects is the most important part of downtown redevelopment, Denning said. “I, as one of the city commission, I will do everything I can to be supportive of those things that we as a city can be supportive of,” he said.
Commission Challenger Mark Bradford
“I’d like to see as much as we can put down there put there,” Bradford said. He wants the redevelopment to create a thriving downtown area that serves the city and its residents well, he said.
Commission Challenger Robin Baldwin
“We need to be mindful of budget cuts before we expand further than we can afford,” Baldwin said. However, she said it’s hard for her to comment on the issue since she was not part of the original decision making.
Do you support either the Uniform
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
or substantial equivalency?
Wilkerson
He said he wants to continue to investigate public need and support for both these options. URLTA may not be amended to fit specific community needs, and Wilkerson said he has concerns about accepting the good parts of the bill with the bad.
Denning
He said he doesn’t support URLTA or substantial equivalency. He doesn’t support these measures because tenants need to learn that city code enforcement can help tenants if the city is notified about code breaches.
Bradford
He said he isn’t a big supporter of either measure. He doesn’t believe government should have such a large hand in housing regulation and won’t make it a priority if he is elected, he said.
Baldwin
She said she supports substantial equivalency, which would provide funds for local enforcement of discrimination laws. Bowling Green residents face discrimination, and a fair housing regulation is necessary, she said.
What issue will have the biggest impact on Western students in the upcoming years?
Wilkerson
To keep money in students’ pockets, Wilkerson said he wants to keep local spending under control to avoid raising taxes. He participates in regular Town and Gown meetings with the Mayor and her senior staff and Western President Gary Ransdell and his senior staff to assess the needs of students in the community.
Denning
He wants to ensure that no separation exists between Western students and other Bowling Green residents, he said. “I do certainly respect and appreciate the fact that our Western students are part of the Bowing Green community, and I am going to do everything I can so that they are treated with respect,” he said.
Bradford
He said the best thing the commission can do for Western students is complete the downtown redevelopment. This project is equally beneficial for students and other Bowling Green residents, he said.
Baldwin
If elected, Baldwin said she will respect students’ need for fair housing, opportunities to serve the community and safe, healthy areas in the city. She will respect each student as a taxpayer, she said.
What are your environmental goals
for the city of Bowling Green?
Wilkerson
He said he continues to look for ways to use compressed natural gas in city vehicles. He also serves on the Bowling Green Builder’s Association Board, and wants to continue to quickly adopt state building regulations aimed at energy conservation.
Denning
He said he will continue to support Bowling Green’s Greenways Project, which seeks to provide safe routes for those traveling without cars. His goal is that residents will be able to start at any point in Bowling Green and ride a bike around the entire city, he said.
Bradford
Creating more bicycle friendly pathways around the city is Bradford’s biggest green goal, he said.
Baldwin
Environmental education and accessible recycling are Baldwin’s main goals for a greener Bowling Green, she said. She wants to help people understand the importance of environmentally safe lifestyles and provide recycling outlets at parks and downtown events.
Commission Challenger Catherine Mason Hamilton
Greenways Projects and park proposals should be considered in order to keep neighborhoods safe for all residents, according to Hamilton’s Web site.
Do you support a clean air policy, which would ban smoking in Bowling Green?
Wilkerson
He said he won’t support a clean air policy in Bowling Green until it receives overwhelming community support and the restaurant association and other civic organizations give positive opinions. He didn’t support a smoking ban the first time it was proposed because these requests weren’t met, he said.
Denning
He said he will oppose a clean air policy as he has in the past. It is the role of local businesses to determine a smoking policy, not the role of the government to dictate a policy to them, he said.
Bradford
He doesn’t support a comprehensive clean air policy, he said. He believes restaurants and other businesses should be able to create their own policies.
Baldwin
She said she supports a clean air policy in Bowling Green. A healthier workplace means more productivity, she said. “We need to be respectful of each other’s space and provide clean air for all,” she said.
Hamilton couldn’t be reached for comment on the rest of the issues.
“My goal as City Commissioner is to represent the public interest, promote quick, courteous responses to resident issues, by providing leadership and direction for the City’s future, to assure the present and future fiscal integrity of the municipal government,” Hamilton wrote on her Web site.
Commission Challenger William “Bill” Carter couldn’t be reached for comment.
Incumbent Brian “Slim” Nash was out of town and couldn’t be reached for comment.
Reach Mandy Simpson at news@chherald.com.
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