A mayoral forum held at the Greensboro Center on Monday allowed candidates vying for the city's highest office to discuss their views and opinions to citizens.
With the primary approaching on May 2, Starkville residents have a decision to make on who they would like to take Mayor Parker Wiseman's place.
Damion Poe, Johnny Moore and Lynn Spruill - all Democrats - were present for the forum, hosted by the Starkville Daily News on March 27 at 7 p.m.
Each candidate was given two minutes for an opening statement.
"This campaign isn't only about ability, it's also about accessibility," Moore said, starting the comments. "The second thing is we have got to have a mayor that is approachable."
Moore emphasized that a mayor should give the opportunity for citizens to be informed on what is going on.
Poe was the second to introduce himself.
"Six years in the military taught me that leadership is important, that pacing was important, and not to be afraid of a little sweat," Poe said.
Poe said he is familiar with the issues of Starkville, and that he is not afraid to work hard to get things done.
Spruill was the final candidate to introduce herself. She started with talking about the Mississippi State University Women's Basketball team, and congratulated them on their historic win against Baylor on Sunday to advance to the Final Four.
"Those women gave 110 percent, they gave all they had," Spruill said. "As a Starkville native, the things these girls did last night made me want to tell you that I will also give 110 percent to Starkville."
Spruill compared the position of the mayor to being a CEO of the city, running day-to-day operations. She said as a business owner and having been involved with politics in Starkville, she believes she is capable of taking the position.
After introductions, the candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions, some created by the SDN staff, and some submitted by audience members who attended the forum.
In these questions, variety of subjects were covered. Each of the candidates had two minutes to answer each question.
When asked how the candidates would differ from how the current administration does, each stressed availability.
Poe said he would take time to listen to what the city wants, but he would also be open and keep the public informed. He said he believes in having an "open door, hold your feet to the fire kind of policy."
Spruill said she plans to have more relaxed open meetings, and that she plans to work on answers before meetings, so that they run more smoothly.
Moore said he has had experience in other departments, such as with the Development Review Committee.
Moore said the mayor's involvement is inherent, and that it's important that people be able to have access to the mayor. Moore also suggested mayoral breakfasts and quarterly meetings.
STARKVILLE AND MSU
The next subject was the relationship between the city and the university.
"As MSU rises, so do we," Spruill said.
All candidates covered the points that Starkville should be a place not only for the students to attend school, but to also stay and find jobs.
"We need university liaisons," Poe said. "In putting our minds together, we can figure out who we can grow together."
Moore said he believes the city has an extremely limited relationship with the university.
"In order for the city to grow, we have to have to have a major relationship with the university, the county, as well as the city," Moore said. "Three entities can do far more than one entity."
CITY BUDGET
The budget and strategies on managing it was the first questions that the candidates truly differed on.
Poe said he believes the best approach to managing a budget is to first, find where the surpluses are, find where too much money is spent, and fix it. He said it isn't always about cutting the budget, but is about putting more money into the budget without raising taxes.
Moore stressed the importance of making sure the city employees are well-paid. One problem, he said, is Starkville invests money and time in training city employees, but does not pay them as much as other places, and the employees leave to where they will earn a higher wage.
Spruill said the city budget is the single most important document the board takes on any year. She said it sets policy for who the city is. It shows how important the police, the parks, the fire department, and other aspects are.
Spruill then said the newly elected mayor will have around 90 days to get the budget into place. She stressed her belief that the department heads need to be trusted. She said that the mayor needs to set a policy and let the department heads work with what is set.
THE MINDS OF VOTERS
When asked what the biggest issue on the minds of the potential constituents was, Moore said he believes the biggest concern is having a mayor who can community with Aldermen, conduct meetings professionally, can reach out to Oktibbeha County, to the university, to the state legislature, and to the national legislature.
Poe said the biggest issue to him is employment and entertainment. Poe believes in bringing in bigger companies that will spark a larger entertainment industry. Poe then said growing Starkville is something he is passionate about.
"Starkville has a plethora of opportunity, and we should tap into that," Poe said.
Spruill's answer to what the constituents brought up most was infrastructure.
"Streets are what I'm hearing about," Spruill said. "Streets, drainage … we have aging infrastructure, and fixing those is what we need."
WHY BE A DEMOCRAT?
When asked about political affiliation, Poe and Spruill both expressed that they did not believe Democrat, Republican, or Independent labels were necessary for city elections.
"I have the same goals and dreams," Poe said. "I do not plan to work for the Democratic Party of Starkville, I do not plan to work for the Republican Party of Starkville. I will serve all of Starkville."
Spruill said local elections should be non-partisan, because the mayor is supposed to focus on issues, not party politics. She said when it comes to issues like safety, administration, fixing the streets, and sanitation, none of those things are democratic or republican.
Moore said he was inspired to run as a Democrat because he grew up a Democrat, and his dad was a state senator for years as a Democrat. He told of how he and his wife had built themselves from almost nothing, living in government housing and getting provisions with what the government provided.
Moore said the struggle they felt and how they made it through was what inspired him to run as a Democrat.
INFRASTRUCTURE
All candidates agreed that the way to fix infrastructure is to put more money into it.
Spruill said Starkville should fix problems that are most often occurring, and that larger portions of problems need to be fixed at a time. She gave the example of a water line breaking, and a portion of it being replaced and putting pressure on a nearby portion until it broke.
Moore said his strategy was to not increase tax percentages, but to increase the tax base. To do that, Starkville would have to be more inviting to new businesses, increasing the amount of people and businesses that contribute to the tax income of Starkville.
Moore said rules should not be used as a weapon. They should be used to make sure the infrastructure of Starkville is adequate.
Moore also mentioned the new neighborhood Walmart that is being built, and how that is an example of another business that will bring more people to that area.
Poe said Starkville has 21,000 students that use the roads and infrastructure but do not pay taxes. He said he has an eight year plan called "My fair taxes" that will increase the amount of tax revenue Starkville receives.
A question came up about new apartment complexes being built, and how the potential mayors would make sure roads and infrastructure met the needs.
Poe said he would reduce overcrowding in areas.
Moore said there are safeguards against outgrowth of infrastructure, with safeguards in place from the procedures and zoning ordinances. He said a great deal of development still needs to be done within Starkville.
Spruill brought up the new comprehensive plan that was adopted in December, and that it will influence the improvement of zoning ordinances. She also said several large developments are not in the city, but outside of the city and in the county.
Spruill said calculating influence of new developments and figuring out how to manage that from an engineering perspective is important.
CLOSING REMARKS
The forum wrapped up with closing remarks. Each candidate was given three minutes for their end statements, and each thanked the audience for the opportunity to speak.
"It comes down to one thing," Moore said. "We need to work for our children and take care of our grandchildren. Do we want to leave then with 39 percent poverty? With a city where 84 percent of graduates leave here to find other jobs?"
Moore said Starkville needs to loosen up regulations and make the city more inviting so new businesses feel like they are wanted in the city. He said Starkville should be proactive, have an accessible mayor to the people, university, and county, and needs someone who can work with the Board of Aldermen. He said Starkville needs to retain the graduates from MSU.
"We want them to be here because they are Bulldogs … because we made them feel welcome," Moore said.
Poe said in his closing remarks that he heard good answers from both of his candidates.
"Either way this goes, Starkville is in good hands," Poe said. "Starkville needs someone with passion … and no one loves Starkville more than I do."
Poe said that he has left and visited other places, but he always comes home to Starkville.
"I was in Las Vegas telling them how great Starkvegas was," Poe said. "I have a true, genuine passion."
Spruill said that she knows of more issues that were not covered, one of which was education. She said Starkville needs to make sure students are in a position to grow healthy and grow smart. She mentioned the opportunity Starkville has with the partnership school, and the university and education is what brings business to town.
"The partnership school is a game changer," Spruill said. "University and education is what brings businesses to town. That and quality of life brings people here."