Evansville City Council candidates take on various topics in WNIN debate
John T. MartinEVANSVILLE, Ind. — Eight candidates for four Evansville City Council seats debated infrastructure priorities, police-community relations, the city's hospitalization debt and more Wednesday during the Courier & Press and WNIN debate.
The debate, featuring candidates in the First, Second, Third and Fifth wards was scheduled to air on WNIN Wednesday night. By Thursday afternoon, the program will be available for any time viewing at wnin.org and also at courierpress.com.
Incumbent Fifth Ward Councilor Justin Elpers, a Republican, faced off with Democrat Jennifer Yaser.
Councilor Stephen Melcher, appointed by a Republican caucus this year to fill a vacancy in the Third Ward, met Democrat Zach Heronemus.
Incumbent Democratic Councilor Missy Mosby debated Natalie Rascher, her Republican challenger in the Second Ward.
Candidates for an open seat in the First Ward, Democrat Ben Trockman and Republican Tim O'Brien, also appeared on the show.
There were a few sharp exchanges on the hour-long program. Panelists were John Gibson of WNIN, Courier & Press Editor Michael McCarter and Courier & Press News Director Abbey Doyle.
Yaser was critical of Elpers’ vote Monday night against Evansville’s 2020 city budget and specifically his advocacy for higher health premiums for city employees. She argued Elpers’ vote would harm families with limited incomes.
Yaser sought to strike a contrast with Elpers’ views on other issues.
Elpers was in the minority on a 7-2 City Council vote to protect LGBTQ city residents from discrimination and housing, and his Facebook post critical of a drag queen story hour program by the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library generated considerable public comment.
“Politics is personal, and we need to not drive wedges in the community on various issues,” Yaser said.
Elpers said he wanted exemptions for more organizations in the Fairness Ordinance. He said he spoke out publicly against the drag queen reading program because of the library’s use of tax dollars.
On the budget issue, Elpers cited concern about hospitalization debt city government is carrying forward. The debt is currently about $3.4 million.
Elpers said his concern is that out-of-pocket costs for city employees will be even higher in future years if the debt is not addressed.
The hospitalization debt issue also surfaced in the Second Ward debate. Rascher asked Mosby why the council hasn't done more to address the debt. Mosby said employee health insurance policy is more the purview of the city administration.
The Second Ward candidates went back-and-forth on a few other things. Mosby pushed back against Rascher's criticism of infrastructure conditions in the Second Ward, mentioning park improvements and road projects that have occurred.
Rascher said the Second Ward needs more small business growth and mentioned the closure of grocery stores. Mosby replied that grocery stores exist just outside the ward's boundaries, and population didn't support smaller ones that have closed.
To a question about police and community relations in the Second Ward, Mosby replied that community police officers attend neighborhood meetings, allowing conversation with residents. She described relations as good.
"I have been reaching out to try to get more neighborhood associations established so we can have that talk," Mosby said.
Rascher said relations are not as good as they could be.
"That doesn’t mean that it can’t improve," she said. "We have a large minority population, and there are some discrepancies in how they are treated ... I know there are groups who are trying to bridge those gaps."
In the Third Ward debate, Melcher and Heronemus said they hope more can be done to combat crime and high volumes of calls for police assistance. The ward includes neighborhoods such as Jacobsville and Jimtown.
"The biggest concern for those residents are public safety and crime," Heronemus said. "We took a tour with Dream Center. We obviously need to improve relations down there, and we have to look at what is the root of crime issues. It’s really about rebuilding the community, having better relationships and conversations."
"It's a matter of everyone working together," Melcher said. "UNOE (United Neighborhoods of Evansville) and the police sectors."
First Ward hopefuls O'Brien and Trockman spoke about ways to make Evansville a more attractive community to live and work.
"It's incredibly important to have small business," Trockman said. "Removing barriers for small businesses to thrive. I think there are ways our city government can streamline the process. It should be something that we prioritize."
O'Brien said attracting young talent to the city is a top priority, and the focus must go beyond merely seeking new jobs.
“We have to work on cultivating a community that people want to move to," O'Brien said.
Debate organizers had planned to have City Council candidates in the Fourth Ward, Democrat Alex Burton and Republican Archie Carter, appear. Carter on Wednesday morning canceled.
A Sixth Ward debate was not held because the Republican candidate, Paul Abramson, said he was unable to participate on any of the three dates that were available to candidates. Abramson is challenging incumbent Democrat Jim Brinkmeyer.
Candidates for City Council At-Large, as well as candidates for Evansville mayor, will appear in a debate that will air at 8 p.m. Oct. 24.
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