City council forum

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Candidates in the August Cleveland City Council election swapped views on government consolidation, the economy and other issues during a forum last week.

Among the participants were 3rd District candidate Denis Collins and incumbent Avery Johnson and 5th District hopeful Alvin Howard and incumbent Bill Robertson. At-large candidate Nicholas Lillios was there but his opponent, incumbent George Poe Jr., was absent. David May, incumbent 4th District candidate, is unopposed.

City Council races are nonpartisan.

Mr. Collins looked ahead to challenging years.

“The council’s projection of sales tax growth of 4 percent in 2008 does not seem possible anymore,” he said. “Do we cut services? Do we lay off workers? Do we raise taxes? The next four years will be a challenge for the City Council. We need to elect fiscal conservatives who can meet these challenges.”

Mr. Johnson, a council member for 14 years, said there are more than 5,400 voters in the 3rd District.

“You’ve got to realize you do have a responsibility to really see after the needs of the people,” he said.

Mr. Howard, a retired city firefighter, said talking to people during his door-to-door campaign has given him insights that will serve him well on the council.

Mr. Robertson, a 12-year council member, said he listens to constituents.

“I take a tally, yes and no. The majority of the votes people call in gets my vote at the next meeting,” he said. “It’s real easy. I vote the way the citizens want me to vote. I vote the way the city manager recommends to vote. I also vote the way the planning commission recommends.”

Mr. Lillios noted his work with MainStreet Cleveland, the downtown development organization.

“It’s unfortunate all the candidates can’t be here so you can hear all points of view,” he said.

The candidates agreed combining some government services makes sense, such as the 911 center, fire contract and recreation programs. But all said other combinations wouldn’t work, such as schools.

They also talked about how to meet increased traffic and infrastructure needs.

“This is one of the most serious needs of our city,” Mr. Johnson said.

“It always comes back to money. It used to be when we got to the bottom line that streets were always cut first,” he said.

Now, the council makes sure to set aside some money each year for street work, he said.

Cleveland is a federal metropolitan area and has an organization to seek federal and state grants, Mr. Collins said. That organization should take the lead in funding streets, he said.

Mr. Howard said the city should look for more grants. He also said there are things to be done locally, including the way traffic lights are set up.

Mr. Robertson pointed to a local decision banning logging trucks from North Ocoee Street. He said each council district is allocated money for a certain number of streets per year.

Mr. Lillios said as MainStreet Cleveland president, he worked with the city for downtown street improvements that were 90 percent funded by the state.

“Unfortunately we overspent the past few years, and we are paying off interest and debt,” he said. “That’s why we have no money this year for streets and sidewalks.”

The Cleveland Lions Club organized the forum.

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