hm-aleshire-believes-people-should-be-actively-involved-in-community-20120309
hm-breichner-most-important-issue-facing-city-is-attracting-businesses-to-struggling-downtown-20120309
hm-brubaker-wants-to-continue-playing-a-major-role-in-good-governance-20120311
hm-metzner-enjoys-serving-the-community-in-which-he-works-20120311
hm-city-council-candidate-nigh-sees-public-safety-as-priority-20120312
hm-city-council-candidate-says-revitalizing-business-is-one-of-top-issues-20120307
hm-expanding-tax-base-addressing-crime-are-big-issues-for-burrs-20120305
hm-city-council-candidate-says-revitalizing-business-is-one-of-top-issues-20120307
hm-councilman-says-city-should-continue-to-cut-costs-and-reduce-tax-rate-20120307
hm-munson-would-bring-a-lifetime-of-public-service-to-city-council-20120308
Following are the responses of candidates for Hagerstown City Council to three questions posed by The Herald-Mail. The candidates were asked to limit their responses to 75 words. Those responses that exceeded that limit were edited, and some punctuation was added. Otherwise, the responses are as the candidates submitted them.
City Council candidate Chris Kelly, a Republican, did not return the questionnaire.
Kristin B. Aleshire, 36
1217 Virginia Ave.
Democrat
1. Do you think a new publicly financed sports stadium should be built in or near downtown Hagerstown? Why or why not?
This question seems premature without technical information to determine financial viability. That requires transparency, which hasn’t occurred. First, let’s provide citizens an opportunity to weigh the full proposal now approaching $25 million. Some call it overanalyzing, others “naysaying,” I call it being responsible with public funds. Until then its speculative “political will,” a point best addressed by public vote, which I have always advocated. Poor decisions are often made out of haste and under threat.
2. What would you like to do to bring new businesses to the downtown area and to retain existing businesses?
First, large public projects have never proven a silver bullet to reverse historic decline in downtowns. Instead, smaller collaborative initiatives executed on a broader scale have experienced much greater success. Second, a thriving city is much more than its downtown. We should therefore resolve to invest similar levels of effort toward improving the quality of life for all citizens so that our many neighborhoods and various businesses citywide receive equal attention from finite city resources.
hm-breichner-most-important-issue-facing-city-is-attracting-businesses-to-struggling-downtown-20120309
hm-brubaker-wants-to-continue-playing-a-major-role-in-good-governance-20120311
hm-metzner-enjoys-serving-the-community-in-which-he-works-20120311
hm-city-council-candidate-nigh-sees-public-safety-as-priority-20120312
hm-city-council-candidate-says-revitalizing-business-is-one-of-top-issues-20120307
hm-expanding-tax-base-addressing-crime-are-big-issues-for-burrs-20120305
hm-city-council-candidate-says-revitalizing-business-is-one-of-top-issues-20120307
hm-councilman-says-city-should-continue-to-cut-costs-and-reduce-tax-rate-20120307
hm-munson-would-bring-a-lifetime-of-public-service-to-city-council-20120308
Following are the responses of candidates for Hagerstown City Council to three questions posed by The Herald-Mail. The candidates were asked to limit their responses to 75 words. Those responses that exceeded that limit were edited, and some punctuation was added. Otherwise, the responses are as the candidates submitted them.
City Council candidate Chris Kelly, a Republican, did not return the questionnaire.
Kristin B. Aleshire, 36
1217 Virginia Ave.
Democrat
1. Do you think a new publicly financed sports stadium should be built in or near downtown Hagerstown? Why or why not?
This question seems premature without technical information to determine financial viability. That requires transparency, which hasn’t occurred. First, let’s provide citizens an opportunity to weigh the full proposal now approaching $25 million. Some call it overanalyzing, others “naysaying,” I call it being responsible with public funds. Until then its speculative “political will,” a point best addressed by public vote, which I have always advocated. Poor decisions are often made out of haste and under threat.
2. What would you like to do to bring new businesses to the downtown area and to retain existing businesses?
First, large public projects have never proven a silver bullet to reverse historic decline in downtowns. Instead, smaller collaborative initiatives executed on a broader scale have experienced much greater success. Second, a thriving city is much more than its downtown. We should therefore resolve to invest similar levels of effort toward improving the quality of life for all citizens so that our many neighborhoods and various businesses citywide receive equal attention from finite city resources.
