More casual meetings to come before elections

City Council candidates are attempting to make themselves more accessible to the public by meeting at least once a week at different locations in Carbondale to answer questions and talk with citizens.

More than half of the 21 candidates vying for a two or four-year term on the City Council have attended each of the first two meetings, both of which have taken place at local bars.

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Fourteen candidates showed up Sunday at Hangar 9, 511 S. Illinois Ave., and were able to talk with nearly 200 citizens according to Lance Jack, a candidate for a four-year term, who is responsible for organizing the meetings. The American Legion, 205 N. Illinois Ave., hosted Thursday’s meeting, which brought out about 20 community members to meet the candidates.

“We’re trying to get as much of the city and as many facets involved as possible,” Jack said, adding that he hopes this activity helps lower voter apathy if citizens can build a connection with their elected officials. “It’s a great chance to get people in Carbondale together with the candidates.”

The candidates and citizens gathered in groups ranging from two to six people on Thursday and discussed a range of issues ranging from Carbondale’s number of liquor licenses to the encroachment law, which is often enforced on The Strip.

David Lemmon, a Carbondale landlord since 1981, attended the first two meetings and said he will continue to join the candidates at these gatherings because he wants to get to know them the best he can before making a decision. He also said he likes having the opportunity to offer his opinions on certain issues, such as “exercising fiscal restraints” when it comes to the budget.

“The city shouldn’t be taking on any more debt for large projects,” Lemmon said, indicating that payments are still being made on some city buildings and property. “As taxpayers, we shoulder all that debt.”

Patrick Richey, a four-year candidate, has also attended the meetings, saying he likes the chance to interact with local citizens and see what his competition has to say about the issues.

“I’d like to see one of the meetings take place on campus to give students a chance to come over,” Richey said, indicating that a good place to meet might be the Student Center.

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Priscilla Pimentel, another four-year seeker, said she likes having the opportunity to find out what everyone is thinking about the upcoming election, and she hopes these meeting can continue until the election is over.

“I know how important this role is, and I think the city needs to focus on a sense of community unity,” she said.

Overall, there are 13 candidates campaigning for one of the three four-year terms and eight are competing for the one two-year position.

The Feb. 25 primary election will reduce the number of candidates seeking four-year terms to six, and the number of candidates seeking two-year terms to two. The general election for the new council members and mayor will take place on April 1, and the officials will be sworn into office on May 6.

The public’s next opportunity to touch base with the candidates and ask questions will be in a more formal setting 7 p.m. Thursday at the Eurma C. Hayes Center, 441 E. Willow St. Most of the candidates have already agreed to attend.

Reporter Brian Peach can be reached at [email protected]