Mayoral candidates address local issues
ISSUE: 04/18/07 > News > Mayoral candidates address local issues
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Voting can be a difficult task - especially when there is a myriad of candidates. Where do you start?
Belmont University hosted the Nashville Mayoral Forum April 13 in the Massey Performing Arts Center. Harry Chapman, director of development for major gifts, moderated the forum for Nashville mayoral candidates David Briley, Bob Clement, Karl Dean, Buck Dozier, Kenneth Eaton and Howard Gentry. Chapman opened by saying, “six out of 10 students remain in Tennessee after they graduate,” although students are gradually moving to bigger cities to find work.
Belmont Vision editor and senior journalism major Henry Nichols began questioning the candidates about what their plans were in regard to keeping students in Tenn. “We need to keep college graduates in Nashville,” Clement said. He believes that having a clean, green, safe and affordable Nashville are the key elements in keeping students in Tenn. after they have completed their studies.
Dean echoed this, saying, “Nashville is a city that is a perfect place to raise a family.”
“The economic, social and cultural diversity in Nashville make it a place where students should want to stay,” Dozier said.
Briley actually went farther in his response, “I will make sure we have more neighborhoods where people can work and play. I will start a program where students can come and work with the government and pay off their student loans within five years.”
James Madison Society Vice President Lauren Williams probed the candidates as well with questions regarding environmental awareness and growth.
Dozier began by saying, “Environmental care is a moral issue.” Eaton was not so convinced that environmental initiatives would make a difference at all.
The candidates also expressed interest in the future of today’s college students. “Your generation will discover the new wealth,” Briley said.
Each candidate got a chance to say why he deserves to be the next mayor of Nashville. “I believe in bridges. We need bridges to connect us culturally, ideologically and religiously,” Briley said.
“Endowment for schools, hometown security, common sense, decency and accountability will be brought to Nashville if I am elected,” Dozier said.
“I am running for mayor because Nashville can be a better place, diversity is its true treasure. We can have the best education systems and together we can keep Nashville flourishing,” Gentry said.
“I have a plan. A plan for the environment, community and the overall growth of Nashville,” Briley said.
“I want to see Nashville reduce crime, increase job availability, build smarter transit systems and become more environmentally conscious. We need to match our resources with volunteerism,” said Clement.
Representatives of Belmont’s democrat and republican collegiate organizations were in attendance, among other political groups.
The candidates left a lasting impression on senior Belmont Ambassador Molly Smith. “I wasn’t familiar with the candidates before the forum,” she said.
Incentives to get students to attend the forum included class credit for some and convocation credit for all.
But Smith didn’t come for either of those reasons, “I wanted to hear each of them and see what they were really like. They had their individual platforms but they were still relatable to students,” she said.
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