On April 20, several groups got together and put on an Augusta commission candidates forum at A. R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School.
Most, but not all, of the candidates for the eligible district seats were in attendance to answer questions put forth by the two chosen moderators.
The ground rules were simple. Each district’s candidates were called to the stage at the same time. Each one would have three minutes in which to introduce themselves and present their platform.
Then, each candidate in the district group would be asked the same question, and the candidate would have two minutes to answer.
Now, I won’t go into the specific Q & A for each candidate. The forum has a podcast that can be watched online for those wishing a word-by-word replay. I will, however, endeavor to give a few insights to the forum.
First up were the candidates from District Three. For me, that was an odd choice. Why not just go in numerical order of districts. Nevertheless, the three candidates were all present: Commissioner Catherine McKnight, Carol Jones Yancy and Joidaz Gaines.
McKnight was the first to speak.
As she introduced herself and told of her platform, no one could hear her speaking. Seems they had not turned the mic on or up to a correct volume. Instead of interrupting McKnight and correcting the problem, they waited until she was finished speaking to correct the issue.
Without missing a beat, she started all over again. Kudos to Commissioner McKnight, she wasn’t flustered a bit; she just continued like the professional she is.
For McKnight, infrastructure, financial responsibility and transparency were main topics.
For candidate Yancy, juvenile justice accessibility and leadership was one of her concerns. Street potholes was a concern, but then so was all of the road construction projects going on seemingly all at once. Yancy wants city services equally distributed and to possibly offer more vouchers for housing so more people could have a home.
For Candidate Gaines, Riverwalk and parking decks were on his agenda. Gaines is for budget cuts as well, but recommends doing it equally in all departments.
On the question of the mayor having an equal vote, Yancy was a NO, while McKnight and Gaines were YES.
For District One, the candidates in attendance were Commissioner Jordan Johnson, Jo Rae Jenkins, Kenneth Osorio and Matt Aitken. Kevin de l’Aigle was not there.
To give a quick overview Jo Rae Jenkins is a community activist that works with people that are having problems with landlords and becoming evicted. I know Jenkins, and she is passionate about this issue and that is her platform in general.
Kenneth Osorio is an unknown who came out of left field. I couldn’t hear his speaking for he was really, really soft spoken, even with the speakers turned up to ‘eleven.’
Commissioner Jordan Johnson was his usual polished self. He spoke of the programs that everyone who keeps up with Augusta politics already knows about.
Matt Aitken is a return-to-politics candidate. Having served a term before, Aitken knows how to navigate the waters and undertow of Augusta politics. He is a real estate developer and knows business.
Kevin de l’Aigle called me and explained why he was not there and that he was withdrawing from the race due to family issues. His mother, Ms Katie, had a heart attack and was hospitalized.
He is an only child, and he feels he needs to put his mother first. And with his mother and employment that requires almost monthly travel, he feels that he would not, if elected, have the time to dedicate to the service of the citizens not only in district one but to all of Augusta.
He will however continue his activism to help Augusta.
de l’Aigle seems to be in possession of the integrity needed for public service. I am sure that we shall see more of him on down the road. Meanwhile, he will continue his service with C.A.D.A., the group he founded to actually do hands on work with projects in the downtown corridor.
So it looks like District One may just be a two candidate race. Word on the street is that Johnson has a viable opponent that may just unseat him. On the issue of giving the mayor a commission vote, Johnson is a NO while Aitken is a YES.
District Seven has two candidates: Tina Slendak and Marshall Bedder. Only Slendak was in attendance. Maybe Bedder had something bedder to do. I have not heard an explanation as yet.
Slendak spoke of what she would like to do concerning the parks and recreation here in Augusta; she cited the unused city pools, the condition of the playgrounds and parks being closed.
City finances being used correctly and being accounted for were high on Slendak’s list as well as, city employees being hired based on experience, not connections.
Slendak also called for drug rehabilitation programs that are needed and help for those that suffer from mental illness.
As for the mayor having a vote, Ms. Slendak is a YES.
Super District Nine has two candidates: Commissioner Francine Scott and past Commissioner Marion Williams.
Scott spoke of her nearly 40 years working for the state government. She would like more affordable housing built and more grocery stores in her districts. Scott touted the fact that she works well with her district commissioners.
Now, anyone knowing Marion Williams knows he doesn’t pull punches.
Williams plays it fair and down the middle. He thinks Augusta misses tourism dollars due to people afraid to think out of the box. He is a realist and states grocery stores are not going to build in neighborhoods where crime is running amok and the income levels are not present.
Williams stated that he wants accountability in not only the government, but with citizens as well.
As for the mayor having a vote, Scott is a NO and Williams says leave it to the people.
District Dive has two candidates: Commissioner Bobby Williams and Don “DC” Clark, both of whom were in attendance at the forum.
These two are as different as night and day. Clark is a retired Army sergeant first class, has been deployed into active war zones and is a recipient of the Bronze Star. He has spent his life in service to our country and since retirement, to veterans.
Bobby Williams has spent his life in service to the education system as a teacher, coach and principal. He retired as the principal of Glenn Hills High School.
When each introduced himself, Clark was even-toned and straight forward with no dramatics. Williams, on the other hand, came out shouting like an old time revivalist preacher trying to save souls.
“I am Bobby Williams, I am your current commissioner, I am a leader.” All stated at an elevated volume.
Clark is for infrastructure improvements and government accountability, while Williams believes he already runs a pretty near perfect ship.
I have heard that this District Five race has issues. Yard signs disappearing from yards and rumors are abounding of Clark not really living in District Five, but in Columbia county.
This rumor indicates that the Williams people know they have a serious challenger.
Tax records in Columbia County have no record of Clark or his wife having property located there. However, there is property owned and resided in by the owners on Madison Lane in the Granite Hill subdivision. That is in district five. Owners? Don Clark and his wife.
So, the rumors are false. Don Clark lives in District Five.
As far as the mayor having a vote, Williams is a NO while Clark is a Yes.
These races are getting heated. Will some current commissioners be unseated? The probability that is happening is great.
So much is being said about the mayor having a vote. True, the mayor can break a tie, but the ones not wanting the mayor to have a vote have often stated he misused his vote to break a tie. That’s because he didn’t vote the way they wanted him to.
The mayor having an equal vote on every issue should occur; the mayor is elected by the entire city, not just districts.
Some state that a mayor can misuse the vote. Duhhhh!!!!!!! Some commissioners already do that. Citizens must vet the candidates before they vote. The voter is responsible for who they vote into office.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
