Five candidates for Richmond city commission participated in a debate at Eastern Kentucky University Monday night. The event, which was streamed “live” https://youtu.be/V81Wojjbu1M","_id":"0000017a-5b27-dba2-ad7e-5b37b0ae0001","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/V81Wojjbu1M","_id":"0000017a-5b27-dba2-ad7e-5b37b0ae0000","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/V81Wojjbu1M","_id":"0000017a-5b27-dba2-ad7e-5b37b0ae0001","_type":"035d81d3-5be2-3ed2-bc8a-6da208e0d9e2"}">https://youtu.be/V81Wojjbu1M">on YouTube,began with questions about downtown revitalization.
Incumbent commissioner Jason Morgan believes there are possibilities for the historic yet long-vacant Glyndon Hotel, “We can have Eastern rent out some space for college kids and have flats and then have the first floor as retail business.”
In the area of public safety area, candidates were asked about a drop in the number of police officers over time. Commissioner Jim Newby says adding officers is a topic of debate. “It’s a struggle when certain officials don’t think you actually need them,” noted Newby. “They think that everything is fine.”
When it comes to dealing with dilapidated and rundown buildings in the downtown core, commission challenger John Roden said it takes step-by-step planning, “Before we know it we can have a year pass by, two years, and the conditions have not changed.”
The five candidates were quizzed on city parks. Veteran commissioner Robert Blythe thinks a new type of park should be considered, “Before I would be willing to expand any of the actual activities that we have, I’d like to see us explore other areas, such as a skate park.”
Another challenger is attorney Morgan Eaves. She says the central Kentucky community is lagging behind in certain areas,“Richmond is quickly becoming eclipsed by cities across this state in terms of economic development, downtown revitalization, urban development, and a general sense of community.”
Seven candidates are vying for four seats on the Richmond Commission. If there were eight candidates, a May primary election would have been held. The 90-minute Richmond Commission debate will be broadcast Thursday as a special edition of WEKU’S Eastern Standard. ?
