County council candidates debate diversity issues

Diverse questions ranging from property taxes to Lake Monroe's water supply challenged county council at large candidates Thursday during the second of five scheduled debates at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.\nQuestions from the panel and the audience provided a larger selection of issues than the previous debate more than a month ago. The candidates also presented possible solutions to environmental concerns and traded barbs about county finances. \nDemocrat Julio Alonso, executive director of Community Kitchen of Monroe County, said students should be concerned about what happens in the council races, because issues the council considers can affect anything from gas prices to city services. \nRepublican Doug Duncan, an investment manager, added that the large property taxes affect the rent that students pay. \nAfter nearly two hours of debate, the differences between the parties caused candidates to question each other. \nRepublican candidates said they felt there were too many rules and regulations in county government. In answer to a question on what they would like to see the county look like in the year 2010, Republican Randy May said he hopes for a smaller government.\n"I'd love to see Monroe County where the government isn't in your backyard," said May, who is an owner of May Brothers Construction. "Over the past several years I've noticed that the county's been changing and I'd like to see it go back. Get rid of the red tape and start rolling out the red carpet for businesses, also."\nDemocrats, on the other hand, argued for additional money to fix the council's budget deficit.\n"I'm a man who straight-talks his issues," said Democrat Scott Wells, an environmental consultant and teacher. "There's a fiscal fiasco right now and we've basically been short money four years in a row and it's time we make a change -- start smart growth."\nDuncan said Lake Monroe was a concern the council will face. "The single most important environmental issue is the drinking water," he said. "We have a good erosion policy; we just need to enforce it."\nAlways a highly contested topic, the panel questioned candidates on the issue of planning and zoning and what they would do if elected.\nMay felt that higher wages for planners aren't necessary. Republican Jeff Ellington, a local firefighter, agreed with May's assertion that the government is overcharging taxpayers. \nLater in the night, the debate heated up as Wells called May's government growth figures "fictitious," and Ellington countered by calling the democrat's calculations "fuzzy numbers."\n"These are not democrats like your parents and grandparents," Ellington said. "These are extremists and activitists. I've been on the council for four years and (Republicans) are the minority. They've had their chance, now give us ours."\nDemocratic candidate Charles Wilson was not at the debate.