Duluth Council Candidates Discuss Issues, Solutions

Updated 6:05 a.m.

Statistics show that there was light voter turnout in Duluth for the last municipal election (900 voters among 13,000 who are registered).

But there certainly was a good turnout and voter spirit Tuesday (Oct. 15) at the Payne-Corley House on Main Street for a forum featuring six candidates for the 2013 City Council races.

One incumbent and two challengers for each of two posts fielded questions that had been presubmitted in a session that lasted about 90 minutes. Municipal Judge Charles Barrett moderated the session.

Post 1 candidates Marsha Anderson Bomar (incumbent), David Cossette and Louis Tseng and Post 2 candidates Kirkland Carden, Jim Dugan (incumbent), and Seth Grey also made opening and closing statements.

Some common topics emerged in the discussions, including downtown redevelopment, the Buford Highway corridor, and promoting city functions.

Some examples of candidate responses and statements:

Bomar: "Duluth is bigger than downtown. My goal is to make sure each of the areas has a focal point."

Cossette: "(Red Clay Theater) is the anchor to our downtown area. It does provide culture and education."

Tseng: "64 percent of the Koreans in Georgia live in Duluth."

Dugan: "We don't own the businesses on Buford Highway ... but we don't want to see them become dilapidated and close up."

Carden: "People want to see downtown be more interesting."

Grey: "When you pay $26 a week for diapers (he's a father of four), property tax matters."

Early voting is under way at City Hall in Duluth, with Election Day on Nov. 5.

Patch will have more about the forum and the City Council election.

-- Did you attend Tuesday's forum? Share your reactions in the comments below.

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