Candidates Speak Out on Issues at Forum Monday Evening

In a voters forum Monday evening at , five candidates were introduced to the public — two running for mayor and three for City Council.

The forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters, allowed the candidates to answer questions asked by the audience as openly and honestly as possible in timed segments.

Hoping to Be Elected

During the opening remarks portion of the forum, the candidates were given 90 seconds each to introduce themselves and state why they chose to run.

, who was early this year, is seeking election to retain the seat for a two-year term. Noting that the country is still experiencing dismal economic times, Coulter said he realizes much work is still left to be done. “I take this job seriously every single day,” he said.

Running opposite Coulter is , who stated that his race for mayor is for personal reasons. Willis, who had a longtime career in contracting prior to the race, is now a stay-at-home father of four who strongly expresses his passion for the city.

, who is seeking re-election to a third four-year term on the Ferndale City Council, is a lifelong resident of the city and an employee of Garden Fresh Gourmet.

, another City Council candidate, is chair of the Ferndale Community Foundation and an active volunteer in the community. He expressed his desire to run and ensure protection of those in Ferndale, saying, “I think residents and businesses deserve a voice on council.”

, a business owner and attorney, also seeks a position on the City Council. She noted a strong concern about fiscal responsibility for the city.

Pedestrians vs. Vehicles in Downtown

When asked whether they favored a nonmotorized downtown in order to increase pedestrian traffic and reduce noise, many of the candidates had their own ideas for improvement.

Coulter noted he is sensitive to a balance needed between foot and motor traffic, but he does encourage those in Ferndale to be as pedestrian-friendly as possible. Lennon said he believes the city’s ordinance should be restudied and that business owners should be consulted with before making any changes. Wells believes the city has done a great job with the area thus far but said it needs to be more family friendly. Willis said he promotes bicycling as well as motor vehicles.

However, the candidates agreed unanimously that the improvement of Ferndale’s downtown area during the past few decades is here to stay and will only grow with time.

‘Buy Local’ Ordinance: A Good Idea

When an audience member asked a question regarding the "buy local" ordinance, an act that encourages those within Ferndale to purchase from local firms rather than outsiders in order to help restimulate the economy, all of the candidates expressed their approval of this act.

“Shop local, buy local; that’s a great motto,” Lennon said.

Candidates agreed local businesses and the city of Ferndale are nothing but benefited by this ordinance, and many even shared their favorite local places to shop.

Improving Relationship of City Council, Board of Education

Long-standing tense relations between the City Council and the Ferndale Public Schools Board of Education prompted an audience member to ask the candidates how they feel about the situation.

Most stressed there can be more cooperation with the two groups, with Coulter noting that while the tension is easing, they can better work together to support one another’s ideas. Martin agreed they can encourage collaboration, with Lennon suggesting attending the other's group meetings.

Descrease of Crime in the City

When asked whether the city has a crime problem, a few of the candidates cited a police statistic that Ferndale’s crime has actually decreased in the past few years.

Wells noted she believes this is because of increased citizen involvement of residents and businesses keeping a close watch, but she emphasized a strong need for people to still lock their doors and secure their valuables. Lennon and Coulter applauded the city’s Police Department, noting the need to ensure that the right people and tools will ensure Ferndale’s safety.

Audience Weighs In

After the forum, audience members analyzed the candidates’ answers.

“I thought it was interesting, but there aren’t many burning issues,” said Jeannie Davis, president of Ferndale Seniors. “But we see now that we have some strong candidates and some weak ones.”

“This was an excellent way to see how the candidates operate under pressure and if they can do their job correctly," said Ann Heler, board president of FernCare, a free clinic.