Comments on the Mayoral Debate

Here's where you can post your comments about the mayoral debate, which was held Sept. 6 at the KIVA facility at the Cate Teacher Education Center, SLU.

Get your opinions on the candidates out there!

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Note: Here is the news story run in The Daily Star on Sept. 6:

Running for Mayor: Candidates state positions in forum
By Heather Crain

The four Hammond mayoral candidates marketed their strengths and ideas during a political forum Wednesday night at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Those vying for the position are incumbent Mayson Foster, Nick Gagliano, Montee Lemon and Arden Wells. The primary election will be Sept. 30.

Sponsored by local organizations and businesses, the forum was held at the Teacher Education Center in the Kiva room where only a few chairs were vacant.

Steve Bellas, a local broadcast journalist, served as moderator. The time and rules official was Daily Star Publisher Keenan Gingles.

Each candidate gave a three-minute opening remark and a five-minute closing statement. Seven questions were rotated among each contender with three-minute responses and 90-second rebuttals.

The topics included economic development, infrastructure, diversity, education, housing, recreation and safety.

Opening comments
Foster touted his administration’s proven leadership since taking office in January 2003 citing the opening of C.M. Fagan Drive 90 days into his administration, the wetlands assimilation project and the relocation of the Louisiana Army National Guard to the city.

“There is a definite leadership already established in the city of Hammond,” said Foster, a Hammond native and former banker.

Gagliano said he chose to start his career in Hammond after graduating from Louisiana State University. He owns a local marketing and advertising firm.

“I felt that we were a diamond in the rough,” he said. “The potential was unlimited. And 20 years later, I’m proud to say that I’m ready to take on the leadership role to help polish that diamond and make it sparkle for all families in Hammond.”

If elected, Gagliano said he would change the Hammond Planning and Zoning Commis-sion by removing those members who live outside the city limits, including one who lives in Ponchatoula.

“I cannot see the citizens of Ponchatoula allowing a Ham-mond resident to stay on their planning committee,” he said. “We have to make changes.”

Lemon, an employee of Mariner’s Inn, said everyone would be mayor if he were elected. Public transportation, AIDS awareness and education were his key points.

Wells, a local attorney who publicly announced last month that he had withdrawn his bid from the Sept. 30 election for mayor, used his opening address to push his candidacy for Tangipahoa Parish sheriff.

Wells, a Ponchatoula resident, has previously said he is running for Hammond mayor in order to be able to buy uncensored political advertising at political rates.

Moving the seat of Tangipahoa Parish government — including the parish council, courthouse, jail and school board, from Amite to Hammond — was a key point for Wells during the opening.

Economic development
The candidates were asked to identify three components in creating a strategy for an economic development plan.
Foster answered first, saying that the city has already established a plan by working closely with the Hammond Indus-trial Development Board and the Tangipahoa Economic Development Board and by creating the Hammond Area Economic and Industrial Development District.

A new 162-acre business park off Airport Road, a potential Fortune 500 company locating to Hammond and the Small Business Development Center at SLU were his key points. Gagliano said he would establish a position for an economic development director who would be housed at City Hall. Active recruitment and retention would also be key to his economic development strategy. Lemon would create new jobs, promote education and have better communication within the city for his plan. Because of Hurricane Katrina, no one can take credit for the recent growth in the city, Wells said, adding that the elected mayor must ensure proper growth. Hammond must be viewed as the seat of parish government.

Civic center, traffic loop, annexation
Gagliano, whose major platform is upgrading the city’s recreation department, stressed the need for a first-class sports facility to draw people to Hammond.

He also proposed two traffic loops for Hammond on the north and south side, including expanding Club Deluxe Road, and spoke in favor of annexation by giving property owners a property tax incentive.

Wells said he hadn’t given much thought to a traffic loop, although he said there is need for more entrances and exits off the interstates, especially at Natalbany and along Interstate 12. He does not think Hammond needs a civic center because of the present facilities, such as the University Center.

Foster said a civic center is a definite need. The Tangipahoa Parish Tourism Commission is looking into establishing such a facility.

Foster pointed toward the city’s new master street plan available on the city’s Web site, which introduces a traffic loop and other extensions.

Annexation, he said, is not as easy as one thinks. The majority of the property owners and voters in the area must be in agreement in order to annex, and the city has been in negotiations.

Creating environment of inclusion in city
Lemon, the only African-American mayoral candidate, spoke first on the diversity question.

He said he would introduce more socialization into the community by encouraging the various races to socialize outside the workplace, such as church and recreation.

“I want everyone to be mayor with me,” he said. “We need to get along better. We should be a role model and set an example. We have to love one another.”

Diverting from the question, Wells made the assumption that Foster was against gambling and would garner the anti-gambling votes, while Gagliano was pro-gambling.

During his rebuttal, Gagliano refuted Wells’ claim, saying he is against gaming in Hammond. In response to the diversity question, Gagliano said he would actively knock on the doors of the community to learn about the needs of the diverse population.

He also stressed the need for a better-run sports program, which he believes would bring the races together.

Foster pointed toward African American city employees in department head positions as creating racial inclusion, including Director of Administration Martis Jones, the first African American female in the position, and the two men in charge of city finance and purchasing.

Operation Unity was also formed for this purpose soon after he took office, Foster said.

Education
The candidates were asked how they would advance the new education initiative formed by SLU, the Tangipahoa Parish School System, the Hammond Chamber of Commerce and the city.

Again, Wells said he would move the seat of parish government, including the school board, to Hammond. He questioned why residents have to drive 20 miles to Amite to attend school board meetings.

Foster said supporting the school system and SLU is key to further advancing the education initiative.

He mentioned the $60,000 city contribution to the school board that will purchase computers and related items for the in-school magnet program in Hammond.

Education is among Gagliano’s top three points in his 10-point plan. Because education is crucial to economic development, Gagliano said he would work with private and public schools to help them accomplish their goals.

He would also focus on vocational training and start an apprentice program at the city for students.

Lemon also stressed after-school and vocational training for students.

Housing
The candidates were asked what policy they would initiate to create affordable housing that would encompass green space, recreation and retail accessibility.

Foster referred to the new subdivision ordinance passed by the Hammond City Council this week that establishes rules for lot widths, green space, parking, drainage and more.

He also mentioned the city’s role in acquiring a grant to help residents with home down payments.

Wells said he is against government regulation on housing. People should be allowed to do what they want on their land unless it were to cause harm.

Lemon stressed the need to remove blighted houses in Hammond that often house drugs. He said he would get people out of the projects and into nice homes.

Gagliano would establish a zoning committee in each council district that could advise the city on housing needs. He commended the preservation districts such as the Iowa Addition Overlay District and the Hyer-Cate Preservation District and would encourage more of the same.

Recreation
Gagliano, who is president of the South Tangipahoa Youth Soccer Association, said the current amenities are woefully inadequate. He is calling for creating better facilities in Hammond for all sports.

He would establish a sports complex to house baseball, football, soccer and other recreation that would also attract major tournaments. He would also create more basketball courts and expand those already in place.

Restructuring the recreation department will also be a top priority for Gagliano.

Foster said the city’s recreation situation was in bad shape when he took office but positive changes, including more programming, have been made since then.

A recreation district must be implemented for further improvements, Foster said.

Lemon said the city needs an indoor facility on the north and south side of town.

Wells said he would govern and make the best of what recreation facilities the city had, but ultimately, the city isn’t responsible for providing recreation for everyone.

Safety, community policing
Lemon commended the Hammond Police Department and promised to be more involved as mayor. He said criminals should be “scared straight.”

Gagliano said crime is already growing in the city evidenced by a recent robbery at gunpoint at a local store and cars being broken into.

He touted more police pay and a substation on the east side of town. He supported community policing by neighbors looking out for one another.

Wells said the police department is wrought with nepotism and corruption, and he would change that if mayor.

In addressing Wells’ claim of nepotism, Foster said the department is under the civil service code and relatives can likely be hired.

He also said crime numbers are about the same as this time last year. He pointed toward neighborhood watch groups already established and encouraged local businesses to install good cameras.

Closing
Wells said he didn’t get to talk about a lot of issues he wanted to address. Describing Louisiana as an old plantation with many rich and poor people with some middle class, he said political corruption abounds in the parish.

He also claimed that vote buying, especially among the poor African-American community, was a factor in the district attorney and sheriff races and would be a factor in the Hammond mayoral race.

He encouraged African-Americans to remember the sacrifice of civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and not take bribes.

Lemon again stressed the need for AIDS awareness in Hammond, after-school programs for children and a willingness to work together in city government.

“We have an opportunity to determine our future like never before,” Gagliano said in closing. “It’s a clean slate. We can decide what we want our future to be. It’s time to raise the bar in our city of Hammond.”

Gagliano stressed his platform of being a candidate for all of Hammond’s families.

Foster reiterated the accomplishments of his administration, including the city’s quick response to Hurricane Katrina, the wetlands assimilation project, C.M. Fagan Drive, 120 demolished blighted homes, a council of nonprofit organizations and more.

“This race is about leadership,” he said. “This race is about proven leadership. And I believe that actions speak a lot louder than words. You know it’s easy for people to sit up here and talk about what they’re going to do, but until you’ve sat in that desk and you have the people that are calling you on an on-going basis, you don’t know the pressures that are coming down from every side.”