Kruzan speaks on city's growth income gap.

Last week, Democratic candidate for mayor, Mark Kruzan, spoke to Rotary Club members over lunch in the Frangipani Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. With an opening that sounded like it could have been written by a stand-up comedian rather than a politician, Kruzan delivered his plan for the future of Bloomington to the roughly 100 people in attendance.\nKruzan began his comments by saying he's worried about what he calls "government fatigue" in Bloomington and even called the city's current status a "political perfect storm" in his Oct. 21 speech.\nHe said his definition of growth within Bloomington splits into three separate but related categories. Kruzan began by addressing the growth in Bloomington's income gap.\n"Achieving your potential is something a mayor and everyone else should be working to achieve," Kruzan said. "We have an entire class of people who I believe are being left behind. And the worst thing that I can think of is to lose hope. There are too many obstacles facing these people ... nothing but obstacles ... and at some point you do lose hope."\nKruzan's second issue is Bloomington's physical growth problem. He said the next mayor needs to be able to help the city adapt along with its growing population, but still preserve the natural beauty of the city.\n"When you start taking the trees down on Arbor Day," Kruzan joked, "you know it's not going to be a good day."\nKruzan's third issue is Bloomington's economic growth. Kruzan said the city's financial growth is key to the growth of the previous two issues. "We can invest in our human development by improving the economy," he said.\nTo do this, Kruzan developed his ideas for economic growth in his newly released "Plan Kruzan," a 32-page, 44-point document outlining proposals for Bloomington's fiscal future. Kruzan said the plan is "an outline of economic growth and community development initiatives for the city of Bloomington to pursue aggressively in the next four years and into the future." \nBloomington Rotarian of five years Janet Barrows had a positive reaction to Kruzan's remarks and said she plans to vote for him on Election Day.\n"I was impressed with his grasp of the issues," Barrows said, "(as well as) his feeling that the city government has a role to play in helping to provide quality growth, narrowing the gap between rich and poor and building a consensus in the community."\nWith the conclusion of Kruzan's speech, he asked for any questions from the audience. Rotarian Kent Owens posed the final question of the lunch. As he stood and gave his name to Kruzan, a hint of recognition was visible on Kruzan's face.\n"I hear they call you K-O," Kruzan said, referring both to his initials and his reputation for posing notoriously difficult questions to candidates.\nWith a sarcastic smirk, Owens phrased his question carefully.\n"The Democratic party has held office in Bloomington for 30 years," Owens said. "I'm beginning to think this is a trend. What can you tell the Republicans that will help us win an election?"\nAnd in a joking manner similar to the way Kruzan began his speech, he ended the luncheon with a friendly grin, replying, "The key to success for a Republican seeking office, Mr. Owens, is to run as a Democrat."\nFor more information and a copy of "Plan Kruzan," visit www.kruzan.us.\n-- Contact staff writer Sarah Schwimmer at sschwimm@indiana.edu.