Incumbent Mark Kruzan and Republican challenger David Sabbagh met Friday for the first of three mayoral debates at WFIU’s on-campus radio station. Each candidate was allowed a three-minute opening statement, two opponent-centered questions and a two-minute answer. \nThe debate covered various issues, each drawing characteristic responses from the candidates. Sabbagh demanded accountability from an office he said has lacked leadership, while Kruzan defended the quality of life in Bloomington under his administration.\nOpening statements\nSabbagh, winning a coin-flip by the debate’s mediators, spoke first. He called Bloomington “a small town with vast opportunities,” beautiful natural surroundings and “scholarly excellence.” He supported “open dialogue” between the city and its citizens and “(being) frugal with the people’s money.” Like Kruzan, he promised to work closely with the University and to keep sidewalks “a high priority.” He said he would “bring absolute integrity” back to the office of the mayor.\nKruzan thanked WFIU and listeners for “tuning in to an opportunity to look at not simply what is wrong, but what’s right with the community.” \nHe reiterated his agenda of “public safety, sound fiscal stewardship, community (and) neighborhood character” and economic progress.
Downtown\nSabbagh bemoaned a “flight” of businesses from the downtown area, citing the departure of the United States Post Office from Fourth Street. He encouraged preserving Bloomington’s “downtown vibrancy.”\nHe also criticized Kruzan’s approach to downtown parking improvements: “It took 100 years to craft the country’s constitution. … (After) two years, this Administration has no parking plan.”\nKruzan said he not only had a parking plan, but “in fact, it’s being implemented.” He then attested to “an influx of 1,000 to 1,400 citizens” in the downtown area Sabbagh said is thinning out.
’Green space’\nEastside resident Tim Tilton submitted the first question, concerning “how the city … can best promote green building.”\nSabbagh did not hesitate in saying, “We’ve got to get the private sector involved … Government cannot be the builders.” \nThe Von Lee building, one of the few examples of private architecture in Bloomington, he said, should be followed. But he also approved green affordable housing projects. He discussed properties that were as expensive as $210 a square foot, attacking the administration’s “hubris” for thinking too highly of its progress.\n“Green space in Bloomington is more than a concept … it’s a reality,” Kruzan said. He cited Evergreen as a “(reflection) of green space in the community” and referred to the installation of solar panels at Griffy Lake, as well as bridge and walkway construction through town. He said his opponent’s remarks “(miss) the fact that the private sector is involved.”
I-69 controversy \nTom Tokarski, another resident, asked if the candidates support the construction of I-69 through Bloomington. Sabbagh said yes, basing his answer on former Gov. Frank O’Bannon’s involvement in the 3-C and I-69 projects.\n“We need to make (it) the most environmentally friendly road possible,” Sabbagh said \nKruzan disagreed, emphasizing rising unemployment in areas of state road construction. He said he sees “a better Bloomington without I-69” and doesn’t believe in shifting the burden to neighboring towns like Terre Haute.
Transportation\nTransportation drew some of the most heated answers. \n“This administration bit the infrastructure bullet … in 2000,” Sabbagh said. He added that High Street features “no safe sidewalks” for children. Although the Bloomington Transit has been “a great success story,” he said 10th Street traffic “should be avoided at all costs.”\nKruzan capitalized on the Bloomington Transit’s ridership, “at a (three-year) record level,” and said the B-Line “can form a spine for alternate forms of transportation.” Bike lanes, pedestrian walks and other “citizen-driven process(es)” like garage management, are well under way, he said.
