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Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

Mayoral race: Kruzan vs. Sabbagh

Mayoral candidates Mark Kruzan (left) and David Sabbagh (right)

Bloomington mayoral candidates David Sabbagh and Mark Kruzan are both experienced mountain climbers – Sabbagh scaled Kilimanjaro in 2000, while Kruzan has successfully reached the summit of the largest mountain in Wales. In the same vein, both candidates’ campaign platforms for the upcoming Bloomington mayoral election are remarkably similar – expand the economy, decrease unemployment and improve social services – although the means by which they hope to address these issues is somewhat more divergent. \nFor Kruzan, the best – and most economically viable – way to maintain a culturally and intellectually enlightened city such as Bloomington is to nurture it from within, encouraging workforce development and helping local businesses, zoning to prevent urban sprawl and promoting the arts. Though he acknowledges the economic importance of keeping Bloomington up to speed with the rest of the country, he proposes to develop its workforce and overall economy by reviving downtown and, above all, by “keep(ing) Bloomington, Bloomington.” \nSabbagh, on the other hand, aims to improve the quality of life in Bloomington by bringing in outside actors, especially those involved in the information technology industry, and he focuses much less than his opponent on maintaining community character. Education, for him, is key to developing the marketable skills of Bloomington residents, and he proposes mitigating poverty through worker training programs. He cites chronic poverty as one of the most pressing issues needing to be addressed by this city. What’s more, he tends to emphasize the need to improve other social services in tandem. In fact, in one of this election year’s most striking ironies, this Republican’s consistent emphasis at times seems to be more in line with traditional Democratic values than those of his Democratic opponent. Go figure. \nBeyond poverty and unemployment, one of the foremost issues on the table in this election is the question of what role Bloomington should be playing in combatting global warming and ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy the same clean water and stunning natural scenery that have come to characterize the city for us. While both candidates have proposed ways to do so, Kruzan has a stronger record as an environmentalist, having endorsed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and adopted smart-growth policies, and he seems to have more of a plan of action than his opponent, who has never really gone beyond stating that the problem exists and needs to be addressed. \nAnd on the touchy subject of town-gown relations, both agree on the importance of fostering a positive link between the \nUniversity and the community at large. “IU is our number-one asset,” Sabbagh said during a September debate, even though he is a Purdue graduate. We view this concession as a fine testament to this candidate’s ability to admit to his past mistakes. \nFinally, not to sound biased or anything, we at the Indiana Daily Student would like to remind our readers that Kruzan is both an IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs alum and a former IDS opinion columnist. \nObviously, he’s got a good head on his shoulders.

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