Relying on years of experience was John Hamilton, who said his diverse career included years of leadership that made him an apt fit ?for mayor.
To his left was Darryl Neher, a city councilman who said he had come with new ideas for the office of mayor, and was a “good ?listener ... who brings several solutions to a problem.”
The third candidate introduced in the debate was John Linnemeier, who, by the time the debate was over, predicted the results of his ?participation in the race.
“I entered this race because things needed to be said that weren’t going to be said unless I said them,” Linnemeier said. “I can already tell I’m not going to win.” He promptly dropped out of the mayoral race.
Linnemeier said he disagreed with fiscal decisions by Hamilton’s campaign. Linnemeier said he asked Hamilton to return money to his donors who were outside of Bloomington. When he refused, Linnemeier said that was what confirmed his drop-out, then endorsed Neher.
“Over the course of the campaign, I grew to have more respect for Neher,” he said. “I think Neher is a hell of a guy.”
The questions of the debate were diverse, ranging from economic issues to senior care to preserving the Bloomington aesthetic.
Since they had more direct experience, Neher and Hamilton relied on their experience in public policy making and leadership to answer the questions. Linnemeier spoke as he saw things. When introducing some of the ideas he hoped to implement for the city’s benefit and economic growth, Linnemeier’s ?answer was candid.
“Some people have mentioned the legalization of marijuana,” Linnemeier said. “Well, why the heck aren’t we doing that?”
Hamilton described himself as progressive who was interested in government transparency. He was the first to mention the idea of a whistleblower line that would be available 24/7. Neher also agreed.
Often, the candidates varied in how they thought about certain problems, but one thing that they all agreed on was the importance of protecting Bloomington’s traditional appearance.
“One my responsibilities as mayor is to protect the iconic view from Kirkwood to ?Sample Gates,” Hamilton said. “It’s very important to protect the Bloomington ?aesthetic.”
Neher agreed, and emphasized growth policies that kept the Bloomington look as a priority. Linnemeier took a more aggressive stance.
“Small businesses like Max’s and the yarn store are going broke, and it’s because of the daggone parking meters,” Linnemeier said. He suggested turning Fifth Street into a walking street to keep downtown’s famous image.
When Hamilton told the audience that Neher had taken corporate money after pledging not to, Neher told the audience why he ?believed it wasn’t an issue.
“I will gladly accept the (money) I received from the Comedy Attic,” Neher said. “That’s not the type of ?money we want to keep out of ?the government.”
For most of the debate, the candidates spent time emphasizing their ideas, ?visions and strengths to the audience, and did not resort to attacking their opponents. Hamilton, Linnemeier and Neher voiced commitments to Bloomington and its people and its culture, speaking to small business owners, those suffering from a wage gap that only seems to increase, and people concerned about the image ?of their city.
“We have a great future ahead of us,” Hamilton said.
