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Danville Commission Race (November 3, 2012) |
Caudill acknowledged that some of the commission meetings held during the last two years were at times contentious and he vows to be a part of changing that if re-elected.
“We (the commissioners) should be able to agree to disagree without being disagreeable about it,” Caudill said.
“It affects people’s perception of the city itself, especially those looking at Danville from the outside to see what kind of community they might be moving into.”
Caudill also hopes to conduct more business in open session rather than executive session.
“I’ve always just tried to do what I thought was in the best interests for the entire town,” he said.
“I’ve worked with a diverse group of people over the years. I think I have the ability to work with all kinds of folks and be empathetic, be sympathetic and also give opinions when they’re asked for.”
Janet Hamner: Hamner, a former City Commissioner and the wife of Boyle County Coroner Dr. Don Hamner, is no stranger to politics. She was a commissioner from 2006 to 2010. Hamner, an interior designer with one daughter, is also an entrepreneur. She has owned and operated Cottage Interiors since 1987.
“We need more support for our economic development partnership. Not just saying you’re going to fund them, but also with your heart and soul and your boots on the ground you need to be with them.
“Every time the EDP needs something, we should be there to provide it.”
Hamner feels her “business brain” and “heart of volunteerism” will help Danville during a critical time in its history.
“Things need changing,” Hamner said.
“There’s been a voting bloc,” Hamner said. “So if that could be unlocked so decisions could be made on the merits and not on political positions,” Danville could move forward from recent controversies such as former city manager Paul Stansbury’s firing and the handling of BISCO building purchase.
Hamner feels this year’s budget was not formulated in public for the first time in decades and that needs to change so the public can not only give input, but also have more confidence in the “transparency” of city government.
“I think the budgeting and the spending is a problem,” Hamner said. “This commission spent about $350,000 ridding themselves of a city manager they didn’t like.
“And now, if what was in the newspaper turns out to be fact, then they’ve spent close to a quarter of a million dollars more of the taxpayer’s dollars that they might have saved if they had approached the problem in a different way,” she said refering to a story last week in The Advocate-Messenger about the purchase of the BISCO building.
She noted that the water plant project appears to have been kept in the public eye and that transparency does not seem to be an issue with the expansion. She added it is the most important project the new commission will handle, especially since the estimated cost is $27.5 million.
Norma Gail Louis (incumbent): Louis, 70, has spent her entire life in Danville and is seeking a third City Commission term. Five generations on one side of her family as well as four on the other side are also Danville natives.
“My only interest is to serve the citizens of Danville to make this the best place to live and raise our families in the nation,” she said. “And I have the time (to serve Danville.) I don’t have another job. I have the love to do it, I have the commitment and I have the knowledge to do it.”
