Candidates for Augusta Mayor and District 2 Commissioner debate ahead of runoff

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Wednesday the Sand Hills Neighborhood Affiliation hosted an Augusta Mayoral and District 2 fee candidate discussion board.

In final week’s mayoral election, Garnett Johnson and Steven Kendrick had been the highest two vote getters in a crowd of 9 candidates.

At their first mayoral debate, they bought an opportunity to inform the neighborhood extra about their plans if elected.

“Effectively actually I would like residents to have hope that there’s a brighter day, a brighter future for the town,” Kendrick mentioned. “There’s alternative within the fundamental infrastructure of what we’ve got in our authorities. I believe with the best management we will transfer among the items which might be there alongside and get probably the most out of this authorities. I believe I’m the candidate who’s greatest designed to do this.”

“It’s vital to let the voters know that I stand on their facet. That’s a dialog that nobody continues to have all through this race, who stands on the facet of taxpayers,” Johnson mentioned.

Pastor Vicker Thomas moderated the discussion board. One large matter was Augusta’s blight concern.

“Actually bringing consideration to the blight concern is a part of it, however having insurance policies that handle blight are an vital a part of it as nicely,” Kendrick mentioned.

“We’ve got the flexibility to take away blight. We’ve got the flexibility to create what I take into account earnings producing properties that contribute again to our tax base,” Johnson mentioned.

A number of voters got here out to indicate their assist

“He has been doing a profitable job in each of his roles because the financial improvement chair in addition to the tax commissioner to indicate to those folks that he’s skilled sufficient so as to be the mayor of this metropolis,” Shawn Edwards mentioned of Kendrick.

“I imagine in him one hundred pc. We’d like a person in workplace and he’ll be the person to do the job,” Debra Doolittle mentioned of Garnett.

Voters additionally bought an opportunity to get to know the runoff candidates for District 2 fee seat– Von Pouncey and Stacy Pulliam.

“I need to deal with the truth that as I’ve lived all through the CSRA, I’ve realized that our neighborhoods and our communities are diminishing as a result of we’re not investing in our individuals,” Pouncey mentioned.

“I’m for District 2. District 2 is my principal concern. The constituents in District 2 and talking up and being a voice for District 2 and their wants,” Pulliam mentioned.

Early voting begins June thirteenth and Election Day is June twenty first.