Candidates discuss transparency, economic development at forum

Candidates for the Aug. 23 election had the chance to share their thoughts on a variety of issues Monday night at a forum hosted by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Vestavia Hills and Vestavia Voice.

The 11 candidates each had a chance to introduce themselves and their campaigns, answer four questions, and provide closing statements.

The main issues candidates discussed revolved around transparency within the city government and economic development initiatives.

“Transparency allows people to be informed,” Place-2 candidate Kimberly Cook said, adding that she believes the availability of information leads to an increase in community engagement and input.

Place-3 candidate Paul Head that he is concerned that transparency is such a popular campaign point.

“Transparency has been the word of the election, and it’s troubling that we’re having to talk so much about it,” he said. Head went on to say that he feels the city has been primarily reactive to issues of transparency, rather than trying to prevent them in the first place.

Place-1 candidate Rusty Weaver said he also saw the discussion as a sign that there is a problem.

“If we had a culture of transparency in Vestavia Hills, we wouldn’t be talking about it,” he said, advocating that the city needs to move toward improving that culture.

Some candidates, including incumbent mayoral candidate Butch Zaragoza and incumbent Place-3 candidate Steve Ammons, said they have been proud of the steps the city has taken to ensure transparency, but that there are places to improve.

“It’s something we take very seriously,” Ammons said, saying that the city not only does what the law requires, but that someone is always available to answer questions.

Zaragoza echoed Ammons’ thoughts.

“I really think the city of VH has moved forward with our transparency,” Zaragoza said, pointing to the city’s practice of reading business matters twice before voting and hosting public hearings for many issues.

“Are we there yet? No,” he said, “but we’re getting there.”

Place-3 candidate Robert DeBuys advocated more than once for the availability of information, saying that he wants all city transactions, contracts and other documents to be available online.

“I think we need all the information, all the time, no gatekeeper,” he said.

Incumbent Place-4 candidate George Pierce also had suggestions for what the city could improve, including moving council meetings to 6 p.m. in order to accommodate working citizens, and requiring that all work sessions take place within the city rather than having out-of-town retreats.

Economic development was also a common theme throughout the forum.

Place-2 candidate Kim Benos said for her, putting together the needs and wants of citizens with the city’s revenue sources is the biggest issue of the election. She said the city needs to focus on the “right growth, right fit, at the right time.”

Mayoral candidate Ashley Curry said the city needs to create a strategic plan to recruit new retail businesses as well as examine the city’s retention of businesses already established in Vestavia.

Place-4 candidate Bob Elliot said that strategic plan needs to meet his “RPC” criteria, meaning it should increase revenue, increase property value and fit with the character of the community.

Incumbent Place-1 candidate John Henley said it is “critical” that the city work on both economic development as well as economic re-development.

“We’ve got to be smart, and we’ve got to be proactive with that,” Henley said.

Questions that were submitted either to the Voice or during the forum will be sent to the candidates by the chamber, and candidates will be able to answer those questions at their discretion on their personal campaign pages.

A video of the forum was also recorded, and is available here.