Ward 6 race nears end

In almost all elections, the incumbent has the upper hand. In the race for the Ward 6 seat, the current office-holder, Huggins, is, at best, running neck-and-neck with political newcomer Williams.

And Watkins should not be counted out either.

Williams, 33, had vowed to talk to every person in the ward.

His campaign motto has been “I’m there with you” and his aim has been to fix a community he sees as fractured.

“People ask me why I’m running for city council,” he said. “The answer is that I’m tired of the way South Statesville has gone down.”

Williams said the ward needed to take a more proactive approach to community development.

“We’re a hit-dog community,” he said. “That means we only do things after we take a beating.”

He thinks a lot of issues in the ward are being ignored.

“I’ve been to city council meetings, and I know that other parts of the city are treated better than ours,” he said. “We are not being properly represented.”

That comment was a shot across Huggins’ bow. But the councilman believes he has done a good job during his two terms.

“I think the council has done a lot of good things over the years,” he said.

Huggins, 46, mentioned the recreation center and aquatic facility currently in the early parts of construction as an example of what the council has done to improve the quality of life in the city. He said other projects can come when funds allow them.

“What people don’t understand is that everything costs money, and you only have a certain amount of money, and if you don’t want to raise taxes, you have to do what you can with the money you have.”

Watkins, who could also become the council’s first black woman, said her top priority as a council member would be to make city government more accessible and “community-friendly.”

“The council can do its part, but it is going to take everybody in this city and this community working every day to make it as good as it can be.”

The 44-year-old believes there is a gap between the decision-makers and those affected by the decisions.

“There is clearly a lack of communication in this city,” she said. “We need to make people aware and make them part of the process.”

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Posted on 10/05/07 at 03:38 PM
Statesville •City Council •Ward 6 • (0) Comments

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