Ward 3 candidates differ on top issue

The Ward 3 seat has been empty since mid-June, when longtime Councilman A.E. “Pete” Peterson resigned for health reasons. Three people are running for the vacated spot.

The two most visible candidates see two different topics at the top of the ward and city’s to-do lists.

Doris Allison wants to look at ways to make the ward safer and more inhabitable.

“Crime has been a major factor in this ward for so many years,” Allison said. “And crime is the main issue that has brought money into the community, but there are also other things like slumlords and other problems the residents have to deal with.”

Allison, 48, thinks social work is the answer to some of these needs.

“You need to start at the bottom and find out what is causing this,” she said. “You need to start with the minor and build up to the major. If you start with the major, you’ll miss things.”

If Allison wins the election, she would become the first black woman ever to sit on the council.

“I don’t think about that kind of thing,” she said. “I’m just concerned about my community.”

Bonita Eisele said the campaign trail has provided a lesson or two.

“Just being involved in this has taught me quite a few things,” she said. “And if I win, the learning process is going to be even more intense.”

When Eisele appeared at a candidates’ forum, she admitted to a limited knowledge of some of the issues.

More than once, she answered a question by saying she was not familiar with the matter and answered others by simply saying she agreed with the viewpoint of another candidate.

“What I will do if I’m elected,” Eisele said, “is find the best answers to these questions.”

And what Eisele, 57, does know is that she has seen enough of unfettered growth during her time in Cornelius, and she doesn’t want to see the same thing happen here.

“I had a shop there for 18 years and, in that time, I saw things grow at what I think was an unmanageable pace,” she said. “And now I live in Ward 3 and my (alterations) shop is in the ward, and I want to see Statesville thrive.”

A third Ward 3 candidate, Dave Jackson, 38, said only that he “plans to win” the election.

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Posted on 10/05/07 at 03:39 PM
Statesville •City Council •Ward 3 • (0) Comments

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