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Mayoral candidates present different perspectives at forum
Photo by Regan Hill
Mayoral candidates Costi Kutteh (left) and Chris Bumgarner participate in last night's candidate’s forum at the Statesville Civic Center.
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Published: September 24, 2009
The race for the mayor of Statesville appears to boil down to a matter of perspectives.
And those views were shared at a candidates forum held Wednesday night at the Civic Center.
Incumbent Costi Kutteh touted his four years in the mayor's office and 16 previous years as an at-large member of the city council as being productive ones.
Kutteh said things like the improvements to the Statesville Regional Airport, the renovation of Statesville High School's Mac Grey Auditorium and Statesville's recognition as an All-America City as noteworthy accomplishments during the past four years.
But Kutteh's opponent, weekly newspaper publisher Chris Bumgarner, said Statesville "has been left behind for 40 years."
Bumgarner said the only notable change taking place is that "businesses are leaving."
He said the city's leadership has spent too much time courting large companies, such as Lowe's and the NASCAR race teams, to the airport and has not done enough for smaller businesses.
Bumgarner said he would "go door-to-door" to bring business to Statesville.
Bumgarner downplayed the role of the airport in the city's grand scheme, but Kutteh said the airport is a significant contributor to the tax base.
And while Kutteh said he saw the major Larkin development project as an important part of the Statesville's future, Bumgarner said the residential aspects of it are "a losing proposition."
The candidates also disagreed on their views regarding the Fitness and Activity Center. Kutteh said it adds to residents' quality of life, Bumgarner said it presented an unfair competition to private sector fitness centers.
Kutteh said the mayor "is the face of Statesville" and that under his leadership the city has done a commendable job of bringing business here.
In closing, Kutteh said Statesville has "had a pretty good four years with me."
Bumgarner said he wanted to "change the role of mayor."
Early voting in Statesville's municipal elections began last week and will continue until Oct. 3.
Election Day is Oct. 6.
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