©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Aldermanic Candidates Talk GREDA at Debate |
All but one of the candidates for three open seats on the Galesburg City Council got together for a debate Monday, and ended up answering a number of questions regarding not just the city's future, but the city's economic development future.
Most of the candidate last night agreed that the Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association will have to have some sort of role in the city's economic development future -- this, despite the fact that the city's contract with the entity has been cancelled.
Second Ward Incumbent Bill Kendall says while he supports GREDA, they shouldn't be the only entity the city partners with. "We need to partner with everybody possible to do economic development: the Chamber, Knox College, Carl Sandburg College, Monmouth, Knoxville, Abingdon -- we need to get everybody involved," Kendall said.
Kendall's opponent, Wayne Dennis, was not in attendance at Monday night's forum.
But Fourth Ward candidate Tony Gerk says, in a way, he believes everyone needs to be involved, too. "Everyone in this community -- Knox College, all the businesses that are in GREDA, used to be the E.D.C., all the businesses, each and every one of them, benefit by new businesses being in this town, GREDA especially," Gerk said.
Gerk even suggested that the local media take part and use their contacts to get businesses to come to town. Gerk and others suggested that the city's own economic development director isn't earning his keep.
(Second Ward Incumbent Bill Kendall attends Monday night's city council candidates forum. Opponent Wayne Dennis did not attend due to a work conflict.)
(Residents watch Monday night's forum in council chambers, including First Ward Alderman Ken Goad, foreground. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 03 31 09 by Newsroom |
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