Go Green Campaign News

Louisville mayoral candidates turn up heat at Bellarmine debate

By Sean Rose - July 21, 2010

Wednesday evening's Louisville mayoral debate turned personal as candidates were given their first opportunity to question each other directly.

The audience of several hundred at Bellarmine University heard Republican nominee Hal Heiner suggest that Greg Fischer's recent failed run for the U.S. Senate was a sign that running Louisville was the Democrat's “second choice.”

“I think the common denominator there is a desire for public service,” Fischer said before turning the tables on Heiner, a Metro Council member. “I felt simply like I could help my city. And you should know, Hal, that it's much easier not to run for office and to stay home on the couch.”

Fischer then said Heiner's appearance at a tea party rally where Republican U.S. Senate nominee Rand Paul was speaking was a concern and asked Heiner if he supported Paul.

Heiner dismissed the question.

“My focus is on my campaign for mayor, my vision on where this community can go; and talking about other candidates and other campaigns is irrelevant to this campaign and quite frankly a waste of time,” Heiner said to one of the largest rounds of applause of the night.

Heiner, Fischer and independent Jackie Green could each ask two questions of other candidates during the debate.

In Heiner's second question, he challenged Fischer to give one example where he differed with the administration of Mayor Jerry Abramson, a fellow Democrat, and accused him of promising jobs to current city officials.

“You need to check your facts,” Fischer said, explaining that, while he has interviewed city officials on issues and how services were run, the only person to whom he promised a job is Metro Police Chief Robert White.

Fischer said he has differed with Abramson on comparing the city to itself too much rather than trying to keep up with rival cities.

“I have been critical of the mayor for cheering a little too much and not caring about the results,” Fischer said.

Fischer's final question was also addressed to Heiner, challenging the Republican to explain his personal preference on expanded gaming in the state.

Heiner has said he would like to see Kentuckians vote on the issue, but said any expanded gaming should have a place at Churchill Downs because it is an icon of the community.

Before the cross-questioning portion, candidates fielded questions from retired Courier-Journal editor and columnist David Hawpe and political columnist John David Dyche, as well as from members of the Governor's Scholars program, who are currently at Bellarmine.

Asked by two Governor's Scholars students how Louisville's mayor would reach out to the rest of the state, Heiner renewed his call for building an urban coalition among the state's cities.

“That's what I look forward to as mayor, working with mayors throughout Kentucky to solve common problems in Frankfort,” Heiner said.

Fischer said Louisville should lead as an example to other cities, attracting large businesses that also would benefit the state and calling for more collaboration between the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville to enhance job creation.

“When Louisville grows, the state wins,” Fischer said.

Green kept his focus on transportation issues, advocating an efficient rail system across the state that would link cities.

“Louisville needs to start making contact with our sister cites and our sister counties and re-establish a transportation system based in larger part on passenger rail,” he said.

As in earlier debates, job creation was at the top of each candidates' priorities.

Fischer touted his role as a business leader in the past and advocated creating an environment friendly to entrepreneurs to create jobs throughout the suburbs as well as the urban areas.

“I'd like to be seen as a great mayor not just of a city but for the suburbs also,” Fischer said.

Heiner advocated creating a public and privately financed incentive fund that would help close deals for businesses to move to Louisville as well as initiating a new economic plan.

“Our jobs plan was put forth 14 years ago; it's time for a new jobs plan,” Heiner said.

Green said reliable, efficient public transportation would be a strong engine for job growth. He said a business leader who flies into Louisville and immediately sees a lack of buses and no rail lines to get to the city could think there is no public transportation.

“That's not a good way to develop jobs,” Green said.

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