Go Green Campaign News

Mayoral candidates questioned about knowledge of western Louisville at forum

By Dan Klepal - October 10, 2010

The three major candidates to become Louisville’s next mayor were put on the spot at a forum Sunday when they were asked why western Louisville is ignored by political leaders and what friends the candidates have from that predominately African American community. The forum, sponsored by the Yearlings Club and the University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences, was held at the NIA Center on West Broadway.
Democrat Greg Fischer said he has spent a lot of time in western Louisville, has a campaign office open there, named a half-dozen people he called friends and said several advisors on his campaign staff hail from the west part of town. He added that he shops for his ties at a popular shop on the west side called The Leading Man.

“My parents grew up in the west” part of town, Fischer said. “I’m not new to the West End. We’ll have an administration that looks like Louisville, so if you’re an 8-year-old girl in western Louisville, you’ll see someone in my administration that looks like you.”

Independent candidate Jackie Green said neglect of the West End is rooted in “slavery” and “oppression,” which got him a small round of applause. He then added, “If Democrats serve this ZIP code, why does this ZIP code suffer?”

As for African American friends, Green said only that he is a private person who doesn’t socialize much, but his concern over issues related to transportation has landed him on a lot of TARC buses on the west side.

“Real friends?” Green said. “That’s a good question. Thank you.”

Hal Heiner, the Republican candidate, arrived late because of a prior commitment, but was allowed to catch up and answered a few questions in a row. His version of the question — posed by moderator and U of L professor Ricky Jones — added the comment that Democrats often take African American votes for granted while the Republican Party is “hostile” or “dismissive at best” toward minorities.

Heiner said he’s not running on a Republican Party platform, and said local elections should be non-partisan.
“I’m just running as a person,” Heiner said. “I can’t really even address that — is the party going in the right direction or the wrong direction. I just know what direction I want the city to go.”

Fischer was asked how he counters the claim that he is the “establishment” candidate, supported by people who have kept current mayor Jerry Abramson in office.

Fischer said he’s a different guy than Abramson with a different background — as a businessman and a “job creator.”

“I started at an early age doing public service,” Fischer said. “I’ve helped a lot of people. When you do that, you get to know people all over the community. I don’t know if that makes me establishment or not, but it means I have a lot of support.”

Green drew an “ohh” from the audience of about 50 people when he told Fischer that he is part of the establishment.

“Take a look at your (campaign) donor list and your endorsement list,” Green said. “That’s a good place to start.”

The forum was part of a series of public events that aim to bringing people in Louisville together to explore issues. The Yearlings Club is devoted to civic responsibility, community service, leadership development and civic responsibility.

The other two independent candidates — Jerry T. Mills and Nimbus Couzin — will appear on ballots in the Nov. 2 general election, but neither of those candidates have mounted a campaign.

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