Bowling Green City Council candidates and University students Jacob Redfern and Rob Emmelhainz told residents they are capable of making the adult decision necessary for the long-term sustainability of the city.
The students answered questions inquired by citizens during last night’s city council candidate forum at the First United Methodist Church. The forum, which invited all nine city council candidates and three school board members, allowed each candidate to give their opinion on critical issues.
Both students had similar viewpoints on the issue proposing a three-year tax increase of 2 percent (currently 1.92 percent), which will be one issue on the ballot Nov 3.
Redfern, who is running for election in the first ward (Redfern is attempting to retain a seat from the summer due the vacancy left by Gordy Heminger), boldly admitted he voted ‘yes’ on the increase during the early-voting period. The junior said voting for the increase is essential in retaining the great services the city offers.
‘If [citizens] do feel services are essential to the city, they should do what I did and vote for the tax increase,’ Redfern, 20, said. ‘Two percent is low to pay for all the great services the city offers.’
Running for a second ward seat, Emmelhainz, 21, said he will also vote for the tax increase. He said he will continue to look for unnecessary expenditures in the city’s budget to lessen the burden on taxpayers.
‘If we don’t agree to pay more and come together to support each other and the city, we are going to have to look at making additional cuts that are uncomfortable to us,’ the fifth-year senior said.
If the tax ordinance is passed, the city will still be facing an approximate $400,000 deficit, Redfern said. According to federal law, Bowling Green is not allowed to run a budget deficit and it must be balanced each year.
Another question was asked: What can be done to strengthen the bond between the city and University?
Redfern said enrollment figures as a direct correlation to property values and jobs within the city. If enrollment decreases from year to year, the city seems to suffer as well, he said.
Emmelhainz believes student involvment in the city would build toward a positive relationship. He suggested student organizations could take up more volunteer work in the community (like fraternities and sororities already accomplish).
One of the sponsors of the event was the Undergraduate Student Government.
Senator for the College of Education and Human Development Joe Edens said it is essential for USG to remain transparent and strengthen its bond between them, the campus and the city.
‘When you have student council and city council coming together on collaborative events, I think it is great to strengthen those ties,’ Edens said.
Edens, who was one of three USG senators in attendance, said he hopes whoever is elected will familiarize themselves with student government to understand issues students have. Sen. Sean Lutzmann and Sen. Danni McConnell were also present.
As Redfern and Emmelhainz made their closing remarks, they referenced how young they were compared to their competition.
Redfern said he will not let age deter him from his ultimate purpose of serving the citizens from the first ward.
‘Critics are always going to say people are inexperienced as an argument,’ Redfern said. ‘But the fact of the matter is I understand the issues that matter to the voters in Bowling Green and I understand what course of action we need to take that is better for everybody.’
And Redfern realizes if elected, he will be serving both his school and his residence.
‘I am not just representing the students, nor am I just representing the residents. I am representing them all,’ he said.’
