Carmi City Council challengers, left to right: Greg Fischer (Ward 2), Michael Hyson (Ward 2), George Wood (Mayor), Chula Schlesinger-Fleming (Ward 1), John Bolerjack (Mayor), and Chantel Sullivan (Ward 4).
It's early for Carmi voters to be paying attention to an election five months off, and with the midterms one week away, but many of the challenger candidates running for Carmi city council and the mayor's race met up at the Farm Bureau building on Saturday to introduce themselves to the public. The event was hosted by Richard Cook, Jr. (aka "Uncle Bob"). No incumbent candidates were in attendance. Candidates are still gathering signatures on petitions to be on the ballot for the spring Consolidated election. It remains to be seen who makes it to the ballot. Petitions must be turned in the week of November 16-23.
All the candidates in attendance were briefly interviewed and were asked just one question: what is the main thing you want to address in the City of Carmi, should you be elected?
________________________
Chula Schlesinger-Fleming, candidate for Ward 1: "I want what everybody else wants. I want to know why Carmi doesn't have money for anything, but we are bringing in outside companies and influences that have come in and are trying to usurp some of the power from the people of Carmi. I want to know where the money is going and why we don't have money for the things that we and the citizens of Carmi want to see improved.
"A lot of people have issues with roads and all kinds of things in town, but we can't get anything fixed. I want to learn and get behind the scenes and figure out what's going on with our money, how we can improve it, and how we can fix it."
________________________
Greg Fischer, candidate for Ward 2: "Well, with the City Council that exists now, to me, it's all about transparency and honesty. I'm not seeing a lot of that, even with Doug taking their interim mayor job. He tries to tell you something, but when I'm looking at him, I'm not seeing that's what he really means. So I think there's still a lot of shady stuff going on...so I would like for that to change.
"Now, the other part is, I would like to have meetings with Ward 2 residents and have them tell me what they want me to take to the board, to help get changed and fixed or replaced to make our Ward 2 better. We want to make the whole town better, but I live in Ward 2 and I want my members of Ward 2 represented as best they can. If I'm their Alderman, I want them to tell me to take it to the board and see what I can do. I'm going to be on the streets in Ward 2 coming door to door again."
________________________
Michael Hyson, candidate for Ward 2: "A house divided cannot stand. I see a lot of great things that go on here in Carmi. But everybody does everything individually. There does not seem to be that cohesiveness that brings a community together. And as an outsider, you can see that. People can be cordial enough, but if you are not in their inner circles, they just assume they're not having anything to do with you. And I'd like to see that change.
"My approach would be just being who I am. I'm not easily offended. I can stand my ground without having to berate somebody. My calling is to kind of be a peacemaker, not a peacekeeper. So it means that we've got to work together and somebody has to lead by example. There is so much hurt here in this area. And you're seeing it come to fruition now. Offence is running rampant on both sides and you see everybody lashing out.
"So it's one step at a time, one moment at a time, one meeting at a time, and just keep pushing to it."
________________________
Chantel Sullivan, candidate for Ward 4: "I'm definitely wanting to do this to get us back to our original roots, which is transparency, accountability, staying true to what our ordinances are, and policies and procedures. If that's how we're supposed to be doing it, that's what we need to be doing.
"If I was elected, I would look at going back to like City Council 101, where everybody has a packet when they come in and and not redacted like the other night...you know, with the open meeting act, getting familiarized with that, the rules of order, really using that to an advantage to get back into our community...
"I would really love to have the opportunity. I've had a lot of great conversations with the people that I've obtained signatures with right now. (They say) we need change."
________________________
Mayoral candidate, John Bolerjack: "The first thing I would do if it's not done already would be to get the water treatment plant where we can make money So when it does break or something needs to be fixed, we'll have the money to fix it instead of going out and getting more into debt, or selling it to American Water. To me, that's the most important thing in Carmi right now. There's nothing else more important than that."
________________________
Mayoral candidate, George Wood: "So it's kind of hard to narrow it down, but my first thing would be finances. We need to find out how much money we make, how much money goes out, what can be cut, and what can't be cut. I would find out where the money is, and if anyone's gotten into it and get that money back and immediately start fixing the wastewater (plant) because that is only going to keep aging and deteriorating until something bad happens. And with sewage, that's dysentery, that's all kinds of bad things, that's bad soil. Nobody wants to live in a town that any time might have a surprise fountain in the middle of the street."
________________________
