Only half of the six candidates running for Red Bank commissioner showed up for the Red Bank Neighborhood Pride Association’s candidate forum held at Red Bank Middle School.
David Hafley of RBNPA announced at the beginning of the event that all six candidates had been invited by the group. He said Rick Causer and Dalton Temple had both responded that they had prior engagements, but current Vice Mayor Floy Pierce did not respond to the invitation.
The candidates were asked how they would deal with issues that concern Red Bank citizens, such as safety and property values.
Ed LeCompte stated that since 1978 he has worked for the city of Chattanooga, where he currently serves as an ombudsman.
“I plan on bringing a lot of that experience to Red Bank,” he said. “Hopefully with the new zoning ordinance we’ll be able to attract a lot of new business to Red Bank.”
Terry Pope said that the building moratorium placed on Red Bank in the early 1980s continues to hinder development in the city, adding that downsizing minimum lot requirements to 2,500 square feet in the city’s new zoning ordinance should help.
“It allows developers to build single-family houses here and make a profit,” he said of the decrease in the minimum lot size.
Pope also said that the North Shore has priced itself out of the market for young professionals, and Red Bank is where that demographic will be looking next.
“Passing the zoning ordinance is going to protect your property values,” he said, adding that while no current law keeps people from putting manufactured (mobile) homes anywhere in Red Bank, the new zoning ordinance does.
John Roberts praised the work of City Manager Randall Smith as well as the “exceptional job” the Police Department does in patrolling the city’s neighborhoods.
“You want to live in a safe city,” he said.
Roberts said he agrees with Pope that the new zoning ordinance needs to pass, as well as that North Chattanooga has priced itself out for young professionals.
“Our city is in a great location,” he said. “Businesses are coming back to the city. The image has changed dramatically for Red Bank.”
Roberts also pointed out that Red Bank brought in more than $1 million in sales tax revenue last year for the first time in history.
The candidates were asked what their vision is for the city for the next year, five years and 10 years.
“My vision for Red Bank is for it to grow,” said LeCompte. “With the new zoning ordinance … that should happen. I feel like we could make a big difference here in Red Bank.”
Pope said he would like to see Red Bank schools make the national news for being among the best in the nation.
“The zoning ordinance has to pass,” said Roberts. “We are going to protect homeowners here in Red Bank. We are going to keep recruiting businesses and keep recruiting restaurants.”
He said he hopes that in the future his 2-year-old son will want to make the choice to come back to the city.
The next question posed was whether the candidate would support programs such as Red Bank Seniors on the Go.
LeCompte said he plans to support the program, as he has been a member since its inception and is friends with practically everyone who attends.
Pope said he plans to support it as well, because such programs make for a better quality of life in the community.
Roberts also said he would support such programs.
“One day I will be a senior and will need a place to go,” he said.
The next question was whether candidates felt Red Bank was trending away from home ownership, and if so, what they planned to do to reverse that trend.
LeCompte said he would like to be involved in reversing the trend as much as possible.
“I think we will have a lot to offer [homeowners] in the near future,” he said.
Pope said about 50 percent of Red Bank residents own their own home, while 40 percent live in apartments. He said Red Bank’s new zoning ordinance is unlike any other in the country and will help reverse the trend through particular regulations, such as requiring new developments to be 50 percent single-family housing.
Roberts feels the trend is moving toward homeownership in the city, citing the recent construction and sale of new homes near Chattanooga Memorial Park.
“We have to make sure the new zoning ordinance passes,” he said, as to how he hopes to continue the trend toward home ownership.
Candidates were then asked if they own the property where they reside in Red Bank, to which all responded in the affirmative.
“My opponent [Rick Causer] does not own property in Red Bank,” said Roberts, adding that he sees candidate forums as job interviews. “It’s important that anyone who holds an elected position in this city take questions.”