►
From YouTube: Mayoral Candidate Forum, October 8, 2015
Description
The Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce hosted this forum with question for Mayoral candidates Rick Osbon and Lessie Price.
A
Welcome
to
the
Aiken
mayoral
candidates
forum,
my
name
is
Mark
blackwell
and
I
am
the
board
chairman
of
the
Aiken
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
will
be
your
moderator
this
evening
on
behalf
of
the
Aiken
chamber
and
yanking
young
professionals.
I
want
to
thank
you
folks
for
your
attendance
this
evening
and
ask
that
you
join
me
in
welcoming
our
two
candidates
as
lessee
price
and
mr.
Rick.
A
Thank
you
so
much
for
taking
the
time
to
join
us
this
evening
to
answer
questions
from
our
two
groups.
The
questions
that
will
be
asked
at
this
forum
were
submitted
by
members
of
the
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
the
Aiken
young
professionals.
We
will
do
our
best
to
get
to
as
many
of
the
questions
as
possible
in
the
time
allotted
tonight,
I'm
joined
by
a
panel
of
four
individuals
representing
both
the
Aiken
chamber
and
yanking
young
professionals,
and
ask
that
our
panelists
please
take
a
moment
and
introduce
yourselves
to
the
audience
Fran.
B
Pard
hello,
my
name
is
Fran
Jones
and
I
am
the
incoming
chair
of
the
Aiken
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
I
will
have
the
privilege
of
being
the
first
chair.
Oh
well,
I
can't
get
to
my
microphone
if
I
stand
up,
I'll
stand
up
when
I
finish.
Introducing
myself.
So
I
will
be
the
first
chair
to
work
with
the
new
mayor,
so
I'm,
looking
forward
to
whoever
it
may
be,
and
thank
you
for
both
being
here
today
and
now
stand
up.
C
E
A
A
Now
before
we
begin,
we
have
a
few
procedures
and
ground
rules
to
review.
We
will
start
tonight
with
each
candidate
providing
a
two
minute
introduction.
Then
we
will
begin
asking
the
questions
from
the
panel.
Each
candidate
will
be
allowed
two
minutes
to
answer
each
question:
candidates
who
you
will
be
given
a
one
minute
notice,
a
30-second
notice
and
a
stop
signal
from
Diane.
A
Since
this
is
a
forum
and
not
a
debate,
both
candidates
will
respond
to
every
question
and
we
will
alternate
who
goes
first,
each
time
as
a
reminder
is
this
is
a
forum
and
not
a
debate.
Answer
should
be
directed
to
the
panel
and
to
the
audience
not
to
each
other.
We
have
one
simple
request
this
evening
of
the
audience.
This
is
a
professional
event
and
we
ask
that
you
exhibit
appropriate
decorum
in
order
to
get
through
as
many
questions
as
possible
this
evening.
Please
hold
your
applause
until
the
very
end
program.
A
We
will
have
time
then,
to
express
our
appreciation
to
the
candidates.
Thank
you
for
your
understanding
and
cooperation,
and
one
other
point.
Please
check
your
cell
phones
make
sure
they
are
off
or
on
vibrate.
If
you
don't
mind,
thank
you.
It's
time
to
get
started.
First,
with
the
introductions
backstage
about
10
minutes
ago,
we
flipped
a
coin
to
see
who
would
go
first
and
mr.
Osbon
won
the
toss
and
he
elected
to
go
first
with
his
introduction.
So
mr.
osman,
if
you
would
lead
us
off
this
evening,
sir.
F
Thank
You
Bart
I'd
like
to
thank
the
Aiken
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
they
can
young
professionals
for
hosting
this
event
today
and
also
like
to
thank
each
of
you
for
coming
out
and
being
here
and
for
those
of
you
who
will
watch
it
probably
60,
plus
x,
on
the
Aiken
channel.
Thank
you
also.
I
grew
up
in
Aiken,
South
Carolina
I
went
to
aiken
high
school,
then
to
USC
Aiken.
After
that
I
started
winning
to
work
at
our
family
business,
Osmonds
cleaners.
F
Our
cleaners
was
started
in
1948
by
my
father
who's
here
tonight
and
his
father.
They
did
not
have
a
promise
of
success,
but
they
did
have
the
promise
of
opportunity.
A
USC,
Aiken
I
not
only
got
a
degree
in
business
management,
but
I
also
met
my
wife.
My
bear
happens
here
tonight,
Angie
glad
you're.
Here
my
son
Regan
is
with
her
and
yes,
it
is
spelt.
F
Re
agin,
Angie
and
I
have
three
children
and
the
truth
is
that
they're,
the
real
reason
why
I'm
running
for
this
office
see
I
want
them
to
have
the
opportunity
and
the
promise
of
opportunity
to
fulfill
their
dreams.
Just
like
my
parents.
Just
like
my
father
and
his
father
did
when
they
started
the
business
I
want
the
students
at
USC
Aiken
when
they
get
their
degree
when
they
get
the
degree
for
making
Technical
College
on
the
road.
F
To
add
that
same
promise
of
opportunity,
we
have,
if
elected
mayor,
I,
have
a
simple
plan,
so
four-step
plan
first
oppose
tax
increases.
Secondly,
work
diligently
for
economic,
economic
development,
third,
improves
safety
on
our
streets
and
forth
speaking
of
streets,
the
condition
of
our
streets
in
our
infrastructure
work
to
make
sure
our
infrastructure
is
taking
care
of
our
infrastructure
needs
and
our
streets
meet
the
quality
that
this
essence
here
deserve.
I
look
forward
to
answering
your
questions.
F
G
G
I'm
from
a
small
town
called
blackville.
South
Carolina,
my
parents
had
ten
children.
I
grew
up
on
a
farm.
Cotton
was
king,
where
I
grew
up.
My
parents
didn't
have
very
much
education,
but
they
told
us
values
and
what
values
bring
and
they
taught
us
to
work
for
a
living
and
work
hard
for
a
living.
If
you've
lived
on
the
farm,
he
worked
hard
for
a
living
and
thick
cotton.
I
started
my
early
general
of
my
early
journey
in
high
school
in
elementary
school,
a
neighbouring
Church
to
related
school.
G
Later,
my
father
wanted
a
better
way
of
life
for
his
family
and
moved
to
Aiken,
and
we
moved
on
the
farm
there
when
I
have
five
sons
and
those
five
sons
are
right
here
in
the
sound,
and
the
reason
that
I
am
running
is
because
I
want
a
greater
future
for
our
five
sons
and
many
other
children
that
live
in
this
community.
I
have
40
years
of
experience.
Working
this
of
a
river
site
and
I
want
to
make
a
difference
in
people's
lives
and
the
importance
of
the
things
that
it
brings
value
to
them.
G
A
B
F
You
friend,
as
a
small
business
owner
I,
know
how
important
it
is
that
government
does
not
interfere
with
business.
I.
Think
I
think
the
most
important
thing
we
can
do
is
first
of
all
revamp
our
city
government,
so
that
we
are
actually
helping
businesses
as
opposed
to
putting
regulations
and
things
and
policies
in
place
that
are
holding
them
back.
G
Of
the
greatest
challenges
in
our
community
is
having
adequate
communications.
We
don't
bring
our
businesses
around
the
table
enough
to
have
the
discussion
first
thing
I
would
do
would
be
to
bring
the
businesses
in
this
town
together
as
many
as
possible.
We've
heard
enough
over
and
over
about
the
challenges
that
they're
facing,
and
let
me
just
say
to
give
credit
to
our
staff.
G
C
G
G
C
F
Thank
You,
charlie
I,
think
all
48
people
who
attended
that
that
trip
and
that
those
three
days
were
really
moved
and
I
think
they
did
come
back
with
an
excitement
for
what
we
saw.
We
saw
in
Greenville
how
they
made
a
plan
around
the
Reedy
River
and
how
they
developed
their
downtown.
We
saw
in
winston-salem
how
they
use
a
redevelopment
process,
take
a
downtown.
There
was
nothing
and
they
built
it
back
up
and
then
in
Raleigh.
You
know
the
synergy
that
they
had
between
NC
State
and
in
the
business
incubator
that
we
went
to.
F
Where
was
it
was
focused
around
the
Millennials.
It
was
focused
around
tech.
It
was
exciting.
One
thing
I
took
away,
though,
was
that
they
built
around
their
resources
that
they
had
they
built
around
their
communities
and
they
took
those
resources
and
they
built
a
plan
around.
It.
I
think
right
now,
with
the
excitement
that
was
generated
from
that
trip.
What
I'm
most
excited
about
is
that
I
think
akin
is
at
a
point
where
the
next
leader
in
the
next
mayor
will
lead
that
plan
for
the
future
of
our
city.
Thank
you.
D
F
I'll
just
say:
if
elected
I'll
be
the
youngest
person
on
City
Council
how's,
that
for
a
start,
no
no
listen!
It
is
it's
a
great
it's
a
great
question.
We
have
to
engage
our
Millennials
when
I
was
first
elected
on
the
county
council.
I
was
38
it
at
the
time,
but
I'd
served
on
at
least
three
committees.
Up
to
that
point,
so
I
felt,
like
I,
was
prepared
for
that
opportunity.
We
have
to
do
that
here.
We
have
to
look
at
it,
I
mean
we
have
young
professional.
F
This
we
say
there
for
the
they're,
the
future-
and
yes,
that's
true,
but
but
there
today
I
mean
they're
their
business
owners
they're,
making
a
difference
in
our
economy
and
absolutely
I.
Think
the
young
professionals
is
a
great
organization
that
in
a
great
place
to
draw
from,
but
we
have
to
plug
young
professionals
in
the
city
into
those
positions
to
train
them
so
that
they
can
be
the
leaders
that
that
I
know
they
can
be.
D
G
We
have
many
talented
young
professionals
in
our
town.
We
could
get
them
involved
early
by
including
them
on
boards
and
commissions.
We
can
also
help
them
get
involved
with
meeting
with
them,
regular
more
regular
than
we
are.
There
is
a
group
that
is
ready
to
assemble,
and
it
is
a
political
group
made
up
of
different
different
authenticity
who
want
to
prepare
themselves
as
the
next
generations
of
generation
of
leaders.
Our
young
professionals
are
already
serving
on
a
number
of
boards,
but
I
don't
know
that
we
utilize
them
enough.
G
I
want
to
provide
them,
have
them
had
the
opportunity
to
have
input
or
how
we
create
greater
housing
in
this
town,
but
also
down
the
street
from
us,
are
3,000
USC,
Aiken
students,
and
certainly
with
their
age
category.
They
can
help
us
to
identify
some
things
that
we
can
help
to
attract
them
in
our
downtown
area.
In
our
central
business
district.
E
G
Aiken
is
a
unique
and
charming
community
I've
served
as
the
state
president
of
the
South
Carolina
municipal
association,
representing
270
cities
in
the
state
of
South.
Carolina
I've
also
had
the
relationship
with
folks
in
Washington
and
have
made
some
comments
on
the
heels
about
cities
and
how
we
grow
our
cities.
G
E
F
Growing
growing,
a
downtown
growing
businesses
growing
an
economy
does
not
have
to
be
mutually
exclusive,
from
preserving
and
protecting
the
character
and
charm
of
a
city
like
Aiken
that
we
love
they
can
coexist
and
they
will
coexist.
You
paint
the
frame
frame,
work
for
which
you
grow,
your
economy,
for
which
you
invite
new
businesses
in,
and
that's
why
I
intend
to
do
I
think
we
grow
the
economy
by
making
it
easier
to
do
business
in
Aiken.
F
B
F
F
Don't
know
that
there's
really
been
an
advocate
for
growth
in
aiken
to
sit
down
and
explain
that
it
benefits
everybody.
It's
been
set
up
here
already,
if
you're
not
growing,
you're
dying,
if
you're
not
growing,
everybody
who
owns
property
in
aiken,
it's
not
worth
what
it
was.
Okay,
there's
a
benefit
for
everybody
in
a
case
being
made
for
it.
As
mayor
I
think
you
have
to
be
a
strong
advocate
and
lead,
and
sometimes
you
just
have
to
agree
to
disagree
and
that's
alright,
because
we
can
do
that
in
aiken.
B
G
Convinced
that
the
people
that
want
to
keep
aching
and
unique
and
charming
do
not
understand
clearly
what
the
leaders
of
this
aiken
want
to
do.
I
am
convinced
also
that
when
people
understand
what
the
expectations
are,
what
we
plan
to
do
that
they
embrace
those
changes.
Change
is
not
easy
for
many
people,
and
we
all
know
that,
but
I
think
once
people
understand
what
we
plan
to
do
they're
involved
in
those
plans,
then
it
makes
it
easier.
G
I
want
to
go
back
to
another
question:
if
I,
if
you
don't
mind
what
they
can
perceive
to
be,
not
business
friendly,
oftentimes,
I
people
say
these
things,
but
Aiken
is
a
business
friendly
town.
It
is
regulations
that
keep
people
from
from
thinking
that
we
want
them
in
our
city
and
certainly
we
need
businesses
in
our
city.
We
want
them
to
grow.
I
wanted
to
attach
that
to
my
last
statement,
but
getting
back
to
the
group's
to
do
not
want
growth.
G
C
G
Arrested
2014
and
there's
a
2015
update
on
that
report
and
the
2015
update
indicates
are
based
on
the
benchmarking
by
professors
at
USC,
Aiken,
saying
that
we're
looking
a
little
bit
better
but
because
we're
looking
a
little
bit
better
than
our
growth
with
our
housing
and
employment
that
doesn't
allow
us
to
rest
on
our
laurels.
I
expect
that
we
can
grow
I
think
we
can
grow,
probably
within
the
14
to
one
or
two
percent
range.
G
C
F
Peak,
I
believe
aiken
was
growing
right
at
two
percent.
I
think
a
two
percent
two
to
two-and-a-half
percent
would
be
an
aggressive
growth,
but
I
think
I
think,
is
a
city
we
should
strive
for
it.
I
think
it
would
be
great
to
have
I
can
tell
you
as
a
business
owner
I'm
glad
we
did.
The
study
for
the
chamber
and
economic
development
partnership,
but
I
could
have
told
you.
F
D
F
The
first
thing,
I
would
do
is
put
a
panel
together.
A
committee
together
made
up
of
community
members,
made
up
of
business
leaders
to
review
the
policies
that
we've
been
talking
about.
If
they're
a
hindrance,
they
need
to
be
removed.
You
know
we
need
to
examine
them.
I
think
we
have
great
employees
in
the
city.
Okay,
we
just
have
to
allow
them
to
have
the
tools
to
say
how
can
we
help
you
as
opposed
to
saying
I'm?
Sorry,
we
can't
do
anything
for
you
today.
We
have
to
put
the
open
for
business
on.
D
G
G
Stimming
stimulating
the
economy
is
not
an
easy
thing
to
do,
but
we
can
look
at
tax
adjustments.
We
can
look
at
bringing
more
businesses
in
through
providing
incentives
and
looking
at
how
we
can
help
these
small
businesses
to
survive
and
I
intend
to
work
on
small
small
disadvantaged
businesses
and
bringing
them
into
that
into
our
community.
That
being
said,
that
would
be
through
my
relationships
with
the
Savannah
River
Site,
the
contractors
out
there,
but
looking
at
working
with
the
Department
of
Energy
and
seeing
what
we
can
do
in
terms
of
utilizing
the
contracts
there.
G
E
G
Dr.
Johnson,
that's
a
very
good
question
and
that
has
been
on
my
mind
for
quite
some
time
when
people
look
at
our
community,
they
look
at
north,
south
east
west
and
they
think
of
Aiken
only
being
two
blocks:
north
south
east
west.
There
are
opportunities
on
the
east
side
of
town
and
west
side
of
town
for
growth.
I
would
want
a
group
of
people
to
look
at
properties.
G
The
city
of
Aiken
has
about
100
pieces
of
profit,
300
pieces
of
profit
that
we
own
about
a
hundred
pieces
of
those
properties
are
we're
able
to
develop
and
have
as
livable
quarters.
There
are
also
properties
on
the
eastern
side
of
the
city
of
Aiken,
as
you
head
towards
farmers
market
that
are
right
for
Economic,
Development
I
would
want
investors
to
come
in
around
the
table.
G
Let's
talk
about
what
we
can
do
in
addition
to
to
that
look
at
how
we
can
have
condos
or
affordable
apartments
for
four
individuals
at
the
top
and
retail
at
the
bottom.
That
will
stimulate
economic
growth
and
developing
our
town,
but,
in
addition,
have
affordable
housing
for
young
professionals.
As
will,
I
hear
all
the
time
they
want
to
move
out
of
their
parents
home,
but
they
can't
because
they
can't
afford
a
thousand
dollars
rent
per
month.
E
F
Thank
you,
dr.
Johnson,
in
all
three
cities
that
we
visited
on
an
aspirational
tour.
There
was
housing
available
for
for
citizens
to
enjoy
who
enjoyed
the
downtown,
I.
Think
one
thing
we
found
that
Millennials
and
baby
boomers
both
were
interested
in
that
very
thing.
I
thought
interesting
thing
about.
It,
though,
was
that
it
was.
It
was
not
the
public
sector,
but
the
private
sector
to
put
that
housing
in
and
they
brought
it
to
those
area
is
I.
F
Think
the
first
thing
we
have
to
do
for
a
young,
professional
/
my
front
and
for
Millennials
is
focused
on
economic
development
and
bringing
good-paying
quality
jobs
so
that
they
can
so
that
they
can
reach
their
dreams
and
so
that
they
can
afford
housing,
and
when
we
have
those
jobs,
I
don't
think
we
build
build
the
housing
and
the
jobs
followed.
I
think
it's
the
other
way
around
so
I'm,
going
to
focus
on
economic
development
and
I
think
the
private
sector
will
take
care
of
the
housing
downtown
I.
F
F
The
single
most
important
issue
facing
Aiken
today,
the
fact
that
we
don't
have
a
plan
in
place.
We
don't
have
a
plan
in
place.
Where
are
we
going?
What
if
I
opened
a
business
and
I
didn't
have
a
business
plan?
What
was
my
one
year
goals
be
what
my
five-year
cold
be.
What
would
my
tenure
goby?
You
have
to
have
a
plan.
We
don't
have
a
plan
in
place
now,
I'm
going
to
say,
I
think
piggybacking
off
of
the
aspiration
on
tour.
F
There
are
48
people
who
are
pumped
up
and
I
bet
more
than
that,
because
we've
all
gone
and
told
our
friends
and
hopefully
they've
told
their
friends
too
I-
think
a
plan
is
going
to
happen
in
aiken,
but
we
have
to.
We
have
to
have
a
strategic
plan
involving
our
citizens
involving
people.
So
every
age,
every
group
from
our
equestrian
community,
our
Millennials,
everybody,
has
to
have
a
say.
We
have
to
have
a
unified
vision
of
what
Eakins
going
to
be
and
we
have
to
move
forward
with
it.
That's
the
biggest
challenge
facing
taken.
B
G
That
is
critical
to
our
community.
What
I
brought
with
me
here
is
an
example
of
what
we
face.
This
is
the
single
most
problem
that
we
have
today.
This
is
our
infrastructure
and
we
must
replace
our
infrastructure.
This
is
what
you're
getting
a
lot
of
your
water
out
of
this
is
the
single
most
problem.
C
C
G
A
great
question
because
I
made
the
motion
I
stand
on
record
of
approving
the
hospitality
tax.
It's
a
good
tax.
We've
seen
the
results
of
it
already.
If
you
look
on
the
south
side
of
town,
where
starbucks
is
going
where
TD
bank's
is
going
and
I,
think
the
chamber
to
for
supporting
it
as
well,
TD
bank's
is
going.
We've
used
funds
already
for
infrastructure
and
for
stormwater
for
those
areas.
Recently,
with
our
Airport,
we
had
an
opportunity
to
get
2.2
million
dollars
with
that
text:
economic
vitality.
G
Whenever
we
want
enterprise,
we
give
it
different
names,
but
it's
in
essence
attacks
we're
managing
a
2.2
million
dollars
with
providing
seed
monies
that
the
FAA
managed
to
give
us.
It
is
a
good
tax
and
a
good
example
of
how
we
can
use
that
tax
we've
managed
to
get
in
more
than
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
already.
We
expect
to
raise
1.2
million
this
entire
year.
I
think
will
exceed
that,
but
there
are
great
things
going
on
that
we
can
use
it
for
other
purposes
in
this
town
and
I
think
give
it
a
year
and
you'll.
G
C
F
D
F
Things
first
of
all,
I
want
to
impose
any
raising
of
taxes.
Secondly,
I'm
going
to
promote
economic
development.
Thirdly,
we're
going
to
keep
our
seats,
our
streets
safe
and
we're
going
to
work
on
infrastructure,
because
you
see
it
all
it
all
works
together.
Nobody
wants
to
bring
a
business
to
a
town
where
they
don't
feel
safe,
so
we
have
to
support
our
Public
Safety
economic
development
by
taking
and
reforming
our
policies
and
making
it
easier
for
people
to
do
business
here,
but
also
also
by
recruiting
and
bringing
businesses
in
and
expanding
existing
businesses.
F
I
think
once
the
sign
is
out,
we
have
a
great
town.
We
have
a
great
city
as
beautiful
as
character.
People
want
to
be
here.
We
just
have
to
let
another
gate
is
opening
their
welcome.
I'm
going
to
be
an
advocate
as
mayor
I'm,
going
to
be
calling
people
at
the
state
level
and
regional
level.
They're
gonna
be
tired
of
taking
my
calls
and
they're
going
to
bring
people
down
just
because
I'm
calling
so
much.
D
G
Going
to
create
a
positive
business
climate,
I
also
expect
to
create
a
business
council
and
that
business
council
will
be
part
of
the
chamber.
In
addition
to
some
other
key
business
leaders
in
this
town,
creation
of
a
business
council
will
help
to
support
some
of
the
initiatives
that
city
council
decides
to
do
and
on
that
business
council
expect
to
have
young
professionals.
G
Let
me
just
say
that
my
contact
not
only
limits
itself
to
aiken
but
state
national
and
international.
I
can
draw
from
my
resources.
Given
my
28
years
of
experience,
I
have
contacts
already
I'm
making
contacts.
As
a
matter
of
fact,
yesterday
I
was
in
Augusta
Georgia
and
I
talked
with
the
person
at
Fort.
E
G
G
For
years,
Aikens
economy
will
be
exciting,
we'll
reach.
The
front
pages
will
hear
the
benchmark
report
from
the
University
of
South
Carolina,
saying
how
well
we've
done
in
four
years.
Growth
is
great,
business
is
rapidly
flowing,
young
people
are
downtown
stores
are
here,
the
hotel
is
open
hotel,
a
code
is
open
it.
The
town
is
vibrant,
it
will
be
an
exciting
City.
G
We
can
do
that
through
the
leadership
to
participation
and
I'd
like
to
see
every
one
of
you
in
this
room
involved,
but
we
can
do
it.
We
can
win
in
a
greater
way
by
involvement
in
this
town,
but
it
will
be
an
exciting
town.
My
children
will
still
be
here,
and
hopefully,
I
would
have
grandchildren
at
that
time,
but
we
will
have
a
great
community.
E
F
Taken
is
an
exciting
point.
We
can
make
choices,
we
can
lead
the
city
and
into
a
path
where
our
economy
will
grow
with
the
economic
development,
our
downtown
can
be
vibrant,
I
think
it
will
be
an
exciting
time.
I
will
tell
you,
it
would
be
a
gold
miner.
I
was
lucky
enough
as
a
young
county
council
member
to
participate
in
an
all-american
city
presentation,
and
it
was
a
great
thing
and
it
pulled
a
lot
of
people
together
and
we
won
that
award
and
it
still
hangs
up
proudly
in
the
city.
F
F
I
mean
22
lays
on
this
question.
First
of
all,
philosophically
I
believe
that
the
best
role
for
government
is
to
step
away
and
let
the
private
sector
do
it,
do
what
it
needs
to
do
and
meet
the
needs
of
a
community.
But
secondly,
also
I
mean
we
live
in
a
state
with
with
a
wave
of
a
Republican
County
Council.
We
have
Republican
majorities
in
both
bodies
and
our
statewide
officers
are
all
Republican.
That
doesn't
mean
that
you
can't
work
across
all
because,
of
course,
you
can
but
already
have
those
relationships.
F
I
think
that
will
help
also
that
can
pick
up
a
phone
and
make
a
call
for
someone
that
I
need
to,
but
yeah
I
think
philosophically
I
mean
I
I
name
my
kid
Reagan,
for
heaven's
sake,
I
mean
yeah
I'm,
a
pretty
conservative,
guy
and
I
believe
the
role
of
government
should
be
limited,
I.
Think
if
you,
if
you
grow
the
private
sector,
the
government,
the
government's
role
will
be
less.
But
if
you
grow
government
you're
going
to
stifle
the
private
sector.
G
We
live
in
a
town
with
a
population
of
a
little
over
30,000
people
when
I
sit
on
City,
Council
and
vote
for
anything
in
this
time,
whether
it's
the
budget,
whether
it's
needs
for
our
public
safety
I,
don't
raise
my
hand
and
say
I'm
voting
as
a
Democrat,
we're
too
small.
For
that
we
don't
need
that
in
our
town.
This
is
a
town
that
I'm,
proud
of
and
I,
don't
I,
don't
know
people
I
want
to
connect
myself
with
people
that
live
and
work
by
party
lines.
G
G
We
have
to
focus
on
the
issues
and
I
think
that,
for
the
most
part
council
does
that
we
focus
on
the
issues
that
will
better
and
elevate
our
town.
What
a
great
thing
that
I
can
do
in
this
city
when
I
go
to
other
cities
and
say
that
my
town
is
United
when
one
side
hurts
the
other.
The
other
feels
the
pain
as
well.
That's
the
United
community
that
works
together.
C
G
G
G
To
give
you
a
classic
example,
we
have
aqua,
which
Tennessee
that
has
a
there's
a
contract
there,
three
hundred
million
dollars
with
one
of
the
contractors
out
there
they're
grown
as
a
result
of
getting
greater
involvement
with
small
businesses
through
the
contractor
there,
and
certainly
we
can
grow
our
city.
Even
though
we're
ok.
Now
we
can
do
a
lot
better
and
that's
what
I
look
forward
to
doing.
C
F
F
D
F
I
think
there's
valid
reasons
why
they
think
we're
not
pro-business
I
think
when,
whenever
they
go
in
with
a
when
we
bring
an
entrepreneur
and
investor
a
new
business
person
to
our
community
and
they
go
in
and
and
they're
greeted
with
a
list
of
all
the
hurdles
that
they
have
to
jump
in
it,
and
especially
it.
You
know
not
a
lot
of
young
entrepreneurs
and
people
who
are
just
beginning.
F
They
don't
have
a
law
firm
to
go
through
these
papers,
they
need
it
needs
to
be
streamlined
and
that
process
needs
needs
to
be
shorter,
so
I
mean
I.
Think
it's
very
I
think
it's
unfortunate,
but
we
can
say
at
this
point:
we
are
not
business
friendly
and
I.
Think
that's
one
reason
why
we're
experiencing
zero
percent
growth.
D
G
That
segment
is
accurate,
I'm
not
going
to
deny
that
and
I
will
say
that
we,
as
I
said
earlier.
We
have
process
improvements
that
we're
working
on
as
we
speak.
There
are
inhibitors,
there
are
barriers
and
we're
fixing
those
those
barriers.
Is
it
going
to
happen
immediately?
No,
but
I've
been
in
contact
with
some
of
the
departments
are
pads
it,
as
well
as
our
city,
manager
and
staff,
who
is
who
are
fully
aware
of
those
barriers.
We
want
to
make
it
better.
G
We
want
businesses
to
come
here
and
we
don't
want
people
and
I
know
this
is
happening.
There
are
people
that
are
so
frustrated
with
our
sis
them
that
they've
just
pretty
much
given
up
and
after
they've
come
to
us
time
and
time
again
they
see
little
results,
then
they
will
go
ahead
and
do
it
their
way
we
will
make.
We
will
make
those
changes
and
I
am
certain
that
we
will
make
it
easier
for
businesses
to
see
that
we
want
them
here.
G
We
want
them
to
have
a
profit
because
I
understand
budgets,
I've
managed
a
number
of
budgets
at
savannah
river
site,
I,
understand,
budgets
and
I,
understand,
profits
and
understand
losses.
We
do
not
want
them
losing
money
if
I've
got
a
minute
30
seconds
talking
about
business,
I
want
to
get
to
prime
stegen
and
the
University
in
terms
of
how
we
can
make
how
this
town
is.
This
town
is
business
friendly
and
businesses
want
to
help.
G
Prime
steaks
said
to
me
that
I
want
more
young
people
to
come
to
my
business
I'm,
more
professors
to
come
to
my
business
and
to
do
that.
This
is
randy.
Randy
said:
let's
see
on
monday
and
tuesday,
I
will
create
a
menu
and
reduce
my
prices
in
half.
If
I
can
get
businesses
to
cut
those
two
dozen
prefers
professors
to
come
to
my
restaurant.
That's
a
way
of
how
we
can
help
business
as
well.
E
Thank
you
have
a
long
one.
Many
young
people
report
some
difficulty
finding
jobs
in
aiken
area
that
pay
well
enough
to
leave
them
feeling
financially
secure.
As
a
result,
these
young
people
are
relocating
to
more
urban
larger
areas
where
jobs
are
more
plentiful.
What
can
be
done
to
bring
new
growth
and
jobs
to
the
aiken
area,
making
it
attractive
enough
to
entice
the
young
professionals
to
relocate,
or
those
already
here
to
remain
in
aiken
versus
larger,
more
populated
areas
is.
G
E
G
E
Paraphrasing
it's
kind
of
hard
for
young
professionals
to
stay
here,
knowing
that
they
don't
get
paid
enough
to
really
live
here.
So
what
can
be
done
to
bring
new
growth
and
jobs
to
the
Aiken
area,
making
it
attractive
enough
to
entice
the
young
professionals
to
relocate
are
those
already
here
to
remain
in
aiken
versus
larger,
more
populated
cities.
G
And
in
new
growth
we
have
to
attract
for
high-tech
jobs.
One
young
people
want
to
come
here.
We
have
some
in
the
audience
right
now
that
want
to
remain
here.
Oftentimes
the
process
with
employers
take
too
long
and
I
know
that,
because
I
serve
on
the
the
department
of
energy,
environmental
management,
vagy
board
and
I
was
in
Washington
last
week,
and
we
were
talking
about
the
processes
of
employment.
G
Given
the
Department
of
Energy
were
used,
close
to
hat
will
lose
close
to
half
of
their
workforce,
and
those
folks
can
walk
out
the
door
right
now
because
of
their
age
category,
given
that
they're
looking
for
young
workers,
but
the
process
takes
too
long.
No
young
person
with
skills
greater
weight
around
almost
a
year
before
they
hear
anything
from
an
employer,
and
certainly
we
can
help
them
to
reduce
that
timeline.
G
There
are
other
things
regarding
our
educational
system
that
we
can
help
with
our
university
I,
keep
saying
we
could
provide
reasonable
price
housing
with
condos
for
our
young
people
to
have
helped
them
to
stay
here
and
we
can
have.
We
can
bring
jobs
here
that
can
help
our
young
people
into
a
grid,
a
greater
quality
of
life
in
our
community.
E
Young
people
report
some
difficulty
finding
jobs
in
the
Aiken
area
that
pay
well
enough
to
leave
them
feeling
financially
secure.
As
a
result,
these
young
people
are
relocating
to
more
urban
larger
areas
where
jobs
are
more
plentiful.
What
can
be
done
to
bring
new
growth
and
jobs
to
the
Aiken
area,
making
it
attractive
enough
to
entice
the
young
professionals
to
relocate.
Are
those
already
here
to
remain
in
aiken
versus
larger,
more
populated
sees
right.
F
We
have
to
double
down
on
our
economic
development.
We
have
to
double
down
on
creating
a
culture
that
fosters
that
business.
We
have
to
work
with
our
regional
economic
development
professionals.
We
have
to
work
with
Department
of
Commerce.
We
have
to
work
with
these
reframe
works
because
that's
who's
being
contacted,
but
we
have
to
aggressively
make
ourselves
available
to
it.
We
have
to
take
calls
we
have
to.
We
have
to
meet
with
and
support
when
people
bring
us
projects,
we
have
to
support
those
projects.
F
Okay,
we
have
to
trust
our
economic
development
professionals,
as
mayor
I
would
I
would
try
to
lead
that
charge.
I
had
the
privilege
of
serving,
as
vice
chair
to
chairman
Ronnie
young
at
the
county
and
there's
nobody
in
that
I
know
who's
more
more
committed
to
bringing
economic
development
to
the
county.
The
Ronnie
young
I
think
because
of
that
relationship
and
our
past
working
together
I
think
we
could
work
to
bring
that
same
thing
to
the
city
of
Aiken
and
that's
what
I
would
aggressively
do.
B
B
F
What
question
that
I
want
I
didn't
memorize
the
questions
I
just
kind
of
so
yeah,
okay,
trying
to
think
over
what
the
questions
were.
I
guess,
I
think.
The
question
that
I
wish
you
would
ask,
are
we
done?
Is
that
what
we're
saying
here,
the
question
now
and
I'm
running
the
clock?
I'm,
sorry
I,
think
the
question
I
wish
you'd
asked
was.
It
was
the
one
that
was
listed
about
unifying
akin
about
there's
a
perception
of
different
port
parts
of
our
city
and
I.
F
Think
that's
a
very
good
question
that
the
next
mayor
needs
needs
to
address.
I
believe
we
need
to
have
a
seamless
city.
I
think
you
need
to
be
able
to
go
from
crawls
in
part
to
downtown
aiken,
to
aiken
estates,
to
Jim
lakes
to
woodside,
and
everybody
in
those
communities
should
feel
safe.
I
think
they
should
all
have
opportunities
and
that's
what
I
would
like
to
work
for
us
mere.
So
that's
a
question
friend.
B
G
A
And
that
was
our
final
question
for
the
for
the
evening.
I
was
time
to
move
into
our
concluding
statements,
but
before
we
do
I
like
to
just
stop
and
pause
and
and
tell
our
both
of
our
candidates
outstanding
job
this
evening,
that
was
not
easy.
I
was
17
very
difficult
questions
and
I
say
they
all
handled
it
very
well
about
a
round
of
applause.
G
Thank
You
Bard
I've
enjoyed
serving
the
citizens
of
this
city
for
28
years,
in
addition
to
my
40
years,
experience
at
savannah
river
site
and
human
resources
and
public
affairs
in
managing
education
programs
in
small
small
disadvantaged
business
programs
and
philanthropic,
giving
and
equipment
reused
programs
and
serving
as
a
lays
on
working
with
local
state
and
national
officials.
I
started
at
the
bottom
and
worked
my
way
up
into
the
managerial
position.
That
prepared
me
for
leadership.
I
didn't
have
anything
to
inherit.
G
The
majority
of
the
planning
and
growth
and
prosperity
of
this
community
are
tied
too
much
planning
by
city
leaders.
I
am
one
of
them.
I
was
elected
by
my
peers
as
the
statewide
president
of
the
State
Municipal
Association
of
South
Carolina,
representing
270
cities
in
this
state
I
have
addressed
issues
in
Washington
DC
that
impacted
cities
across
the
country
and
have
offered
several
publications.
I
have
great
relationships
with
many
departments
in
Washington,
I
fought
and
oppose
unfunded
mandates
coming
to
our
state.
G
It
is
said
that
great
cities
are
measured
by
the
quality
of
life
of
the
people
who
live
in
it.
Making
a
difference
in
people's
lives
is
important
to
me.
By
working
together
we
can
make
our
greater
I
have
experience
where
it
counts
and
and
I
have
gained
it
in
my
hometown.
I
am
proud
of
my
record,
but
I
am
not
done
yet.
As
your
next
mayor,
I
will
offer
new
ideas
for
innovative
thinking
and
growth
and
prosperity
for
all.
I
will
work
to
improve
the
quality
of
life,
and
that
means
good
jobs.
G
Creating
a
climate
of
innovation
and
entrepreneurship.
I
will
approach
our
proposed
eliminating
taxes
on
startup
businesses
for
one
year,
in
addition
to
business
incentives,
as
your
next
mayor
I
will
work
to
help
people
understand
the
importance
of
working
together
and
as
your
next
mayor,
you
have
to
work
tirelessly
to
gain
the
confidence
of
every
part
of
this
city.
G
F
You,
the
mission
statement
and
purpose
for
any
city
government
should
be
to
make
it
city
the
best
we
should
want
to
be
the
best.
This
effort
is
accomplished
by
constantly
seeking
and
acting
on
ways
to
improve
the
quality
of
life
for
all
the
people
and
all
the
citizens
who
live
here.
I
believe
aching
can
be
the
best
city
I
believe
we
can
improve
the
quality
of
life
for
all
of
our
citizens
and
I
know
we
can
accomplish
it
by
working
together.
F
The
osmond
plan
is
simple,
with
four
points
in
it:
first
we're
going
to
keep
taxes
low
and
create
a
business-friendly
environment.
Secondly,
we're
going
to
actively
work
with
regional
and
state
economic
development
professionals
to
bring
new
jobs,
new
quality
high,
paying
jobs
to
our
area
into
our
city.
Third,
we're
going
to
keep
our
streets
safe,
we're
going
to
work
with
Public
Safety
and
make
sure
that
they
have
the
resources
they
need,
so
that
every
neighborhood
in
our
city
feels
safe.
F
Fourth,
speaking
of
roads,
we're
going
to
keep
our
roads
maintained
and
we're
going
to
work
on
that
infrastructure.
That's
been
talked
about
tonight
and
I
think
that
pipe
may
have
come
out
of
the
street
in
front
of
my
cleaners
because
I've
seen
it
before,
but
no
it's
a
major
issue.
I
mean
I
mean
it
absolutely
it
absolutely
is
it's
been
ignored
for
way
too
long
and
whoever
the
light
is
going
to
have
to
work
on
infrastructure.
F
It's
going
to
be
an
important
issue
without
with
our
city,
these
four
issues,
what's
going
to
focus
but
I'm
going
to
tell
you
I,
believe
I
believe
in
four
years
will
be
making
a
run
for
that
all-american
city
again,
I,
look
forward
to
that
I'd
appreciate
your
support.
I'd
appreciate
your
vote
and
I.
Thank
you
for
your
time
tonight.
A
F
A
Thank
you
to
our
panelists
this
evening
for
representing
the
Aiken
chamber
and
the
young
professionals,
and
thank
you
to
our
audience
for
taking
the
time
to
come
out
this
evening
and
participate
in
our
for
we
hope
this
forum
has
helped
to
answer
some
questions
you
may
have
had
and
that
the
information
shared
tonight
will
help.
You
make
an
informed
decision
on
election
day
before
we
adjourn
to
have
a
few
announcements.
The
city
of
aiken,
channel
4
on
atlantic
broadband
will
be
rebroadcast
tonight's
mayoral
forum
at
the
following
times,
friday,
tomorrow
october
9th
and
7
p.m.
A
A
Also
on
election
night,
the
city
will
have
a
special
edition
of
Aiken
this
week
with
live
coverage
of
the
mayoral
election
beginning
at
seven-thirty
and
continuing
until
the
final
unofficial
results
are
in
the
program
will
contain
a
special
panel
of
tim
o'brien,
mayan
sector
from
the
aiken
standard
and
USC
aiken,
professor
emeritus
bob
bosch
analyzing
and
discussing
the
election.
The
program
will
be
streamed,
live
on
the
city
of
aikens
youtube
channel
and
on
ww
aiken
standard
comm.