43
Salem council candidates differ on needs of the city
SALEM — Three Democratic incumbents and a newcomer are seeking the three at-large council seats in the city’s May 5 primary.
Clyde Brown and Atty. Earl A. Schory are seeking re-election, and Atty. K. Bret Apple is seeking election after his appointment.
Apple, a former county municipal court judge for nine years, was appointed earlier this year to fill the seat of former Councilman Justin Palmer, who became a legislative aide in Washington.
Rounding out the candidates is Randall Colian, a former city police officer who is a collections manager for Farmers National Bank.
Brown ran unsuccessfully two years ago for the mayoral seat now occupied by Republican Jerry Wolford. He has spent much of his time before and after the mayoral race listening and responding to constituents’ complaints and concerns.
“I stand for the people,” Brown said. “Why do they call me? They know I’ll take care of them.”
Brown said a number of businesses have closed in the city in recent decades but haven’t been replaced and that he was running again to seek economic development projects. He said the city lacked a comprehensive economic development plan.
He and Schory decided to rewrite and clarify city ordinances that Brown said had not been updated in many years.
Apple is head of the finance committee, which met many times this spring with city Auditor Jim Armeni to make sure the appropriations would cover the city’s financial needs for 2009. He sees the lack of funds for services as the city’s biggest issue.
He said that through economic development efforts, the city can be made “appealing” to businesses interested in moving to the city. He also said the city has to be fiscally responsible to spend money on projects that will benefit the city and its citizens the most.
The newcomer is Colian, who was not happy with Brown’s questioning of the use of a house on city park property by a park worker who in return fixed the structure. The worker has since departed. The work consisted of painting, replacing drywall and replacing a furnace.
Colian said the work was done under an agreement with the parks department, not council.
Colian said he also is interested in getting outside funds for the city.
“I’d like to see Salem get all the stimulus money we can, both state and local,” he said.
He said he also would like to see the police department upgrade its handguns from 9 mm to .40-caliber semiautomatics.
The handguns that police are carrying now are 12 years old, he said.
He said he was running because, “I think its time for a change.”
Schory did not respond to The Vindicator’s questionnaire. He is now in his third stint as a councilman. He also previously served as the city’s law director for many years.
wilkinson@vindy.com