Columbus City Council District 1 councilman Dascal Bunch is facing two challengers in his effort to earn a third consecutive term on the council.
The 64-year-old retired toolmaker has two opponents in the general election, independent candidate Michael Kinder, 29, and Democratic nominee Jerone Wood, 30.
With just weeks left before the general election, all three candidates provided their views on topics that either impact their district or the entire community.
The riverfront project
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All aspects of the proposed $8.6 million Riverfront project — which calls for downtown overlooks of the East Fork White River, connections to the People Trail system, and an in-water recreation area — are important matters to consider, Bunch said.
Since corrosion on the river’s west bank is threatening to uncover a former garbage dump, repairs are mandatory and a deteriorating dam near the Robert N. Stewart Bridge must come out and be replaced, he said.
“If we are going to beautify the riverfront, we need to make sure we do something worthwhile for everybody,” Bunch said.
But the incumbent councilman said he’ll wait until final plans are in place before he asks constituents what they want.
In regard to the Riverfront project, Wood, a leasing agent for a local apartment complex, said his support will depend on two things — whether the proposal improves the overall community and whether it is financially sound.
Although Wood considers the Riverfront project a serious issue, he emphasized his primary focus remains on the opioid crisis, youth development and homelessness.
A Cummins, Inc. engineer, Kinder said he supports the more enjoyable aspects of the Riverfront proposal.
While some residents feel recreational opportunities such as kayaking might be too dangerous, Kinder said it’s also dangerous for pedestrians to cross busy downtown streets when other options, such as People Trail connections, aren’t there.
“While safety is a concern, I hike that area regularly,” Kinder said. “Kids are already using the river area for recreation.”
But in case something did go wrong, the proposal would provide emergency vehicles better access to the river, as well as better control of the environment, Kinder said.
Transparency
Local government cannot benefit a city without community involvement, Wood said. That’s why the city council needs to have public discussions on significant issues, instead of allowing big decisions to be made by “a few people in small corners,” he said.
“Many council decisions will have an impact on the livelihood and finances of people, so decision-making has to involve everyone voicing their opinions,” Wood said.
Kinder said he agrees that the business of local government should be done publicly, adding community leaders are not doing their job properly whenever misinformation is generated through a lack of knowledge.
While Bunch says government should strive to be transparent, he also believes opening up minor and informal discussions may have a negative impact on the council’s effectiveness.
If a quorum is not present, these types of discussions can get out of control when “each person is asking for an ordinance written specifically for them,” Bunch said.
Residents often forget that no proposal will survive unless it gets the support of three additional council members, as well as the person making the proposal, Bunch said.
The FairOaks mall
After attending two public meetings about plans to partially convert FairOaks Mall into an indoor sports tourism complex, Kinder said he believes the city is taking the right path.
”It appears the project leaders understand the needs and wants of the community, and have made a plan of what it would look like,” Kinder said.
However, he emphasized the complex must be economically viable and sustainable, and “not something that will just suck money,” the Cummins engineer added.
While emphasizing that FairOaks plans are still being developed, Bunch described the city’s actions to date as a “smart move” that make good financial sense.
“Are you going to put $3 million into Donner Center, when there are so many different things we can do with the Fair Oaks property?” Bunch asked. “Granted, we paid more than $3 million for FairOaks, but we have a lot more options and room for other activities at Fair Oaks.”
To those who criticize the city’s purchase of FairOaks, Bunch said that if local government didn’t act quickly to acquire the property, “it could have become a junkyard with its current zoning.”
Like the Riverfront project, Wood said his support of the FairOaks project largely depends on whether the final plans will benefit the entire community.
“If we can afford the development and keep the prices down to the point where families at every income level can use it, then yes — I’ll support it,” Wood said.
He sees the proposal as a youth development tool, adding he believe FairOaks could become a large financial asset for the community if done correctly.
Complaints about the homeless
While a number of southeast Columbus residents have expressed anger about homeless individuals wandering in the east side of Columbus, Bunch said he believes Columbus police have done a tremendous job in handling all parties involved in the situation.
But there are certain things officers can’t do, such as approaching homeless individuals who have committed no crime, Bunch said.
“I think our homeless issue is only going to grow,” the incumbent said. “What we need to do is to help them out.”
Although some have blamed the Brighter Days emergency housing shelter, with its location on the east side, most homeless individuals who generate complaints don’t live in the shelter because they refuse to live by the rules, Bunch said. He also said many complaints come from people who don’t live in southeast Columbus, but are still “making a big deal out of things they should have stayed out of.”
Wood said that compassion and charity toward the homeless needs to be fostered in Columbus.
As he was volunteering at Brighter Days emergency housing shelter, Wood said he received a more in-depth understanding of the homeless, and he encourages others to try to do the same.
“We have to get with these people and understand the issues that are going on in their lives,” Wood said. “Everybody isn’t homeless for the same reason, and it’s hard to make decisions regarding 30 to 40 people who are all from different walks of life.”
But from Kinder’s perspective, most worries about the homeless in southeast Columbus have subsided because the city and police chose to communicate with concerned residents, Kinder said.
“That communication is important in adjusting plans and altering them to fit what is going on,” Kinder said.
The city’s willingness to openly discuss public concerns persuaded many residents to voice their concerns, and the feedback they received from local officials made them feel they were being heard, Kinder said.
State Street improvements
The State Street Corridor project has added a new look to the east side bridge entrance to downtown Columbus, as well as new sidewalks, lighting and other improvements.
But now that many improvements are complete, Wood said now is the time for the city to demonstrate support for local businesses willing to move to the city’s southeast side.
If that support is provided, most local residents would be amazed by the success it would likely generate, Wood said.
However, if there are still issues that prevent investment in that section of Columbus, city officials need to get out and talk to business owners to learn their concerns and work to address them, he said.
Kinder said most factors needed for new businesses to thrive can now be found along State Street.
But more improvements are needed for pedestrian traffic in that area, Kinder said.
Currently, most of the infrastructure improvements go southeast no further than Mapleton Street, Bunch said.
“I believe we need to continue these improvements further to State and Marr,” Bunch said. “I’d also like to see the city spruce up the retention ponds they own near South Marr Road, and make it look nice.”
Just as Columbus has created an attractive entrance to the city along Jonathan Moore Pike, similar aesthetics should be placed at the city limits on State Road 7, Bunch said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Dascal Bunch ” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired tool engineer
Previous government service: Has served on the Columbus City Council since 2012.
Community affiliations: As a councilman, he serves on the Columbus Housing Authority, Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Ordinance Review Committee, and several other organizations. He is also active in St. Peters Lutheran Church’s “Angels of Love” program.
Education: Columbus High School Class of 1973. Attended classes at Ball State University before taking trade classes on tool engineering.
Family: Single, two adult children.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Michael Kinder” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 29
Occupation: Engineer for Cummins Inc.
Previous government service: None
Community affiliations: Served as vice-president of the Columbus Economic Development Commission. Active with the Ninth Street Neighborhood Watch Group. Member of the Police Review Board.
Education: Home schooled. Earned his bachelor of science degree in automotive technology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Family: Single, no children.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Jerone Wood” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 30
Occupation: Leasing agent, Monarch Crossing Apartments
Previous government service: none
Community affiliations: none
Education: Columbus East High School, Class of 2006. One credit away from earning his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University with a major in criminology and a minor in communication.
Family: Wife, Cierra, four children
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