4th District council candidates take questions
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
Three candidates vying for Knoxville’s Fourth District were featured at Friday’s North Knoxville Business and Professional Association meeting at St John’s Church on Broadway. President Tyler Pavlis moderated the well-attended meeting, which included breakfast and served as a meet-and-greet with the candidates.
Each candidate, Jane George, Matthew DeBardelaben and Jeff Talman, spoke for a few minutes and then answered questions from the audience of NKBPA members and guests. The candidates were asked their opinions on the difficulties in getting building permits, the city’s alternative response teams, and the reuse and development of underused real estate.
In his brief opening statement, DeBardelaben says he favors positive growth in the city, housing, transportation and quality of life.
George said she wants “smart growth,” more frequent bus service, help for evicted persons, and a better policy on mental illness.
Talman said he favors homeownership, a no-nonsense tax base, no increased sales tax, a plan to deal with more housing and developing the corridors.
The Knoxville Focus asked about their opinions on city policies dealing with undocumented residents. Audience members asked other questions.
George said that people who are here legally are “being taken away” and urged residents to make a video and get names of those being apprehended so their families will know. She said that immigrants committing crimes should be removed.
DeBardelaben said, “My heart aches” for them and the city needs a more robust office to deal with the problem and should work with groups to help.
Talman said the problem is an “uncontrolled, disorderly system” and referred to a man who lost his son to an undocumented alien.
The question of obtaining building permits saw George talk about Historic Overlays and DeBardelaben speak of needing a balance between local and box businesses, and a process for more affordable housing. Talman said it is “crazy that a local process can take months and that process adds [to the] cost of doing business.”
The alternative response policy saw George compliment Knoxville’s “HART” organization and said the response policy of sending a mental health worker to domestic disturbances is seen as “nothing but good.”
Talman said there is “no such thing as a routine traffic stop or domestic dispute.”
Asked about the problem of unused real estate, George said that some unused properties are not owned by the city and the city cannot impose restrictions. DeBardelaben said the city is going to struggle with state and federal funding and that workforce housing is needed close to workplaces.
Talman said the nation has a huge debt, and the cost of help may be passed on to people “not born yet.” He added he favors incentives and wants Knoxville to be an ideal workplace.
