Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register
City council candidates in Wards 7, 8 and 10 made a final pitch to Springfield voters at a candidates’ forum Thursday evening as Election Day closes in.
It was the last of three forums hosted by The State Journal-Register and 94.7 & 970 News/Talk WMAY this week, where voters were offered a last glimpse at where the candidates stand on the major issues facing their wards and the city as a whole.
There was more back and forth than the previous two forums held this week, with candidates clashing over the role of campaign donations in the decision-making process.
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In Ward 10, challenger Rob Patino accused incumbent Ralph Hanauer of being influenced by campaign donations he’s received from developers and labor unions.
“I don’t think anyone here, and I could be wrong, has probably gotten as much special interest money as Ralph Hanauer here as an alderman over the last couple years,” Patino said.
By contrast, Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin was criticized for his frosty relationship with various groups, including several of his colleagues on the council. McMenamin has had public disagreements with other Springfield City Council members, saying campaign donations they have taken compromise their votes — which the aldermen deny.
“As far as political endorsements, when it comes with money, I think that’s a serious problem with the city council,” McMenamin said, adding that he’s studied similar-sized cities and hasn’t found the same “same extent of money pushing around with the aldermen.”
McMenamin’s opponent, Capital Township Trustee Brad Carlson, said he was the only candidate in the race to attract support from both Democrats and Republicans, and business and labor.
The candidates were also asked about how they would work to fix some of the racial and economic inequities highlighted in “Segregated in the Heartland,” a series in Governing Magazine that highlighted disparities in downstate communities.
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Carlson said making homeownership attainable for more people is an important step in helping people build wealth. McMenamin said he would look to further invest in the city’s older neighborhoods, especially improving gateways like South Grand Avenue, Cook Street and MacArthur Boulevard.
On the issue of the Y-Block, the candidates for the most part agreed that a mixed-use development with green space and perhaps a university presence would be ideal.
McMenamin, while welcoming the idea of a university presence, said he would like to send out a new request for proposal to see what type of private investment the block could attract.
The candidates were divided on whether the city should pursue a secondary water source. Carlson and Hanauer both support the creation of a second lake, while McMenamin favors maintaining and dredging Lake Springfield.
The election is April 2.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 