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25
With but a few days before a big election for City Council in Charleston, Charleston Moves is publishing a tabulated account of the responses of many of the candidates to a questionnaire we asked them to fill out. Obviously, our interest is in modes of transportation other than the auto, which has gotten far more than its fair share of attention in our planning. We wanted to find out how sensitive our leaders (and their challengers) are to issues that concern us: alternative forms of transportation such as walking and bicycling. Seven of a total of 11 candidates in competitive races for Charleston City Council responded to Charleston Moves Candidate Questionaire. The biggest response came from District #6, where Mayor Pro-Tem Dudley Gregorie has four challengers. Councilman Gregorie himself responded, as did his challengers Francis Clasby, III and Ben DAllesandro. His challengers Joe Good and Lauretta Lemon Dailey did not answer our e-mailed invitation. A response was received from Councilman Blake Hallman but his challenger Rodney Williams did not respond. (In fairness, Mr. Williams received his questionnaire late due to our error with his e-mail address.) Other non-respondents were Councilman Robert Mitchell, (His challenger Elizabeth Fultons response is included), as are the responses of Councilman Mike Seekings (District #8) and his challenger Bobbie Rose. Many responses showed evidence that the respondents knew their target audience well. Many, nevertheless, showed thoughtfulness and sensitivity. Since we cannot show any favoritism, well leave it to you to sort through them. Its not as complicated as it might seem. All in all, we think it was a worthwhile project. We get a glimpse into how people think on matters of importance to us and our membership. And we have a benchmark as to their positions.
Written
Response
Section
Question
#1:
With
regard
to
Charlestons
future
transportation
needs,
do
you
think
it
important
to
have
a
positive
vision?
DALLESANDRO
Of
course
it
is
important
to
have
a
positive
vision.
We
must
think
progressively
about
transportation
in
Charleston.
ROSE
Yes,
it
is
always
important
to
have
a
positive
vision,
a
plan
and
a
goal
in
regard
to
our
future
transportation
needs.
SEEKINGS
Of
course,
and
in
the
past
four
(4)
years
at
the
City,
our
vision
has
greatly
improved,
as
has
the
culture
of
transportation
integration.
CLASBY
Future
transportation
needs
a
childs
vision.
This
perspective
was
overlooked
in
the
past
and
communities
were
divided.
Can
a
child
cross
that
bridge
or
road
safely?
FULTON
Yes.
HALLMAN
Absolutely-
I
have
supported
bicycle-friendly
initiatives
from
day
one
on
City
Council.
DUDLEY
Yes.
Question
#2:
Please
list
3-5
values
you
feel
are
shared
by
Charlestonians
in
general.
DALLESANDRO
1.
Family
2.
Community
3.
A
strong
feeling
as
to
how
our
popular
City
should
grow.
ROSE We share a desire to conserve the natural environmental beauty of our city and the surrounding areas. (Though we may disagree on how to implement our conservation efforts.) We share the desire to preserve the unique historical structures of our city for future residents and visitors. We share a desire to see Charleston prosper while supporting sensible development. SEEKINGS 1) Community 2) History 3) Preservation CLASBY 1. Sustainable ability to walk. 2. Community connections with complete streets. 3. Livability as defined by the ability to simply live. FULTON Compassion, Generosity, Progressive thinking, preservation HALLMAN Based on personal communication with them, in order: 1) protection of the brand that is Charleston, 2) protection of our quality of life 3) conservative use of tax revenue, and 4) better response to citizen input DUDLEY - Preservation - Sustainability - livability - resilience - integrity
Question
#3:
If
you
think
having
a
positive
vision
important
and
you
have
one,
what
is
yours?
DALLESANDRO
One
important
positive
vision
for
me
deals
with
public
transportation
in
our
region.
An
overhaul
of
our
system
would
have
such
great
benefits
to
the
Charleston
area.
I feel we need to change peoples perception about public transportation. Too many people have negative feelings toward it- that it is for people that cant afford cars and gas. This is not correct thinking. A well planned system is faster and more efficient than cars. Another positive vision that is important to me is to make Charleston, especially, Downtown an incredibly biker friendly City. Downtown has the characteristics to make this happen. It is geographically small, it is flat and it is full of people that want it to happen. ROSE Charleston is a linear city, therefore we can more easily make strides toward light rail (and apparently a line right-of-way still exists from a former line). We can be proactive about new construction to ensure that bicycle and pedestrian needs are incorporated into the plans. We can look at each street and do counts on usage to assess whether we are using them in the most efficient manner possible for our city. We can broaden our viewpoint and look at what other cities are doing to address burgeoning transportation needs in a green, low impact manner. SEEKINGS The 72/72 Rule. Make Charleston as good a place to live for 72 years (or more) as it is to visit for 72 hours. CLASBY My vision is that of a child, I put myself into their perspective. Am I safe here? Can I get there by walking or riding my bike? Future development must answer this childs perspective question affirmatively. FULTON To work hard to make Charleston a great place to live, work, play and visit. HALLMAN I see my role on Charlestons City Council as a coalition building, level-headed presence who focuses upon protecting our quality of life while making sure that the citys initiatives are as well thought out as possible. I try to review all city plans through a cost-benefit-analysis perspective. DUDLEY Sustain a balance between growth, livability and preservation in a way that respects our communities, promotes diversity at all levels, stimulates healthy neighborhoods, embraces innovation, and offers access to a wide range of opportunities expected from the number one city in America, such as rst class public transportation, rst class education, and rst class jobs and industries; while maintaining our unique charleston appeal.
Question
#4:
If
you
have
one,
how
would
you
propose
to
exercise
leadership
in
order
to
implement
the
vision
during
your
term
of
ofce?
DALLESANDRO
We
have
to
take
cars
off
the
street.
I
would
take
away
lanes
of
traffic
or
the
parking
lane
to
cars
on
some
streets
and
devote
them
to
bike
lanes.
Yes,
people
would
complain,
but
they
would
get
over
it.
Charleston
should
have
parking
hubs
with
trolleys
and
bike
racks
to
take
people
further
into
the
City.
ROSE
I
believe
city
councils
responsibility
is
to
look
at
the
big
picture,
balancing
development,
business
and
livability
issues
facing
the
residents
of
our
city.
Today,
the
council
seems
to
be
highly
focused
on
the
business
side.
I
would
work
directly
with
the
residents
to
determine
our
needs
and
the
best
way
to
implement
our
goals
for
future,
then
work
with
the
other
board
members,
negotiating
an
outcome
that
best
moves
us
all
forward
as
a
city.
SEEKINGS
Convert
the
southernmost
lane
on
the
Ashley
River
Bridge
to
bike/pedestrian
use.
It
is
the
most
important
and
achievable
transportation
project
on
the
books.
CLASBY
I
am
a
uniter,
I
have
organized
communities
and
created
lifestyle
changes
that
incorporate
activity
into
our
daily
lives.
Walking
and
bicycling
to
work,
school,
stores
and
just
for
fun
is
my
vision
as
a
leader.
FULTON
Listen
to
different
perspectives
and
make
sure
the
people
that
have
an
interest
are
able
to
offer
their
opinions.
From
there,
make
sure
that
programs
and
ordinances
are
implemented
efficiently.
HALLMAN
Through
my
experience
in
building
coalitions
to
successfully
preserve
Morris
Island
as
well
as
working
with
a
past
city
council
that
was
somewhat
dysfunctional,
I
have
become
adept
at
working
with
my
fellow
council
members
to
push
for
reasonable
initiatives.
As
the
chair
of
the
Traffic
&
Transportation
committee,
I
pushed
for
more
Pedicabs
to
be
licensed
on
the
peninsula,
arguing
that
they
were
much
more
beneficial
to
traffic
than
the
current
taxi
cabs,
Not
everyone
agreed,
so
we
suggested
a
compromise
of
fewer
Pedicabs
than
our
original
goal.
Thus
far,
the
expanded
number
of
Pedicabs
has
number
of
Pedicabs
has
not
been
to
the
detriment
of
the
city
or
its
traffic
flow.
DUDLEY
1-
Create
and
support
legislation
that
promotes
a
comprehensive
plan
which
sustains
smart
growth
with
great
consideration
for
livability
and
preservation.
2-
Work
closely
with
neighborhood
associations
to
ensure
that
the
aspects
of
the
plan
are
inclusive
to
their
needs
and
the
interest
of
their
communities.
3-
Coordinate
with
the
Council
of
Government
and
the
Region
to
advance
and
implement
the
plan.
CANDIDATES
PRIORITIES
CANDIDATE
Feet / Wheels D'ALLESANDRO ROSE SEEKINGS CLASBY FULTON HALLMAN DUDLEY feet feet wheels NA both feet Wheels
Local Businesses / Nat'l Chains local local local NA local local local bikeped bikeped bikeped NA bikeped bikeped bikeped
Bike-Ped / Autos more transit more transit more transit NA more transit NA more transit
affluent 2nd homeowners / less affluent locals Low Low Low NA NA Low low
Ranking Priorities
repair sidewalks
repair pothles
6 5 7 9 7 * 7
1 4 1 5 1 1 1 * N/A
9 8
3 1 2 N/A
8 9
5 2 5
7 7 4 3 4 5 5
4 6 6 6 2 2 6 * N/A
10 10
2 3 3
10 9
2 3 4 *
8 8
1 6 3
7 10
4 5 6
10