Well, the second and final mayoral debate is over, and Fort Wayne has just one week to pick a new leader.
Nobody came out swinging at Tuesday night’s live debate at Indiana University-Purdue University – far from it – but passions were near the surface.
Who won? This humble TV observer calls it a draw, with Matt Kelty and Tom Henry much more comfortable saying what they believe and want than they were in last week’s debate with Indiana’s NewsCenter, the Journal Gazette and WOWO Radio.
Tuesday's debate – which aired live on WANE-TV and was co-sponsored by the Anthony Wayne Rotary Club – was lively, funny at times, and seemed heartfelt.
Henry, who really loosened up for this go-round, started the evening by making a joke about his speaking style being about as exciting as paint drying.
Then he proceeded to show the spark we all knew was there.
Consolidation
Kelty is naturally the better speaker, and he took chances Tuesday night, even coming close to a shout when asked whether he favors consolidating Fort Wayne and Allen County.
Both candidates said no, by the way, with each saying they’d look for ways to consolidate some services and offices to save move and improve delivery.
On this question, Henry scored a clear point by saying he’d already spoken with area mayors on a plan to consolidate purchasing efforts with surrounding communities.
If we’re keeping score, Kelty is much better than Henry on keeping to a core message. Kelty espouses the GOP message of reducing property taxes and regulation on business.
About the indictment
The candidates were asked, pointedly, about Matt Kelty’s indictments and what this could mean for his leadership and the city.
Henry could have done a mean-spirited hatchet job, but he stood firm. The Democrat characterized his opponent as “an honorable man” and that those who are sending barbs “are in the minority.”
Kelty said he is innocent, had “pure intent” and that he is confident the charges will be dismissed. “I am not guilty,” he said.
Where's the love?
For a short time, when asked whether their opponent would be a good mayor, the debate got all warm and fuzzy.
Kelty, for his part, said Henry would be a great mayor.
Henry said Kelty would be a good mayor, but he’d be a great mayor if he’d appoint Henry as his deputy mayor.
Huh?
Kelty said if you like his ideas, vote for Kelty. If you like Henry’s ideas, vote for Henry. That either way, you’ll get a great mayor.
Enough with the love fest
1) On Harrison Square, Kelty said it’s “sucking” up our tax dollars. If elected, he’d make sure “every ounce of value” is squeezed out of each tax dollar.
Henry said the development can be the “foundation for much, much more” and that it has sparked interest in downtown and other nearby areas, such as our rivers.
2) Speaking of rivers, Kelty says Fort Wayne needs to follow New Haven’s lead and speed up fixing the problem of raw sewage going into the rivers. He didn’t specifically address how we’d pay for that.
Henry says it’s an unfunded federal mandate to clean the rivers and that it’s going to take 20 years and $400 million to $500 million to do the job. He said we can never expect our rivers to look pristine because they have “muck” bottoms.
3) On economic development, Henry said he’d convene a summit with educators and businesses to discuss opportunities for young people and how young people can be bittern educated to meet the needs of employers.
Kelty said he’d put a lot more development processes online to make it easier for businesses to locate in the Summit City.
He said there are too many entities that pop up when a business wants to come to town. He said he’d put that job in hands of Rob Young, president of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance.
Henry said he’d bring all of those entities, such as the Chamber of Commerce and alliance, together and form a committee so they’re all working on the same page.
4) There were a couple of sparks after Kelty said he’d work hard to privatize more city services. Henry said the city already contracts out for a number of services and does a great job. Kelty said snow removal in some areas of the city is so bad that neighborhoods hire private contractors to get the job done.
In closing
Henry said he wants to be the CEO of Fort Wayne and that he hopes voters will look at his record and choose him for the job.
Kelty says he want to inject new ideas and new energy into the job.
So, now our job is to vote on Nov. 6.
