CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston’s two Democratic candidates for mayor took part in a candidate forum Thursday, two months until the primary election is set to take place.
Former West Virginia Tourism Commissioner Amy Shuler Goodwin and Charleston City Councilmember Andy Richardson spoke to a packed sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, where candidates were asked about the future of the city’s needle exchange program, making a living wage and what is ahead for Charleston’s West Side.
The forum was organized by the Youth Council of the Call to Action for Racial Equality and co-sponsored by political activism group Rise Up West Virginia.
CARE Executive Director Gabrielle Chapman said the idea to host the forum started in January.
“One of my main concerns was what are our future mayor candidates interested in and how are they going to provide a better Charleston for tomorrow’s generation,” she said.
Youth Council member Daya Harris said she wanted to see how the candidates would prepare the city for the next generation.
“We all wanted to get involved as youth to prove that just because we are young, we should still know what’s going on in our community and who’s running it,” she said.
Goodwin said the most significant thing she was taking from the night was the youth involved in organizing the event.
“That’s who needs to lead Charleston,” she said. “They are engaged, the questions were wonderful, and this is what they should expect out of every person who is running for any municipal office, any statewide office.”
Richardson agreed, adding the West Side does not get fair treatment by the public and media organizations.
“I get sick and tired of the media portraying the West Side flats as if its got all kinds of problems,” he said. “Does it have problems? Of course. But the key, I believe, is intervening with the young people and giving more constructive mentoring opportunities for people to learn, grow and self-actualize.”
Goodwin said the city needs to understand its own programs and make socially and fiscally responsible decisions.
“We’re looking at a $4 million budget hole next year. That’s unacceptable,” she said. “We can’t move forward until we figure out a way to get our house in order and get that budget sound.”
Richardson said growing of the city’s economy is the primary focus of his campaign.
“We’re going to work together with other communities, business leaders, higher education,” he said.
Harris said she appreciated both mayoral candidates for coming, and it is a hard choice between Schuler and Richardson at this moment.
“We didn’t know about any of them until they got here, and when they got here they were so nice and so open,” she said. “To me, you act a certain way in front of your peers and your colleagues and where you’re comfortable. Here, it was a comfortable environment, so they said anything that popped out their mind.”
The primary election will be held May 8. The winner of the Goodwin-Richardson race will then face off against City Clerk J.B. Akers in the general election.