Election issues discussed at forum

Tuesday is Election Day and time is short to make a choice between the candidates running for the two contested seats on the Hickory City Council.

Hank Guess is vying for incumbent Z. Ann Hoyle's Ward 4 seat and Harry Hipps is looking to unseat incumbent Jill Patton to become the Ward 6 Alderman.

The incumbents and their challengers met Thursday night to outline their platforms and field questions from members of the community. The forum was sponsored by the Hickory Young Professionals and held at Catawba County Chamber of Commerce.

The event drew an audience of about 25 and candidates took turns answering questions.

The first question asked the candidates what unique assets they would bring to the City Council if elected and why they feel called to join the city council.

Hoyle said, "I act as though I'm qualified, which makes me qualified."

She added, "I not only serve on the council, I've made it a point to be one of the highest-trained government officials in the nation," referring to her frequent attendance at a variety of local, state and national training seminars available to local government officials.

Guess, a retired lieutenant in the Hickory Police Department, said, if elected, he would draw from his more than 30 years in the HPD to bring an unprecedented level of leadership and management training and experience to the city council.

He added, "I think it's very important that you be a part of the community and not just go to the community council meetings."

Patton said, "I have leadership and management skills."

She added she attends neighborhood meeting throughout the community and brings the concerns she hears from residents her fellow council members.

Hipps said his strength as a candidate stems from his ability to generate innovative ideas and fresh perspective.

"I think we're too comfortable right now and that's an amazing thing considering the state of the economy," he said "I'm not scared to attack the status quo."

High unemployment and the weak local economy were the central concerns addressed by the candidates. They took turns explaining what they would do to improve the situation.

Patton said a public four-year university in Hickory would be great for the area and would bring increased stability to the area.

"It may not happen in my lifetime, but I'm willing to plant the seeds and work toward it," Patton said.

She said the city should continue working to identify suitable building sites appropriate for prospective businesses and have them prepared for construction.

"I think we need to build on the success of what we've done with Google and Apple," she said.

Hipps said city officials should be doing more cold calls in an effort to get top-tier companies to locate their operations in Hickory.

"We need to be knocking on the doors of Fortune 500 companies and letting them know we're open for business and we're here," he said. "We need to tackle it head-on, and there's no other way."

He also argued for increasing the city's broadband capacity and eliminating areas of blight throughout the city.

"I think public transportation needs to come up a little higher on our radar," Hipps added.

Hoyle advocated a policy of listening to and meeting the needs and wants of the young professionals she'd like to draw to Hickory.

"We just have to change the mind-set. Hickory has been very good for a long time, but young professionals have different ideas — ask them what they want," she said. "We have to be willing to know that we don't know everything."

"I am open. I am available. I meet with people constantly," she said. "All you have to do is call."

Guess said job growth is his top priority.

"I want to create a friendly business environment," he said, adding he wants to focus on making Hickory an inviting location that will draw and welcome new businesses rather than picking certain businesses to woo to the area.

Guess said he's also focused on making Hickory a place young professionals want to live. One way he'd like to do that is by creating an entertainment complex or amphitheater to the area.

Tuesday is Election Day and local precincts will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

All of Hickory's registered voters are eligible to vote in the election — no matter where they live among Hickory's six wards.