Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church’s “Meet the Candidates” forum was laser-focused last Thursday on the issues concerning the African-American community of Columbus and what the four candidates for mayor intend to do about them. Elder Michael Reeves made it clear that the forum would not be a debate, but an opportunity for black Columbus residents to meet and question City Council President Andrew Ginther, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, Dr. Terry Boyd and James Ragland on plans for the city’s future.
“It’s an honorable thing to run for mayor,” said Elder Reeves. “So we honor all four of these candidates.”
Moderated by Tanisha Mallet of WBNS-TV, the forum began with opening statements from each candidate. Republican Terry Boyd stressed that whoever became mayor of Columbus needed to be a leader with strong character.
“We need a leader with meat,” said Boyd, “and what I mean by meat is someone who will perform morally, someone who will find nothing but excellence, someone who will always be accountable to the citizens of Columbus and more importantly someone who will tell the truth at all times.”
Ginther opened by saying he’s a “proud Democrat” who has spent years working with Mayor Michael Coleman trying to improve the city, highlighting the major events the city has attempted to bring to Columbus, including the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
“Just this week we were blessed with an opportunity to host the world at the NHL All Star Game,” said Ginther. “And I can’t think of a better place to nominate the first female president of the United States than in Columbus, Ohio.”
Ragland told the crowd that his campaign and mayoral administration will focus on jobs for city residents, education and community reinvestment. Ragland praised the targeted investments that have revitalized Downtown and the Short North, but said that all residents and neighborhoods deserve that type of attention.
“I’d like to see that same level of excellence in the Hilltop,” said Ragland. “I’d like to see that same level of excellence in the Linden area. I’d like to see that same level of excellence right outside these doors, here in East Columbus.”
Scott opened with his years of public service in Franklin County and said that Columbus has become “a tale of two cities.” Scott promised to tackle jobs and education as the primary means to reduce poverty.
“I’m taking on the education system,” said Scott. “I know the other administrations are kind of afraid to take that on, I’m not afraid. Because what’s going on is we’ve got to fix the education system.”
Having completed the opening statements, the candidates began to field questions.
“Not a Racist Statement”
The first question came from Elder Reeves, who pointed out that although African-Americans represent a significant percentage of the city’s population, the black community has not gotten the same percentage of business.
“My question to the four of you is this, and this is not a racist statement,” said Reeves. “Because it appears that when we ask what you’re going to do for us it’s like we’re being racist. It’s not a racist statement. But the question is, based on past history, what are you going to do for African-Americans and with the minority set-asides?”
Boyd was the first to answer, pointing out that the court system has knocked down set-asides. Still, said Boyd, “There’s nothing more important than to involve all members of our society with those jobs and those opportunities.”
Boyd suggested that one way to get African-Americans a proper share of city business is to add a caveat that Columbus citizens be considered as employees for outside contractors.
“What we intend to do is prepare our black community to be able to work those jobs,” said Boyd. “90 percent of employers who come to Columbus bring their own employees. So consequently there is not very much room for Columbus citizens to be employed.” Boyd said he intends to make changes to that system.
Ginther agreed with Elder Reeves that the question was not racist, and that the city needs to make sure that everyone shares in prosperity.
“Is there more to be done? Absolutely,” said Ginther. “But I think that this city has shown over the last decade, decade and a half, tremendous progress, even with some of the barriers and obstacles that Dr. Boyd had mentioned with respect to federal court orders.”
Even though there is more work to do, said Ginther, the city has a remarkable track record to build on.
Ragland stressed that the city has to “be deliberate in your attempt at getting African-Americans at the table from the outset,” citing his experiences working with Cristo Rey Columbus High School. The Catholic community, said Ragland, was upfront with the fact that they wanted to hire more minority contractors, which allowed them to attack the problem from the beginning.
Ragland also said that “knowing that minorities are more likely to hire other minorities, that should be the basis for the job growth package that I am going to enact with my mayoral administration.”
Scott told the audience that vocational training and acquiring the right kind of city contracts would boost African-American employment.
“The numbers of one in almost two or three African American males not being able to find a job, this did not happen overnight,” said Scott. “This has been going on for a while, and the only way we’re going to fix this is we’re going to have to go out there and put systems in place and bring the right people who are the individuals who have the contracts and the different companies to the table and sit down and tell them the problem.”
“Why in God’s name should we vote for any of you?”
The next questioner of the night pressed the candidates for specific agendas that would benefit African-American communities and develop black neighborhoods, exclaiming, “Why in God’s name should we vote for any of you?”
Boyd stressed the need to inject vocational training into public education and to make sure that people who graduate high school can still get jobs even if they choose not to go to college.
“Let’s focus more on the communities themselves,” said Boyd. “We have to revitalize our communities and have some pride,” adding that there need to be more community policing initiatives in place in Columbus neighborhoods.
“People need to know their police officers that patrol their communities and the police officers need to know them, and so there’s no strangers,” said Boyd.
Infant mortality took precedent in Ginther’s answer as to a specific agenda for the black community. He pointed out the city’s “third-world infant mortality rate” disproportionately affects African-Americans.
“African American children under the age of one are two times more likely to die in this city… than white children,” said Ginther. The council president blamed poverty, lack of education and lack of transportation for the problem, as each negatively impacts women before they become pregnant and after they give birth.
Ragland’s answer brought the discussion’s focus back to jobs, and particularly on getting jobs for ex-offenders who have served their time.
“The first day on the job as mayor I’m going to convene a group of faith-based leaders who can come together, put money on the table, and start hiring a lot of our ex-offenders that have not been given a second chance at a successful life,” said Ragland.
Scott’s answer also focused on jobs, and on repairing city infrastructure, particularly the water service systems. Fixing these infrastructure problems, said Scott, will make Columbus more attractive to employers who have left the city.
Race and Law Enforcement
With the campaign starting after several instances of police-involved violence against unarmed black men and boys in Ferguson, Cleveland and New York City, the next question of the night focused on how each man would lead discussions on race and law enforcement and bring about a better understanding between police and communities of color.
“I think some of our police officers can benefit from training that is sensitive, unbiased,” answered Boyd. He also said he would look into the possibility of using an independent prosecutor to oversee investigations of police shootings.
Ginther told the crowd that the intersection between race and law enforcement was something he and Mayor Coleman have been concerned about. He highlighted the new program by the Columbus Division of Police to hear feedback from individual neighborhoods on where the department could use some reform.
“I’m very proud of the Columbus Division of Police, internationally accredited, and I respect the people that have taken the oath to protect us every day,” said Ginther. “But every division of police can be improved.”
Ragland pointed out that he had previously convened meetings with the Columbus Area Integrated Health Services as well as law enforcement to talk about the mistrust many people have toward law enforcement.
“What we decided to do was to get out ahead of the problem,” said Ragland. “We did not want an atmosphere that allowed for Columbus to burn like the city of Ferguson or to have a lot of protests like what is going on in New York City.”
Ragland suggested the establishment of a community review board, “something that has teeth, that allows for the community to give input over the practices that law enforcement is engaging in within our community.” He also suggested that hiring more black and minority officers would help remedy some of the mistrust.
Scott echoed Boyd by saying that the relationships between police and community members have been lost, and that “We have to get back to those relationships where we know each other by first names.” Scott also pointed out that any significant police reforms would have to include the police unions.
Responding to a later question, all of the candidates voiced their support for police body cameras to increase transparency. Ginther pointed out that all Columbus police cruisers already have dashboard cameras and that the city has been studying the idea of body cameras. Ragland said that if a body camera happens to be turned off during a police-involved shooting, he believes the case should go directly to criminal trial. Scott agreed with the idea of body cameras, saying that most cops he has spoken to about the issue say they wouldn’t mind wearing them.
“Slavery should not exist in the 21st Century.”
The question of how to combat human trafficking brought about passionate responses from some of the candidates. Boyd said he has been learning more about the issue and would like to confront the problem when he is mayor, but hasn’t yet designed an approach. Ginther said the city has a track record of supporting efforts against human trafficking and that he would continue to support those efforts in office.
To wide applause, Ragland declared, “Slavery should not exist in the 21st Century, period” and noted that a lot of the sex trade is event-driven and that the city and law enforcement should target the customers as well as the traffickers. Scott noted his undercover work with the sheriff’s office and said the roots problems associated with human trafficking are poverty and living conditions.
STEM Education
Before continuing with the forum, Elder Reeves announced that Sheriff Scott had to leave early due to a prior engagement. With Scott gone, the next question to the candidates centered on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education in public schools.
Boyd acknowledged that STEM education represents the overall trends in society in terms of finding people jobs and suggested utilizing the Battelle Institute to help train students. He also suggested looking for models of successful STEM education programs elsewhere and implementing them in Columbus.
Ginther highlighted the success of the Linden STEM academy and the fact that COSI has begun engaging with the school district and helping to retool the science curriculum. Ginther also said a focus needs to be placed on getting women and people of color a STEM education.
Ragland advocated for more private and public partnerships with respect to education and said he would support a “STEAM” approach; science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
“We should not forsake the arts,” said Ragland.
Reintegrating Ex-Offenders
The next question asked of the candidates was what they planned to do for inmates who have done their time and been released from prison. Boyd said collaboration with the private sector was the best way of finding ex-offenders not only jobs, but also housing.
Ginther noted that Columbus has the second highest amount of formally incarcerated people returning to neighborhoods in the state and said that any effort to reintegrate ex-offenders into society needs to make sure they know there will be a job at the end of the program.
“As your next mayor I’m committed to make sure that folks that have served their time are able to be welcomed back into the community and so that they can contribute to make our city healthier and safer in the years to come,” said Ginther.
Ragland’s approach to the problem involved sentencing reform so that nonviolent offenders could more easily come back into the community. Ragland said the city should expand those programs already in existence, such as CleanTurn.
Economic Development Centers
One questioner asked the candidates if they had any plans for establishing economic development centers in neighborhoods like the Hilltop, Linden or Mount Vernon. Boyd said there not only needs to be vocational centers to retrain and retool the workforce, they also need to be able to set up shop in retail centers.
“We have to give them the opportunity not only to create an enterprise but establish an enterprise,” said Boyd. Boyd also said there needs to be a healthy black media in place to alert consumers about the businesses being established by African-Americans.
Ginther pointed out what is happening with the Marion-Franklin branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. In the evenings, the branch serves as both a childcare center and an adult workforce development center.
Ragland said the city shouldn’t have to build something new, but instead expand the use of the community centers already established. Ragland also said people could be retrained for the workforce in the school buildings after school hours are over.
Code Enforcement
On the issue of code enforcement, the candidates were asked if they would increase enforcement efforts in blighted areas, as well as they would help senior citizens who aren’t able to keep their properties up to code.
Boyd said that while he doesn’t see a need for the city to expand the codes in place, enforcing those codes would be his top priority. Programs for helping senior citizens with the upkeep of their properties should be expanded, said Boyd, and that could provide work for formally incarcerated people trying to re-enter society.
Ginther agreed with Boyd that aid programs for seniors and low-income property owners should be expanded, and added that people who need those programs have to be informed on how to get access to them. Ragland suggested taking a close look at the fees that people are required to pay for the work that needs to be done to keep their properties up to code. If those fees are prohibitive, said Ragland, then they need to be changed.
Land Bank Properties
Answering a question on how to fast-track land bank properties to allow black people to more easily acquire them, Boyd suggested looking at where the city could cut down on wasted time and energy keeping African-Americans from acquiring property. Ginther said he is interested in reforming the land bank system but wants to make sure that all people, not just African-Americans, have a faster path to acquiring property. Ragland envisioned a system in which churches and faith groups could put money down to purchase properties and repurpose them for living space so that families could more easily make a home in the community.
Final Words
The three candidates remaining at the forum were allowed to make closing statements to sum up their campaign messages. Boyd reiterated his commitment to working for Columbus neighborhoods “because we believe our communities have been neglected” and that too much focus has been placed on the Downtown area.
Ginther concluded by saying he is proud of what the city has been able to build and that he is optimistic about the future.
Ragland once again stated his primary goals included jobs for Columbus residents, education for everyone and community reinvestment. Ragland added that, “the success of the African-American community is not a negative to the rest of Columbus.”
To finish the evening, Elder Reeves invoked former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill’s favorite phrase; “All politics is local.” What happens at home is more important than what happens in Washington, said Reeves.
“By no means are we here to endorse anybody, that’s not our jobs,” said Reeves. “We’re not telling you who to vote for. That’s why you’re here tonight, so that you can do your due diligence. But what I am saying to you tonight is that you need to go back to your families, to your young people and let them know how important it is to vote.”
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