Salem City Council candidates talk issues

Salem City Council candidates gathered at the Salem Civic Center on Tuesday afternoon for the first public forum of the election season, which was hosted by the Salem Kiwanis Club.

The forum, which allowed the candidates a chance to introduce themselves and their visions for the city, as well as an opportunity to field audience questions, predominantly centered around topics such as improving downtown, expanding regionalism and providing opportunities for students.

Participating in the forum were incumbents, Jane Johnson and Bill Jones, as well as Mark Henrickson and James Martin. The four candidates are vying for three open seats in the May 3 election.

Johnson, a Salem City Council Member since 2004 and the owner of R.M. Johnson & Sons Jewelers downtown, noted her disappointment about the recent string of businesses that are relocating from downtown Salem to Roanoke, but said that she is optimistic about new businesses coming to the area. Johnson, whose store recently underwent renovations, said she is excited about Salem’s new downtown plan, and what it will mean for existing businesses as well.

“I think Salem is not in peril. It’s only going to get better and better,” Johnson said. “It’s very encouraging to me that we can keep the city moving forward, even in tough times. I attribute a lot of that to our city’s staff and employees.”

Henrickson, who also ran in the 2012 council election, is the founder of Henrickson Homes, now Henmark, Inc. He redesigned Jones’ business, and also served on the downtown planning committee. He said that his construction knowledge will be an asset to the city that is trying to redesign its image.

“My handprint is on a lot of pieces that are around the City of Salem,” Henrickson said, adding that most recently, he headed renovations at Parkway Brewery. “I think those tools give me some skills to help with the downtown renovation that we’ve been talking about for years. We need to find a way to take some of these great suggestions and get them done.”

Martin, a solutions consultant for Meridium International, said that his business skills will provide a fresh take on politics.

“How you treat people is a reflection of what type of person you are and what type of community you are,” Martin said. “Growing up here, there is a high expectation of success. I’m a product of your success and our city’s success over the years.”

“One of the core things that is interesting to me is the economy,” he added. “I understand government, but I also understand business is what drives our resources and drives our ability to take care of our children and provide the amenities that we’ve all come to expect in the City of Salem.”

Jones, a Salem City Council Member since 2008, and a former Salem small business owner, said during his time on council, he has witnessed Salem endure economic hardships, but that the future looks promising. He said he is a proponent of “living and working within your means,” and said he is proud of Salem’s tendency to complete improvements, such as school renovations, one step at a time.

“This has all been by a ‘we’ committee and not an ‘I’ committee,” Jones said. “We have five people on council and we all work together. Do we always agree? No, but we know how to discuss it and not make a mockery of Salem agenda.”

All candidates were quick to mention their pride in the school system. Johnson and Jones both noted that while college education is important to some, technical skills shouldn’t be overlooked.

“We’ve got a great school system and we want to keep getting better and better, and we also want to give a lot of attention to those kids that aren’t headed off to four year schools and need to go into the trades,” Johnson said.

Candidates also presented their views on regionalism, and agreed that while overall it is beneficial, in some situations, Salem should be self-reliant. Henrickson said in some situations, such as snow removal, it wouldn’t make sense for Salem, because of its small size compared to places such as Roanoke County, to share costs.

“The outlook for Salem looks very bright,” Jones said. “We’re doing a lot more regional partnerships, which I think is they way of survival for long periods of time. I think you have to look at that. It’s hard to be by yourself anymore when it comes to government.”

Another public forum is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26 at Andrew Lewis Middle School, beginning at 7 p.m.