Thursday, August 9, 2012 - 5:12pm
Montgomery will hike taxes double-digits if elected mayor
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| Watch the candidates discuss their plans for the city's future. |
The five Democratic candidates for Mayor of Wilmington discuss their plans for the future of the city at a Rotary Club meeting at the Hotel du Pont.
WDEL's Amy Cherry has more.
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When the conversation turned towards crime the discussion got heated and the candidates hostile.
Dennis P. Williams calls the murder rate in the city "unacceptable," and if elected, he says he'll bring about REAL change in the city.
"We are going to go after violent offenders, and we're not going to make excuses for going after violent offenders. We're not going to hug thugs; we're not going to give people bouquet of roses or candy for killing people. We are going to get you," says Williams.
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But mayoral hopeful Bill Montgomery has a real problem with that approach.
"I certainly hope someone in this room's got the ACLU on speed dial if a certain party becomes the next mayor because we're going to need it because civil liberties will go into the tank in this city," Montgomery says.
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Montgomery was also the only candidate, who stood up, and said this:
"If I am your Mayor, I will be seeking a double digit tax increase, plain and simple. In the first year, you had projected a 15-percent tax increase in property tax," says Montgomery.
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An idea likely to be unpopular among city residents, no one else even brought it up. Scott Spencer flat out took the opposite approach.
"I will not raise taxes. My goal is to cut expenses one percent a year and increase revenues one percent a year," says Spencer in an effort to get the city a rainy day fund.
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Both he, city councilman Kevin Kelley, and Williams say consolidation is the key.
"We need to consolidate several departments: real estate and housing, L&I, economic development. Pension funds need to be reviewed, and we're going to have to change the way we negotiate with unions," Kelley says.
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"We will do a forensic audit, streamline and consolidate some departments," Williams says.
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Bail bondsman Robert Bovell had a totally different approach.
"My entire campaign has been run on getting away from the good ole boy way of doing things, which really contributes to the fat being cut out of the city budget," Bovell says.
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Republican mayoral hopeful Kevin Melloy declined the Rotary Club's invitation to participate in the forum.
Copyright © May 25, 2013, WDEL/Delmarva Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved.
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