For the most part, mayoral candidates Bob Durm and Nick Shelton were on the same page when it comes to strategy aimed at tackling some of Niles’ top issues that were discussed during Thursday’s debate at the Niles District Library. Where their opinions differed the most, however, was whether experience or a fresh perspective as mayor would best serve the city.
In his opening statement, Bob Durm asserted that he was the most qualified candidate for the job. He also stated that as a father who had raised four children in the city, he had the perspective it takes to advocate for families. He cautioned the audience of more than 100 to take into account that some of what they would hear would be opinion and some fact.
“It is your job to decide which is which,” Durm said. “Like the fact that I have been on city council for 21 years. Opinions are subjective and cannot be proven.”
Nick Shelton, a fruit peddler at his family’s market, said that he has the local business experience to help grow jobs in Niles. If elected as mayor, he said he would work to get people in the community fired up about positive change.
“I’m offering something a little different to our city: a fresh perspective,” he said.
“I’m bringing a new outlook to Niles, because I haven’t been told from experience that the way things should be. Instead, I’m focusing on the potential of our city and the way things could be.”
Throughout the hour-long debate, candidates discussed how they would tackle some of the biggest issues that face Niles, including attracting more tourists and businesses to the area, conquering neighborhood blight and fighting the prevalence of drugs.
When asked how they would work to build jobs in the Niles community, Durm said those efforts cannot be accomplished through the mayor alone. He praised the Downtown Development Authority and the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance for helping to grow the downtown.
Another key to growing jobs, he said, was bringing more people to the area in the first place, a goal he said that is being accomplished through the place-making plan. This 2015 initiative through the Michigan Municipal League examines areas for redevelopment.
“The city can do their part and I think what we started with the place-making plan is kind of a step in the right direction where we are going to try and develop our Front Street Corridor and to also develop a Third Street Corridor to make it more attractive for businesses to come downtown,” Durm said.
Shelton said he agreed with everything Durm said, but that another key element to drawing more jobs to the Niles area is to give more local businesses support.
Shelton said improving sidewalks and streets so that the community is an attractive place to live is also important. Finding more grants and providing some incentive to businesses, as well as resources to thrive in Niles, could accomplish these efforts, he said.
“Those are the types of businesses that will anchor our city and encourage other businesses in Niles,” Shelton said. “We need to make Niles a city that attracts people. Obviously we have a problem with that right now. We need to work on our sidewalks. We need to work on streets.”
Candidates also responded to the issue of helping the downtown area thrive despite the challenges of urban sprawl. Shelton said the support to local businesses was key to growth.
In a later question about how the candidates might work to draw business outside of town, Durm said the downtown businesses played only a small part in aiding the Niles economy. He again praised the place-making plan for its initiatives and target market analysis.
“Downtown business really doesn’t support the community,” he said. “It’s great to have downtown businesses for people to see and downtown businesses can draw people into the community. Traditionally those businesses are employing five to 10 people. We need businesses that employ a few more than that.”
Shelton countered this claim and said the city needs more entrepreneurs. He cited business owner Bryan Williams who does not live in Niles but owns and operates the Brass Eye at 205 N. Second St.
“We need more people like that and more people that are fired up about the potential and starting business,” Shelton said.
Durm said that he did support downtown business, pointing out that he had made the motion that granted Williams the loan to purchase the property.
As for countering drugs in Cass and Berrien County, Durm and Shelton agreed that better staffing the police and fire departments would help. Shelton said that as mayor he would also work to educate the community on these issues and the problems that stem from drug abuse. Durm said that prevention would also play a huge role.
For their part, the audience jotted down questions for candidates, including asking how as mayor they might support an industry like Indeck Energy Company that is in the very beginning stages of applying for construction. The candidates agreed that this was a huge opportunity for Niles to have more jobs.
In closing, Durm reiterated the importance of his experience serving on the council as mayor pro tem.
“I love our community and I will do anything to help,” he said.
Shelton thanked the crowd and said that he hoped for positive change in the future.
“I’m very humbled to be here today,” he said. “I just knew that I wanted to be involved in our community and make a difference.”