Mayoral candidates clash on environment, business expansion

Sabbagh, Kruzan meet at Ivy Tech for final debate in series

Mayoral candidate David Sabbagh speaks during his mayoral debate with incumbent Mayor Mark Kruzan on Thursday night at Ivy Tech Community College. The debate was the last one before the mayoral election Nov. 6. Jay Seawell • IDS

At the last of the official mayoral debates, Democratic incumbent Mayor Mark Kruzan and Republican mayoral candidate David Sabbagh clashed on how to grow business and conserve green space in Bloomington. The event, which was held Thursday night at Ivy Tech Community College, marked the third and final debate between the challengers.

Business and job growth

Both mayoral candidates said they hope to bring jobs to Bloomington through economic growth, but they differ in the ways and how fast they want the city to grow.

Kruzan said he plans to promote a “diversified economy” through gradual policy, while Sabbagh said he would focus on a “business-friendly” plan to bring jobs to Bloomington now.

“My philosophy is bigger isn’t always better,” Kruzan said. “(I want) to keep Bloomington Bloomington.”

After the debate, Kruzan said specific plans for Bloomington’s economy would include partnering with the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, providing tax incentives to businesses and directly investing in local arts and culture.

Kruzan said this would

attract jobs “at all different wage levels.”

If elected, Sabbagh said he would improve the downtown environment to attract businesses. Those businesses would create much needed “good jobs” for the community.

Sabbagh said he would expand parking downtown and give incentives to small business owners to encourage industry.

“We need a friendly business environment,” he said.

Sabbagh said Bloomington has a reputation of not being business friendly.

“(We need) to create an environment that says, ‘Hey, we want good jobs,’” Sabbagh said.

Both Kruzan and Sabbagh agreed tax abatements were useful in attracting new industry to Bloomington.

But while Sabbagh said he considered them a “good tool to create good jobs,” Kruzan argued that tax abatements should be given only to companies that agree to certain stipulations, including allowing unionization and domestic partner benefits.

Environment

Both candidates were concerned with conserving green space in the face of plans for booming industry.

As Bloomington attempts to “retrofit” environmentally-friendly policies into its urban planning, Kruzan said during the past four years his administration has created more bicycle lanes and acquired 150 more acres of land to “set aside as green space.”

He also pointed to the Climate Protection Agreement he signed as a significant way to address a global issue locally.

After the debate, Kruzan said his business policy would require businesses that want to develop to set aside some land for green space.

Sabbagh said under his administration the government would “reduce its environmental footprint” by doing a complete audit of the city government.

Democratic city council at-large incumbent Tim Mayer, said the city council had already performed such an audit of City Hall.

Sabbagh also said as mayor he would get rid of the city’s “fleet” of SUVs and would continue to drive his car.

After the debate, Sabbagh also said he would “enhance” Rev. Butler Park and create alternative transportation by speeding up the creation of the B-line, a rail corridor that will run from Rogers Street to Second Street.

Mayer and attendees agreed that both candidates performed well in the debate.

“I think they both are outstanding candidates,” said Sally Hegeman, president League of Women Voters, the group that organized the event. “(It makes) me very proud to be in Bloomington.”