With Kentucky’s 2024 primary election approaching, the Hopkinsville League of Women Voters hosted their second round of Hopkinsville City Council candidate forums on Monday where Republican Ward Seven newcomers Mark Graham and Clayton Sumner shared their stances on local matters.
The pair fielded questions concerning homelessness, housing, what qualifies them for the position and much more.
In regards to homelessness, Graham says there are already mental health, housing and temporary work services available to help homeless people reverse their living situations. Graham says the city can direct those in need to services that may help them, but it depends on them accepting that help.
Sumner, who is the former police chief of the Hopkinsville Police Department, says during his time has an officer the department hosted a cook-out event and invited homeless individuals to eat, and they were provided with resources and supplies.
Sumner says they also talked with homeless individuals and asked how they became homeless and how they want to address their living situation. Sumner says the city should perform similar outreach, because an individual can be homeless for multiple reasons.
The pair were then asked if they thought the city should adopt a landlord and residential tenant act, to establish guidelines for rental properties. Graham says he saw a residential act that was proposed by City Council in the past that would result in additional costs to landlords.
Graham says if landlords have to pay additional fees, then they will most likely increase rent prices and therefore he does not support the city adopting a new rental policy.
Sumner says he can see the issue from both the perspective of landlords and renters. However, he believes the ordinances City Council already has in place are appropriate for handling landlord and renter issues.
The full Ward Seven Republican debate is available on Facebook at League of Women Voters – Hopkinsville, KY. Sumner and Graham will appear on this year’s primary election ballot on May 21.