As our series on the League of Women Voters political forums continues, today we focus on the Ward 3 Hopkinsville City Council race between Democrat Alethea West and independent candidate Karen Bass.
Bass says the city needs more low-income housing and a larger push to increase home ownership in Hopkinsville. West says economic development that creates new jobs would cure a lot of the city’s problems.
Regarding proposed non-partisan city elections, West wouldn’t support the change during a pandemic and fears the measure could reduce voter participation.
Bass agrees with West that there should have been more communication with the public before the ordinance was voted on earlier this year, but agrees with the idea of making council races non-partisan as long as the ward system is maintained.
Bass does not favor a mandate requiring facial coverings or social distancing—though she does believe those methods are effective to reduce spread of the coronavirus. West doesn’t support city mandates now, but could support those measures if the data showed it necessary at a given time.
Current Ward 3 Councilman Don Ahart is not seeking reelection.
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