Aiken Republican mayoral candidates discuss Hotel Aiken plans
Jul. 26—The three Republican candidates for Aiken mayor have different plans for the Hotel Aiken.
Mayor Rick Osbon, restaurateur and caterer Teddy Milner and Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center Executive Director Kathryn Wade spoke about the hotel at a forum hosted by the Aiken Republican Club on Tuesday afternoon.
The forum began with each candidate delivering an opening statement . A question-and-answer session from the audience followed where each candidate had 90 seconds to answer the same question. If a candidate mentioned another candidate, the mentioned candidate had 30 seconds for a rebuttal, but that was never used. The forum concluded with each candidate delivering closing remarks .
Wade said she would love to see Hotel Aiken, which is in disuse and now owned by the city, restored but she was unsure if that was feasible. She said it is beautiful but falling apart.
Milner said it is her dream to have the hotel restored but that she would bring in citizens and experts to help decide its fate.
Osbon said there is consensus that something must be done with the hotel and that the city can lean in on preservation, but it is ultimately up to the structural engineers to determine if that is viable.
He also said the final request for the proposal to construct a building that would house a workforce development center for the Savannah River National Laboratory has yet to be sent out because the hotel plans have been in flux.
The candidates also addressed how to manage growth and development — especially on the Southside — and how to restore respect and civility to council meetings.
Development
Osbon said it is not up to the city to determine where private investments are made in the city.
He said development on the Southside is already up against a wall and development will organically diversify to the rest of the city. According to Osbon, development has been able to grow on the Northside because the infrastructure was proactively expanded.
Wade said growth is good but must be managed. She said the city should encourage development all around the city so it is more balanced.
She said it might be time to "dust off the old Aiken master plan" and put together a comprehensive plan that the city can grow with.
Milner agreed there needs to be a comprehensive plan and said economic growth and vitality are important but the city and Southside must grow at an appropriate pace.
Civility and respect
Milner said she had experience with civility with her business and would listen and insist she and everyone would be treated properly and respectfully.
Osbon said stability is not a concern but civility is. As president of the Municipal Association, Osbon said he and the organization have talked about civility within local governments. He said civility is about actively listening and treating others as you want to be treated.
Wade pointed to her past experience as field representative for former U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett where she said she learned to be diplomatic. She said people become uncivil when they feel like they are not heard so she would listen and respond to the information people provide with respect.
The Republican primary for mayor is on Aug. 8. Early voting began Monday. Runoff elections, if needed, are scheduled for Aug. 22.
The Republican nominee will be unopposed in the Nov. 7 general election.
