Ask the candidates: Back, Machen to battle in District 4 council runoff
It will be incumbent Kent Back vs. Carrie Machen in the Sept. 20 runoff for the District 4 seat on the Gadsden City Council.
Back, president of Bowman and Back, a company that helps clients lower operational expenses, came within 9 votes of winning without a runoff, claiming 49% of the total vote in the Aug. 23 municipal election. Machen, founder of GadRock microgym and an active local volunteer, earned 44%.
The Times asked the candidates prior to the initial vote to give their short-term goals and long-term objectives should they be elected, although the responses are published as submitted, subject to minor editing.
Kent Back
Short-Term Goals:
My short-term plan is to work cohesively with the new administration and council. To continue to grow the relationship at Gadsden State with the sports complex and the partnership in health care and technology with the new co-working space for innovation and entrepreneurship at The Venue. To continue to address workforce development and diversify into areas such as health care and technology to take advantage of our local health care facilities as well as our proximity to UAB and Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, and the technology opportunities overflowing from Huntsville.
We must address city employee compensation and adapt to the ever-changing marketplace by becoming wage and benefit attractive in every sector of our employees. We need to continue funding our school system and meet annually with the school board and superintendent to review how city dollars can best assist the school system.
Long-Term Objectives:
My long-term objective is for Gadsden to become the city other cities desire to become. We must set a course of reimagining Gadsden to be the 21st century city that leads the way in adapting to the ever-changing future.
We must utilize federal funds and grants for broadband to become a gig city, which will attract the type of industry and careers we all desire. We must become a Smart City that will enable us to work more efficiently and provide city services as economically as possible.
We must create a full-time office for grant writing; create a public-private investment on the river to bring restaurants, hotels and entertainment which will blend with improvements at Noccalula Falls. We must review every city department and expenditure and be willing to make decisions that places Gadsden in the best position possible to grow and sustain our city. We must be open to work with our neighbors at every opportunity to strengthen our communities.
Carrie Machen
Short-Term Goals:
My short-term goal is for the newly elected council to convene and review the annual budget adopted by the prior council and produce a set of procedures for the creation of a strategic master plan focused on economic and community development for the City of Gadsden.
Long Term Objectives:
Long-term objectives are the actual development of the strategic master plan, driven by community input, with inclusion of metrics for periodic review by this council and future councils.
More:Here are the top vote-getters in Gadsden's municipal election
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden District 4 City Council 2022: Back, Machen are runoff contenders
