Longview mayoral candidates speak on upcoming election
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) – After Saturday, the City of Longview will have a new mayor.
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“I do think that term limits are there for a reason,” Kristen Ishihara, Longview mayor candidate, said.
Candidates Ishihara and Tem Carpenter are hoping to secure enough votes to get in office.
“It’s a situation where I don’t think anybody can predict until Saturday night what it’s going to be,” Carpenter said.
Ishihara, who is originally from Michigan, moved to Longview 18 years ago after graduating from Baylor Law School.
“We have such a rosy future ahead of us,” Ishihara said. “We’ve accomplished a lot in the last 10 years.”
Ishihara said her nine year experience in city council along with her law background will help her lead.
“I do think that’s a skill that I bring specially to city council that is valuable,” Ishihara said.
Continuing to expand Longview’s infrastructure and growing its population, will be some of her focuses if elected.
“We need to be looking at economic development, continuing that,” Ishihara said. “Building a workforce and education that can support bringing those big employers to town.”
Carpenter, who is currently on city council, is a third generation Longview and said there is a severe housing shortage going on that he wants to help fix.
He said it’s because there’s not enough open lots for builders.
“We don’t have available housing for these people that are coming in,” Carpenter said. “Consequently, we’re going to bring people into our city that will be forced to live in the outstanding, outlying suburbs.”
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Carpenter also wants to help reduce the city’s debt.
“We’ve got a large amount of debt and debt over the long-haul with future councils, future mayors is going to be an issue,” Carpenter said.
Both candidates agree on one thing, that keeping young people around is key to the future of the City of Longview.
“It’s been my desire that they don’t go to the city, they come back home,” Carpenter said.
Ishihara said she knows the importance of investing into future generations.
“Investing in those because that’s what when people come to Longview, it makes them stay,” Ishihara said. “The quality of life we provide.”
Election Day is this Saturday.
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