Meet the Democratic candidates for West Lafayette City Council
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − Meet the candidates for at-large West Lafayette City Council positions. Early voting begins Tuesday.
Primary races within the Republican Party and the city of Lafayette are uncontested, leaving only West Lafayette contests on the ballot. Only registered voters within the city limits of West Lafayette are eligible to receive a ballot, Julie Roush, Tippecanoe County clerk, stated in a release earlier this spring.
On Vote411.org, each of the candidates have provided answers to important questions listed below.
The candidates are:
Iris O'Donnell Bellisario - Democrat
Gerald W. Thomas - Democrat
David A. Sanders - Democrat
James Blanco - Democrat
Iris O'Donnell Bellisario
Bellisario is the only candidate on the ballot who does not currently serve on the West Lafayette City Council board. She currently works a non-profit public servant. She has a bachelor of science from Purdue in Natural Resources and Environmental Service and is currently pursuing a master's of public health.
To the question, "What is the greatest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?" Bellisario stated, "The greatest challenge facing West Lafayette, IN today is a housing crisis. Currently the vacancy rate is near zero, and that indicates a lack of housing which affects all segments of the community. This can be addressed through collaborative partnerships with private industry, Purdue University and the city. One of the main suggestions is that in new developments, we overestimate the need for units, which will allow a greater level of flexibility for housing. This will ensure that people have an equitable place to live, play, and work. In the future, the greatest challenge most communities will face is climate change and how our infrastructure will need to rapidly adapt to a changing climate and world."
What should the city do to increase local affordable housing capacity?
"The city of West Lafayette has a lot of potential to increase access to affordable housing," Bellisario said. "We can look at creative housing models such as exploring use of a land bank and reinvesting in existing properties that need improvements. We can also invest in historic neighborhoods and bring about incentives to stabilize rent prices. The city can also look to improve public transit to help ease parking needs near densely populated areas, and work to keep our zoning laws regularly updated."
Gerald W. Thomas
Thomas currently serves as the vice president at-large on the West Lafayette City Council. He is otherwise retired from other work. He has a bachelor of science in industrial management from the Krannert School of Management.
What is the greatest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
"West Lafayette faces a challenge in providing affordable housing for moderate to low income families and individuals," Thomas said. "We need to work with developers to partner with them in addressing this issue jointly. It is a difficult situation and there are no easy answers."
What should the city do to increase local affordable housing capacity?
"Work with HUD to understand the challenges that need to be addressed to increase local housing capacity," Thomas said. "Work with developers to see if there is an appetite in creating low to moderate income housing."
David A. Sanders
Sanders serves at-large on the West Lafayette City Council board and is an associate professor of biological sciences at Purdue University. He holds a bachelor of science in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale College and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.
What is the greatest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
"The greatest challenge is balancing economic growth with quality-of-life preservation and enhancement," Sanders said. "Government needs to be responsive, accountable, and prudent. There needs to be diligence to ensure that Purdue University consults with the city, so that it can act as a trustworthy partner for the community. All of these issues are ones that I have been in the lead in addressing during my time as a city councilor."
What should the city do to increase local affordable housing capacity?
"Insist that development include below market-rate housing," Sanders said. "Ensure that Purdue University makes firm commitments about student-population size."
James Blanco
Blanco serves at-large on the West Lafayette City Council board and is an automotive mechanic. He holds certificates in EV and hybrid vehicle technology and maintenance and light repair. He attended Ivy Tech Community College and holds a bachelor's in political science from Purdue University.
What is the greatest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
"Housing availability and affordability, especially in the area near Purdue University," Blanco said. "I would continue pushing for more housing through development, zoning reform, and through keeping the pressure on Purdue."
What should the city do to increase local affordable housing capacity?
"We should explore all options available to us," Blanco said. "Whenever working with Purdue will yield more housing, let's go for it. I support reforming zoning to allow for attached dwelling units on existing homes and to allow for apartment complexes able to house more people. There simply is not enough housing to meet the demand."
To read the candidates' full answers to other questions, learn more about them and their campaigns, and more, visit www.vote411.org/plan-your-vote.
To view an interactive map of all the current voting locations along with, wait times, hours of operation, and other information, visit the online election maps website through Tippecanoe County's online resources.
Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: A brief run down on the West Lafayette Democratic City Council candidates
