Not so happy new year? Savannah in for volatile 2023 as politicians position for election

This is the City Talk column by Bill Dawers, a longtime contributor to the Savannah Morning News.

The year 2023 is poised to be a volatile one for both policy and politics in the City of Savannah.

At-Large Alderwoman Keisha Gibson-Carter has announced plans to run for mayor, setting up a bitter battle with incumbent Van Johnson.

Johnson will run on his record, including his management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hiring of City Manager Jay Melder, the opening of Enmarket Arena, efforts to create additional affordable housing and the general handling of the city’s budget through unpredictable times.

Savannah City Council year in review:Triumphs, squabbles make for interesting year

But Gibson-Carter and other challengers who will step forward in the next few months will likely try to tap into widespread dissatisfaction with the direction of the city. Many feel that Johnson has failed to deliver adequately on issues like affordable housing, crime, traffic calming and other quality of life measures.

Johnson’s challengers might also point to frustrations with the pandemic restrictions, an unwieldy bureaucracy and policies that discourage investment.

And some decisions that will be made in the next few months could play a key role in the November election.

What are key issues for city leaders in 2023?

Late in 2021, city officials conducted an online survey about the future of the historic Water Works on Stiles Avenue, but they said little about the project in 2022.

Rehabilitation of the historic building could have myriad positive impacts on adjacent neighborhoods and begin to deliver on longstanding promises that the arena project would be a catalyst for continued civic investment in greater west Savannah.

New year, old challenges for Savannah:Here are 4 community resolutions for 2023

Given the city’s decisions regarding land use over the past decade, it’s hard to be optimistic about the plans for the Water Works. Johnson was an influential member of council when the city decided to build the Cultural Arts Center on valuable land in an area of downtown dominated by tourism and to demolish historic homes for construction of a police precinct on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

And then there’s the complex matter of the Civic Center, which I have discussed numerous times in this column. Johnson and Melder have seemed eager to push through an ambitious plan that will place huge burdens on city taxpayers while also passing up an opportunity to reestablish key blocks of the historic street grid.

Look for lots of coverage of the Civic Center site in this newspaper as city officials begin detailing their plans for the site.

What's next for Savannah Civic Center?As the Enmarket Arena opens, Savannah Civic Center's fate hangs in the balance

Who is the favorite in the mayor's race?

It remains to be seen whether any of those important issues will motivate a significant number of Savannah voters to reject Johnson and the other incumbents on City Council. It’s far too early to say anything for sure, but it seems that Johnson enters the final year of his term in strong shape to be re-elected.

Gibson-Carter has been at the center of so many controversies during the past three years that even some voters who support her policy positions might be reluctant to support her candidacy, but her presence on the ballot could make room for other candidates who would have a legitimate chance of getting enough votes to make a runoff.

Johnson prevailed in a runoff against incumbent mayor Eddie DeLoach in 2019, but it’s worth noting that DeLoach defeated incumbent Edna Jackson in a runoff in 2015.

While Johnson might seem to be in strong shape for re-election, Savannah voters have proven restless in the last two cycles and will have high expectations of Johnson and the voting majority on council throughout 2023.

Bill Dawers can be reached via @billdawers on Twitter and citytalksavannah@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah municipal elections in 2023 pit mayor johnson v gibson carter