Four seeking Redkey nominations

Editor’s note: This is the second in our series of stories previewing the May 8 primary election. Early voting begins April 10. All election-related stories will be posted at thecr.com.

Two Redkey Town Council seats are up for election. Four Democrats are hoping to earn a spot on the November ballot.

Incumbent Charles “Red” Coons, former council members Terri D. Taylor and James L. “Watermellon Jim” Phillips, and Nathan Cole will be on the May 8 ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.

Randy J. May is running uncontested on the Republican ballot.

Coons is seeking a second term on council after leading a five-candidate race in the 2014 general election. He is retired after working for the Town of Redkey for about 17 years.

Taylor is a retired laborer who attended Redkey High School and later earned her GED (now HSE). She served a partial term on council from 2008 through ’11, including as president, before leaving because of health issues.

Phillips is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired from General Motors. He served on town council in the 1980s.

Cole is a handyman and landscaper. He is making his first run for office.

The candidates were asked to respond to a questionnaire from The Commercial Review. Their answers follow.

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Redkey is in the beginning steps of developing a downtown revitalization plan. What do you think the town’s priorities for revitalization should be?

Cole: Downtown needs a little boost with sidewalks, some store fronts. We also need better and more advertising.

Coons: To try to get more people going in to town to make it grow.

Phillips: Get a barber. Get a doctor. Get a dentist. And we can do that if we would give them free water for a month of Sundays.

Taylor: Clean up. I think cleaning up would help.

And whatever they could do to beautify our town and make it welcoming for people to want to come in and shop in our town and visit our town and maybe want to move to our town.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing Redkey and how would you handle it?

Cole: Heroin and meth are about the biggest problem we have and many other places, but on how to handle it is a very hard question. Many throughout the country are pondering on that. I do know we need better lighting on our side streets. We also have problems with funds for things the town needs, so I have a plan to bring up solar and wind for our government buildings to save and possibly make a little.

Coons: Lack of town input. Try to get more people telling the board what they would like to see down in town to make it better.

Phillips: Water, water. We start the year Jan. 1 with over $1 million. We will put 10 percent of that and go down to one police car, one truck. The money we save will be put in water bill sinking fund for Christmas. Every water bill paying person will get a check. Divide it equal. We will do the same thing in January the next year.

Taylor: I think right now street repair is a big issue. I’m not aware of what the funds are now to fix them, but I would see if there would be any grant money or anything available to get our streets repaired. Another thing, there’s so few people at our board meetings, I would like to see a bigger volume come to board meetings and get interested in our town, with good comments, and even bad. That’s what we’re there for. I would like to see the citizens get more involved.

What makes you the best candidate for the position?

Cole: I know many say this, but I won’t lie about the facts if asked. I’m a straightforward person and always ready to help. I know the people of this town from young to old. I’m a part of Sons of the American Legion Post 401 and have held every office. I just feel that I can help with what needs to be done. I’m here for the people.

Coons: The experience I have working for the town and being a fireman over 53 years and being on the board three and a half years, knowing where lines are and how to repair things.

Phillips: I will serve and not be served. Abraham Lincoln said the purpose of government is to do for people what they are unable to do individually. He also said half this nation is at war trying to destroy it and half this nation is at war trying to save it and both sides are praying to the same God to be the winner and this will not happen. Also said it’s up to us to care for those who have borne the battle and take care of their widows and orphans.

Taylor: I think experience. I was on the board before. I have no personal agenda. I just want to do it. I love my little town.