Low turnout greets candidates

The social was intended to have all 12 City Council candidates interact with the public, but at times, the candidates ended up chatting among themselves. With eight candidates at Tuesday's informal gathering at the Carbondale Civic Center, fewer than 10 people from the community showed up to meet with the candidates who are running for Tuesday's primary election.

The turnout only underscored why the candidates ought to campaign aggressively, said Donald Troy-Barrett, one of the candidates. "People's lives are busy, and I understand that," Troy-Barrett said. "That's why it's important for us to get to them." The public will have another chance to mingle with the candidates from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Harbaugh's Cafe, 901 S. Illinois Ave., where there will be food paid for by the candidates.

And even though Tuesday's turnout was not spectacular, candidates say the venue allowed them to learn more about those they are running against on a more personal, non-competitive level. The last time the candidates had the opportunity to gather was in December. "It gives the candidates an opportunity to get together, hang out together," said Chris Wissmann, an incumbent candidate. "The more you do that, I think the harder it is to be mean to each other. The more you do that, the more camaraderie you have, so I think that's great."

With that, those from the public, like Tim Donohue, who showed up came prepared to talk about issues with the candidates. One of Donohue's main concerns included how to revitalize downtown Carbondale. He peppered the candidates with his ideas, including developing a walking mall for local businesses along Washington Street. Donohue, who has lived in Carbondale for 37 years, said the city has more room for improvement, so he attends city meetings and events as much as he can.

"Carbondale sometimes has been awfully apathetic," Donohue said. "When a strong issue comes up and they read about it in the paper, then people start getting excited. Meeting the candidates, especially in a pre-primary situation, I don't know how everybody's going to feel about that, but I consider it to be very, very important to make an attempt." For the last primary in February 2003, fewer than 2,000 votes were cast from more than 20 polling places, said Glennda Davis, deputy city clerk.

The 12 candidates are vying for the three open seats. After Tuesday's primary election, only six candidates will remain on the ballot for the general election in April. Sitting near the trays of cookies and other desserts that still remained more than half full near the end of the social, incumbent candidate Corene McDaniel said she is hoping to meet more people at Harbaugh's.

"I'm assuming that they're waiting until Friday," McDaniel said. "To have this back to back, maybe it's just a choice. Maybe they'll choose Friday night for an evening out more so than a Tuesday. So that's what I'm hoping."