Ten of the 13 candidates vying for at-large seats on the Urban County Council took part in a forum centered on homelessness Wednesday.
The candidates agreed more should be done but parted ways on how.
With Mayor Jim Gray recently naming a director for the city’s first Office on Homelessness Prevention and Intervention and the council allotting $3.5 million for homeless and affordable housing programs, the issue is experiencing a resurgence.
Wednesday, ten at-large candidates weighed in on how they would like to see Lexington deal with the problem. Among the issues raised: the lack of jobs, the development of a dedicated funding source or trust fund for affordable housing, and a proposed audit of the local housing authority.
Still others stressed the need to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue, which some argued ignores the differences between those requiring temporary assistance and those labeled “chronically homeless.”
The May 20 primary will narrow the large field down to six. The top vote-getter in the November general election will become vice mayor, while the second and third place finishers will win at-large seats.
2014 At Large Council Candidates
Shannon Buzard
Bill Cegelka
Ray DeBolt
Kenner "Pete" Dyer
Steve Kay
Connie Kell
Jon Larson
Chris Logan
Richard Moloney
Jerry Moody
Don Pratt
Jacob Slaughter
Kevin Stinnett
