Jonesborough election candidates share qualifications for mayor, aldermen positions at candidate forum

Editor's note: There will be a follow-up story about the forum in the next edition of the Jonesborough section in the Johnson City Press, which will run Wednesday, Oct.14. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the name of one of the incumbent candidates as Virginia Wolfe. The correct name is Virginia Causey. JONESBOROUGH — Voters had the chance to hear from mayoral and aldermen candidates running for leadership during a candidate forum held at the Jonesborough Visitors Center on Thursday evening. For this election, the position of mayor and two aldermen seats are up for grabs. The two candidates running for mayor are Michael Hartman and Brian Ponder; candidates for the aldermen seats are Dana Helvey, Jason A. Greenlee and incumbents Virginia Causey and Zac Jenkins. Greenlee was not present at the forum. Questions for all the candidates were asked by retired Sessions Court Judge John Kiener. The mayoral candidates were allotted a 45-minute time slot beginning at 6 p.m. The same amount of time was also given to the aldermen candidates during their round of questions. Kiener asked all candidates present during each segment what qualifications they have and the reason behind the decision to run for the open positions, beginning with the mayoral candidates. Hartman said as someone born and raised in Jonesborough, his desire to run for mayor comes from wanting to implement change where he believes it's needed in the town, such as creating a tax freeze for people 65 or older. "We have some things that we can change in Jonesborough and make life a little bit more affordable for folks," Hartman said. "We have quality of life things that are already in place, but there's always different ideas and different ways to pay for those things that can go from a budget negative to a budget neutral. And, I love this town." Ponder said his decision to run for mayor comes from his long experience as a business owner in Jonesborough, wanting to implement a different strategy as to how the town is operated. "We need to run it a little more like a business, but we still want to run it just like a government," Ponder said. "There are two sides to that, but we want to make sure that we are in touch with all of the expenses. I love Jonesborough, and if you love Jonesborough, you have a tendency to take care of it. So, I want to take care of it." After a 10-minute intermission, Kiener gave the aldermen candidates the chance to share what they believed made them capable for the open positions. Helvey spoke first, saying he and his wife are transplants from Colorado, and the impression left on him from the genuineness of the town encouraged him to want to serve in a larger way. "I always say it starts with a wave, because when I wave, what I see from other people is that wave back," Helvey said. "That's what brought us here, that's what kept us here, and in my mind as simplistic as it seems, that's what we have to focus on, is our community. America needs to be like Jonesborough, not the other way around." Causey went next, saying as a life-long resident and current alderman, she has an understanding of not only how to manage the town, but also how to listen to the people within it. "I feel like I can bring a lot to the town of Jonesborough," Causey said. "I know what the town needs. I try my best to treat people the way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes. I love Jonesborough, I've always loved Jonesborough. I live on College Street, and I'll be there probably until the day I die." Zac Jenkins said while he was appointed to the board to help fill the vacancy of previous Mayor Chuck Vest, he believes his love and care for the town can be seen in his desire to serve and the fresh viewpoints he can bring. "I only did it for a little over a year, I think, and I didn't have to run again...but I want to do it again," Jenkins said. "...I also can bring a new perspective being a relatively younger individual on the board here. I love this town because of what it made me and if it made me who I am and people in turn want me to run, and be their representative and make decisions for them that are important and matter, that means a great deal to me." Each segment of the questions ended with the candidates putting out their "best campaign speech" per Kiener's request, along with the encouragement for attendees to vote. Early voting for the positions begins Oct. 14 and ends Oct. 29. Election day is Nov. 3.