Ward 3 candidates call for long‑term planning, building rehab and stronger code enforcement
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Summary
In the Ward 3 portion of the Grow Clinton candidate forum, Janet Turpin and Bryant (Brian) discussed long‑term planning for public safety, housing and infrastructure, options to rehabilitate vacant buildings, and enforcing property maintenance to reduce blight.
Clinton — Two candidates vying for Ward 3 traded viewpoints on a shared theme Tuesday night: the need for long‑term planning and active steps to repair and repopulate neighborhoods.
Janet Turpin and Bryant (surname not specified) each delivered two‑minute introductions and answered moderator questions about budgeting priorities, downtown investment, housing and childcare, young resident retention, and blight reduction.
Their proposals Turpin emphasized small‑business support, rehabilitation of vacant structures, improving recreational opportunities for youth, and holding property owners accountable for maintenance. "We need to hold the property owners accountable," she said, urging swift action to prevent dangerous collapses and to reduce neighborhood risk.
Bryant called for a 20‑year plan that incorporates public safety, affordable housing, education and infrastructure and said he supports free childcare in principle; he described a 10‑point plan to address neighborhood needs and said open, regular dialogue with residents would guide his work.
Housing and childcare Both candidates cited the difficulty of finding affordable housing and urged more rehabilitation of existing properties as a near‑term tactic to increase supply. Turpin also pointed to childcare availability issues and asked the community to explore whether a new facility or provider incentives would be viable.
Property maintenance and blight Both candidates supported stronger enforcement of the city’s property‑maintenance code. Turpin singled out the need to act before structures become hazardous and to use the city’s building and neighborhood services to enforce timelines for repairs or demolition.
The two candidates closed with appeals for voter support and promised continued engagement on local priorities. No formal endorsements or city actions followed the forum; voters were reminded to cast ballots on Nov. 4.
Provenance: The Ward 3 discussion began when moderators introduced the two candidates and ran through a standard set of questions about budgets, downtown redevelopment, housing, childcare and blight.