Knoxville mayoral candidates Madeline Rogero and Mark Padgett covered a range of topics in a radio broadcast debate, reports Jim Balloch, including red light cameras, the city’s homeless population and the best approach for bolstering the city’s economy.
“I would like to see them come down,” Padgett said of the city’s red light cameras, which are posted at more than a dozen locations. He said he doubts they have been as effective as claimed in making intersections safer.
“They are nothing but revenue generators, and another layer of bureaucracy,” Padgett said.
Rogero said she believes the cameras have been effective in encouraging safer driving at the intersections where they have been located, but that she has no plans to increase their numbers.
The candidates were seated at a table in the Market Square studio of Knoxivi.com. The two-hour debate was carried live on NewsTalk 98.7 FM radio and on a live video stream on the websites of both the radio station and Knoxivi.com.
It was the 50th time the candidates have debated during their campaign.
Each candidate was cordial to the other. Rogero occasionally zinged Padgett, but did so very mildly.
“Mark, you know nothing about this,” she said at one point during a lengthy debate on the complexities of the homeless issue and how best to address it.
Padgett, 33, exuded his trademark enthusiasm and energy throughout the debate. He vowed to be a mayor who would aggressively recruit new businesses and industry to Knoxville and take many steps to make the city even more business-friendly than it already is.