News Headlines

Candidates Meet to Listen to the People

Posted: 8:19 PM Apr 30, 2012
Reporter: Michael Gossum

Candidates Meet to Listen to the People

There may not be a primary for city commission candidates or for mayor, but the Bowling Green Coalition of Active Neighborhoods known as BGCAN held a meeting for people to come talk to the candidates.

Monday night's meeting with City Commission candidates and unopposed mayoral candidate Bruce Wilkerson was about them listening to the people.

"This session tonight, I think has been intended to rather than us listen to the politicians about what they can do. We're hoping they're going to listen to us about what we would like for them to do," said Vivian Gentry, BGCAN.

BGCAN held the spring rally to discuss many different themes and topics, that included safety, physical environment and community relationships.

One big focus has been helping out people who don't speak english.

"Find out ways we can better communicate with people in particular whose primary language may not be english. So, we want to find out what those folks think about our community, any kind of obstacles they may be experiencing, and just trying to make sure our community is as safe and productive for them as it is any of our residents who were born here," said Karen Foley, BGCAN.

The group wanted to remember the issues that they started with in 2001 and focus on all of these including growth and development and community pride, and those involved hope the candidates will listen.

"I think if candidates are smart they always act on the recommendations of their constituents. Yes, I think as far as they can do something, I hope they will be responsive to what we say," said Gentry.

And for some tonight, what they had to say was more important than what candidates said.

Not all the candidates were there tonight, only about half of them were.