Salisbury Mayoral candidates talk economic development, public safety at latest candidate forum

SALISBURY, Md –  Salisbury Mayoral Candidates Megan Outten, Jermicheal Mitchell, and Randy Taylor highlighted their platform on issues of downtown development, police, and more during a candidate forum Tuesday hosted by the Greater Salisbury Committee, Greater Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, and Pace Center at Salisbury University.

“When you look at the plans on development right now, when you look at the tax abatements when you look at the fees that are being waived, I get people to want more, but we have to relook at that, the city is getting nothing out of development that’s going on right now,” Mitchell said adding that he wants to promote more small businesses interests around Salisbury.

Taylor says he also opposes a project that is set to turn a downtown parking lot into multi-use housing citing a lack of parking the project would create.

“I am pro-development. What I’m trying to do is get the project scaled so it’s respectful and reflective of a site and a town this size, you know, we’re putting on a lot of density, which is going to eat up a ton of parking, which is typically available for the central business district and we can’t do both,” he said.

Taylor said he also wants to focus on converting existing housing to meet supply saying, “We can encourage new construction, it’s affordable. We will to the extent that we can encourage renovate renovation of existing houses that are affordable, we will, to the extent that we can find affordable housing generally, either through tax credit projects, we will.”

Outten says she supports projects that will bring housing and workforce development to the area.

“Affordable housing has been a big point of discussion across the community and we desperately need to bring more of those types of projects to the city, while also providing homeowner pathways for residents,” Outten said adding “It’s time to take the shift away from downtown Salisbury and focus on development in neighborhoods that need that crucial infrastructure support. I’ve been out walking Salisbury’s neighborhoods and they need the same level of love we have shown our downtown community.”

Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President Bill Chambers says he hopes candidates will offer more in-depth plans for development, and a commitment to not pull the plug on the Downtown Development, Hotel expansion, and Housing blocks in downtown Salisbury.

“These are all big potential future assets for the city in terms of tax dollars and jobs and economic impact. And if there is a change in leadership that disagrees with that direction, it will have a lasting impact on the environment for business here in Salisbury,” he said.

All three candidates also committed to working with the Salisbury Police Department, looking to boost recruitment and public safety.

“We need to be candid about crime and the type of crime facing our community,” Outten said saying she is committed to promoting Diversity Equity, and Inclusion in the department.

It’s a position shared by Jermicheal who says the department must represent the community it serves, which he believes can actually help the department’s hiring problem.

“Get back in our high schools, We got to get back to recruiting kids, SU has a criminal Justice Department, UMES has a criminal Justice Department, we have to get back into hiring people from our community and raising officers from our community,” Mitchell said.

Taylor says he is campaigning against a further raise of the city’s property tax, but believes funding must be found to train and retain talent.

“It’s all about building our value statement, which is our budget, what we value is important, I think there’s probably enough room in the budget to get where we want to be,” Taylor said.

Candidates also addressed their records including Taylors’ purchase of the parking lot he is seeking to prevent development in 2004, Outten’s prior DUI offenses, and a claim that Mitchell was not a resident of Salisbury.

Mitchell tells 47ABC he is a resident of the Doverdal neighborhood, and named his address during the first round of questions during the town hall.

“I’ve been in that neighborhood, but I live in the Dover area. I love the area, I ran a basketball league there a couple of summers ago and I truly love it,” he said.

Chambers says he wants more policy details from all candidates and is encouraging the 3 to meet with the Chamber and Greater Salisbury Committee prior to election day on November 7th.