Four candidates for the Tempe City Council discussed issues important to students at an on-campus town hall on Feb. 4.
Candidates Joe Forte, Bobby Nichols, Brooke St. George and Elvis Taska attended the event. They answered questions about affordability and safety asked by members of Phi Alpha Delta, a co-ed pre-law fraternity at ASU, and the Pre-Law Society.
Mariella Abdon, a junior studying business and a member of Phi Alpha Delta, said the town hall was planned to give the candidates a platform to share their policies for Tempe.
Only the four challengers in the election, and not the incumbents, attended the discussion, which Abdon said was not intended.
Janet Hamlin, a campaign spokesperson for incumbent Arlene Chin, said in a written statement the council member had prior obligations related to a Community Engagement and Connection Subcommittee meeting.
Hamlin said Chin notified the organizers of her scheduling conflict and was disappointed that she could not attend.
Council members Jennifer Adams and Berdetta Hodge did not respond to requests for comment.
Top issues for ASU
Nichols said the most important thing he wants to work on for students is lowering high rent costs and transportation services, especially expanding the bus system and making the streetcar free again.
"The streetcar used to be a really great resource for students, but ridership is way down since it started costing money," Nichols said after the event. "Even though it's not a ton of money, it still reduces ridership, which means there are more cars on the street, there are more people in accidents, there are more issues that come with that."
After the event, Forte said he would focus on building community, which he would do by revitalizing South Mill Avenue.
Such a project would increase economic activity and bring the city additional revenue, and also "allows folks to enjoy Mill outside of just 21-year-olds," Forte said.
READ MORE: Tempe City Council candidates find policy agreements, differences at pre-election forum
Candidates also discussed Tempe's proposed drink spiking prevention ordinance. Taska, Nichols and St. George said they supported the ordinance.
"That is one area where we need to make sure people are safe, and I think that our police and our business owners that are serving alcohol really have the responsibility to making sure you guys are all safe in their establishments," Taska said.
Forte said the city should try a pilot program before enforcing regulations.
After the event, St. George said transparency in the city and its communication with residents is what helps build trust.
"You're making a decision that you think is best for the community, or you should be, based on all of these factors," St. George said. "If that decision is going to upset person A, B or C, I think it is also our due diligence and our responsibility to communicate back out why those decisions were made."
Taska echoed the idea of government accountability and said it was critical to protect access to education.
"Making sure to understand where your local leaders stand on national pressures that would influence education are really important," Taska said.
Student involvement
One topic that each candidate mentioned during the event was the importance of student engagement in local politics and elections.
Participation by students is crucial to the future, Nichols said afterward.
"Young people are the people who are going to fight for the future that we deserve, and they are the ones who are leading on progressive causes around the world," Nichols said. "Young people who turn out in significant numbers have the ability to make serious social change that benefits everybody across class lines, race lines, religious lines."
St. George said after the town hall that change can be made if students register to vote in Tempe, even if they only live here for part of the year.
"The things that are affecting you now are going to be the same things that are affecting the classes behind you, and you can help to build a better structure for the people coming behind you," St. George said.
Following the event, Forte said the best thing to do is get involved and make a difference.
"You're not just a voiceless number in the sea of students," Forte said. "You can get involved in the city, and I think voting in the City Council election is probably the most effective way to make your voices heard."
The last day to register to vote in Tempe is Feb. 9. Students can visit the Maricopa County Elections webpage to check their registration status or visit the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division webpage to register to vote.
The primary election for the Tempe City Council will be held on March 10. If fewer than three candidates receive a majority of the votes, a runoff election will be held in May.
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Jack McCarthy and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporter at msweador@asu.edu and follow @miasweador on X.
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