Chris Barczak At-Large challenger In the race for Columbia's at-large city council seat, Tameika Isaac Devine is the incumbent, and her three challengers are (in alphabetical order) Chris Barczak, Kelly Coleman, and Antonio Williams. There are two district seats in the election, but each has one candidate only, an unopposed slam-dunk effort. They chose not to answer our questions, denying the public legitimate discourse. Two weeks ago the four at-large candidates were asked to answer five questions, and their answers were published in the March 17 issue of The Columbia Star. This week again puts the four at-large city council candidates to the test. To help them with the first question, a technical query on the bus system, they received a rough draft of this week's Business Page cover story. Here are the instructions and three more questions:

Below are three questions for you six Columbia City Council candidates. There are three challengers and the incumbent competing for the at-large seat, and there are two candidates for two single-district seats, neither with opposition. Please answer each question in 25 words or less. If an answer takes more than 25 words, we may edit it down to 25 words. Please send your answers tothis e-mail addressbefore one o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, March 29.

Kelly Coleman At-Large challenger 1.

The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and its board members from Columbia City Councilrecently threatened to cut our bus service. What was 34 routes 15 years ago is 29 routes today. The CMRTA wants to cut that bynine routes, and weekend/holiday service is expected to beeliminated.Also, the CMRTA wantsto raise fares. Cutting service and raising fares at the same time does not sound too customer friendly - surely a formula to drive off ridership. In November, there will be a local vote on a 1-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax for both highway and transit improvements. What if the1-cent sales tax fails at the polls? As a member of Columbia City Council, whatshould you do?

Barczak: I would use my authority on city council to appoint our community members who have knowledge/experience in the field of the board/commission that they serve, such as Temple Ligon on RTA, rather than appointing contributors and political allies to these very powerful boards and commissions.

Tameika Isaac Devine At-Large incumbent

Coleman: Only one-fourth of the 1 cent sales tax is earmarked for the RTA. Alternative: A tax deductible $16 increase in property taxes for a $100,000 house, on average, provides $9M.

Devine : An intensive public awareness campaign needs to be implemented to inform the

public what are the needs of the system. If the referendum fails the first time, we need to try it again.

Williams: The bus system has under-served the working poor by not providing them with adequate bus service. I have asked Tameika Devine, Cromartie, Coble, and others where the franchise fees from all citizens' monthly utility bills are going. None of them had a response.

Antonio Williams At-Large challenger

2.

Council member Devine told us two weeks ago the city kept $8.4 million in emergency reserves, about 10% of the operating budget. Last spring City Manager Austin said in a Columbia City Council meeting, "We have been robbing Peter to pay Paul for too long. We can't even hit on Paul for a little debt service, some possible payback. We are out of money, period." About the same time, council member Rickenmann was saying, "Reserves? Forget the reserves. We don't have reserves for this." With $8.4 million in confirmed emergency reserves, the cityshould use the reserves for what kind of emergency?

Barczak: We currently have emergencies with our crime situation and water/sewer system. The facts: these problems are being hidden by propaganda such as a 35% property tax decrease and 20% crime reduction.

Coleman: Partial utilization of this critical fund may be inevitable, but it should be MANDATED that this fund be rebuilt in the upcoming budget.

Devine : Reserves should only be used for catastrophic type incidents that are beyond human control. Example: a Hurricane Katrina incident that causes an abrupt interruption in the city's services and revenue generating ability.

Williams: Reserves should be spent only in the service of the people.

3.

Street improvements in Five Points, on Lady Street, and on Main Street have all suffered cost overruns. The latter half of the scheduled Main Street improvementsappearsstalled and already underfunded even though construction is yet to begin. The Five Points improvements need flood control enhancements all along the drainage creek from Maxcy Gregg Park to the Congaree River, but the city has no money to commit to lessening the flood problems in Five Points. What do you recommend to finish the street improvements and to enhance the flood control drainage? Where is the money?

Barczak: Council must not be involved in day-to-day operations; however, they must DEMAND accountability from staff on important issues. Why was drainage not addressed in the plan, and why are these people not being held accountable?

Coleman: The Five Points money has been exhausted towards long neglected

water/sewage lines, electrical lines, poor city planning, and

inflationary increases for raw materials. Bring the local government publicly to task, and then make the necessary decisions.

Devine : We do not have cost overruns for the Five Points project. We have sufficient

contingencies in Five Points to cover the project, and the flooding problem will be corrected when we do the improvements to Assembly Street.

Williams: As a construction professional, I have to plan and estimate accurately before every project. The city should do the same.

Upcoming mayoral debates

April 3 - First Tuesday Club on Monday.

At Tronco's at the fairgrounds at 12 pm