Safety, Master Plan at Issue During Fourth Ward Candidates Forum

The two candidates vying for Englewood’s Fourth Ward council seat shared their visions for the city on topics ranging from crime to communication during a League of Women Voters forum Tuesday night.

Wayne Hamer and Curtis Caviness are seeking the council seat once held by longtime council member Jack Drakeford, who died in August. The council last month appointed Hamer to take Drakeford’s seat before the Nov. 6 election.

In opening statements, both candidates cited their record of service to the city. Caviness, an environmental health specialist in Teaneck, pointed to his experience on the city’s planning board, board of health, school board and 25 years working in government.

“I believe I have the tools to make Englewood and efficient and effective government which I think that we all need in these hard economic times” Caviness told a group of residents gathered at the city’s Municipal Court.

Caviness said he regularly attended city meetings and was active in marching with school secretaries who lost their jobs to outsourcing. Citing a commitment to transparent government, Caviness noted he often records board of education meetings.

“I am active, I am committed, I am dedicated,” he said.

Hamer, a city council member from 1996 to 2003 and financial adviser, also pointed to his 24 years as a city resident and history of public service. The councilman said he would work to increase communication between residents and officials if elected.

“I think everybody needs to hear from both ways. I think it’s important that the city administration hears what the residents have to say and the residents need to know what the city administration is up to,” he said.

Hamer said the city also needed to offer more programs, including athletics.

Shirley Smith, a Fourth Ward resident, asked if the two men had recently toured the area.

“The Fourth Ward has been in a bad state for the past, I could say two years,” Smith told the candidates.

Caviness said he lived in the ward, was “constantly” traveling through the area and aware of the issues. Lack of maintenance of the West Palisade Avenue median, trash and flooding were some of the areas he noted.

He said he would work to make sure the issues were addressed at the council level.

Hamer said residents had given him tours of specific areas of concern. He pointed to ward meetings he established, to include the city manager, where residents can share neighborhood concerns.

“I am absolutely aware of the conditions in the Fourth Ward. Some things the city can do and should do and some things that the residents can do,” he responded.

Faced with a question about apparent increased drug dealing in the area, the candidates offered differing views but agreed residents could help by reporting the issue.

“I’ve been here since ‘93, I’ve been hearing a lot of lip service,” resident Jackie George said of the issue.

Hamer cited his Fourth Ward meetings and recent conversations with the city’s deputy police chief. He said residents could call him with concerns and he would forward information to authorities.  

“We have to get involved and put some skin in the game to make a difference here. We have to become a squeaky wheel,” Hamer said.

He also listed safety as one of the most important issues facing Fourth Ward residents.

Caviness described drug activity as a “symptom” of larger issues. He said officials needed to be held accountable.  

“The council person needs to make sure that they’re doing what they need to do here on the city council, holding the people accountable who are responsible for those positions,” Caviness said.

The city’s effort to revise its master plan was also at issue during the forum. One resident asked what the candidates would do to ensure the plan addressed the Fourth Ward.

“The master plan is a snapshot of the future. If I look at that picture and I don’t see anyone that looks like me or looks like the people in my ward then I have a problem with that master plan,” Caviness said, noting he voted against the master plan.

Hamer said residents should speak out in the master plan process.

“We’re supposed to sound off,” Hamer said.

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