Civility and a genuine friendship between Hobart’s Mayoral candidates seem to have made choosing one of them tough.
Residents who attended the first mayoral debate between incumbent Hobart Councilman Josh Huddlestun, D-2; and independent candidate and city restauranteur Teddian Jackson on September 25 at the First Unitarian Church said they’ll be “happy with either” of them after the November 7 election. The two shared similar views on several of the audience-submitted questions and complimented each other freely.
Huddlestun, who served on the city’s Redevelopment Authority before running for Council in 2016, said his experience with the ins and outs of city government would be extremely helpful in the top spot. His platform comprises three elements — public safety, fiscal responsibility and quality of life — and he’d also like to continue with making Hobart a more sustainable city connected by walkable and bikeable paths, he said.
Huddlestun also reiterated that he voted against the controversial June 2022 rezone at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street that will see an industrial complex built; Jackson, who believes residents should’ve been involved in the process earlier, said that he’d learned of studies that show that acreage could sustain grapes for a winery.
“We can dream of a winery, but no one has proposed putting one there,” Huddlestun said.
Both Jackson and Huddlestun support golf carts in the city but advocated for better safety enforcement, and both are committed to getting the city’s youth involved. Jackson, who owns Montego Bay Grille downtown, said he runs an internship program at the restaurant for young people where they eventually get set up with college advisers; while Huddlestun said he would create a youth mayoral council.
Neither candidate supports widening County Line Road even if it’s a main thoroughfare, and Huddlestun would institute a program where 10% of exaction fees the city gets from developers would go to repairing and replacing sidewalks.
And both candidates promised they wouldn’t change their party affiliations, especially midterm.
“My voting record — I stand by my conviction, but I will be a mayor for all,” Huddlestun said.
“I’m an independent, and that’s where I will stay,” Jackson said.
Resident Sharon Langel appreciated that the men had an obvious respect for each other.
“I’d be happy with either one of them,” she said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
