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Jim Davis, Sue Burton square off in Forest Hills’ mayor’s contest
(First in a series)
By Lynn Hotaling
Forest Hills incumbent Mayor Jim Davis faces a challenge this year from within the current town council.
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Burton
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Davis
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Sue Burton, a four-year veteran of town government, has decided to run against the two-term mayor. Forest Hills also has two town board seats up for grabs this November, but two incumbents – Jim Wallace and Dick Iobst – are running unopposed.
Chartered in 1997, Forest Hills has seen its share of controversy. From early skirmishes over extraterritorial jurisdiction to last year’s lawsuit with developers who want to build more Western Carolina University student housing, town leaders have at times found themselves at odds with the interests of those around them.
Davis, the town’s current mayor, is a 60-year-old part-time teacher. A former co-manager of Speedy’s Pizza, he holds a degree in business administration/finance from Michigan State University. He had never held political office prior to becoming Forest Hills’ mayor in 2001. Re-elected in 2003, he was unopposed in both his previous bids.
According to the town charter, its four board members serve four-year terms with two seats open each election year, while the mayor is serves a two-year term.
Burton, 66, is a retired Presbyterian minister who moved to Cullowhee to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter. She earned a degree in psychology and elementary education from Douglas College, the women’s college of Rutgers University, and taught public school for six years before seeking a master’s degree in divinity from Princeton and becoming an ordained minister. She was appointed to the Forest Hills board in 2001 to serve the remainder of a term and was elected to a four-year term in 2003.
During interviews this past week, Davis and Burton discussed their views on Forest Hills and the issues facing the small residential community, as well as what each can offer the town if elected mayor.
The questions they were asked and their answers follow:
How would you describe the town’s relationship with WCU students?
Davis: For the most part, we have very good college neighbors, but there are always a few who party louder and longer than the rest, and drive faster than good sense allows. At times that’s problematic.
Burton: During my first year on the town council, I sat and listened to complaints about the students’ noise, driving habits and litter. Then I started a liaison committee that included one male student, one female student, one landlord, one WCU administrator and myself as a representative of Forest Hills. I thought this would lead to more communication and more understanding – I thought it would improve the relationship between the village and the students, but I’m not sure it has.
Are you satisfied with the town’s relationship with the students?
Davis: It could use some improvement.
Burton: The relationship needs improving.
How would you improve it?
Davis: We’re working with landlords to help us keep a lid on “disturbing the peace” type parties. If a landlord has a “problem” tenant, we’re asking him to deal with that student. The landlords have said they want to be good neighbors.
I believe we can get it under control, but it’s going to take education. I’ve talked with (WCU Chancellor) Bardo and expressed my view that if the school’s going to bring 10,000 more students into the community, the school should work with the community to solve the problems.
My opponent has set up a committee to be a liaison between students, the village and the campus, but it hasn’t really gotten off the ground. We’ve decided to expand it to include all the landlords.
Burton: Students need to be made aware that adults approach things from a different point of view, and the council needs to realize how the students feel. It’s a learning experience on both sides. We started the liaison committee to help each side understand the other’s perspective, and now we’re at the point of expanding the committee to include more landlords and a student from each apartment building. Then maybe we’ll see more communication and more understanding.
How would you describe Forest Hills’ current effort at law enforcement, and how is it working?
Davis: About three years ago we hired off-duty Sheriff’s deputies, coordinated through the Sheriff’s Office, to patrol twice a weekend – always on Thursday and then either on Friday or Saturday. Sometimes they use checkpoints; sometimes they issue speeding tickets.
It’s working pretty well. The Sheriff and Lt. Kim Hooper are very helpful, and since last spring we get monthly incident reports because board members requested more documentation. Before that, I got a verbal report from the officers.
Overall the law enforcement is satisfactory – it gives us a presence in a more concentrated way.
Burton: I think the Sheriff and deputies do a wonderful job; I don’t think they have enough manpower. Law enforcement came up when the council was discussing the budget. I think the council is willing to pay, but members wanted a better idea of how much law enforcement is needed.
I have no idea how many times a deputy is called. I’ve seen one report. If the mayor gets more, he hasn’t shared them. That’s his style of leadership; it would not be mine.
What about the lawsuit with the developers of Summit apartments?
Davis: I think it may be a landmark case. If we’re upheld, it will make it much tougher for other developers to come in. Student apartments are currently begging for students. The shortage now is for faculty housing, which leads into my vision for Forest Hills. I’d like to see upscale housing above the existing houses, but we would need a better system of storm-water management.
Burton: That decision is in the appeals process, and we’re waiting to see how it goes. I was surprised by the trial judge’s ruling against the town. Summit has the largest number of student apartments that impact the village. I can understand Summit’s point of view, but traffic is a concern if they build a large number of apartments. My big issue is traffic – how many more cars can we handle with one entrance. I suggested that Summit consider faculty apartments or condominiums. With single faculty or staff members or young couples, there would be less vehicles with each apartment. I’m not opposed to all new buildings, but we have to take traffic problems into account. If they build the apartments, they should build another entrance.
What other issues is the town facing?
Davis: Storm-water management is one. During heavy rains the past six months we’ve added culverts to try and direct the storm-water to paths that won’t cause damage.
Another issue is the dynamic change that’s under way in Jackson County. What’s happened in Cashiers is spreading our way. There’s a new dynamic for the center of Jackson County. People will be able to afford nice homes – if we continue with quiet neighborhoods and state-maintained roads (another goal of Davis’ for Forest Hills). The town is just 1 mile from campus and has a lot of potential.
Burton: We’re working on beautifying the entrance to town to make a better impact. We’ve talked of a municipal building; we’re currently meeting in the inn. People are concerned about the old golf course – the entire middle of the village could be a beautiful park. I would set up a committee of residents with interest and let them come to the council with ideas.
Why do you think you’d be the better mayor?
Davis: I’m familiar in the job. I’ve put in my time at meetings and made contacts. I’ve got momentum, and I’ve got the vision – a quiet, peaceful, upscale neighborhood with state-maintained roads.
Burton: I think I would be a more inclusive kind of leader than Mayor Davis – I’d be more open and accepting of ideas from the people of the community. We have a wealth of knowledge and expertise that we’re not tapping. I learned from my experience as a minister that opinions and suggestions are very valuable and that volunteers like to be respected and valued. My background is in working with people, mostly at church. I’ve volunteered a lot, and I know what it feels like. Council members are all volunteers; there’s no pay, not even mileage. I think my experience as a minister – where the decision-making is always by a group and there’s a lot of peace-making involved – will be good for me as mayor.
(Editor’s note: This is the first of a four-part series on Jackson County’s upcoming municipal elections. Next week’s paper will include discussion of Dillsboro candidates. Webster town hopefuls will be profiled in the Oct. 22 edition, and Sylva candidates will discuss issues in the Oct. 29 newspaper.)
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