"Charlottesville voters got their first chance to see all six candidates in the upcoming City Council election on the same stage Wednesday night, at a forum sponsored by Democrats for Change and several other local activist groups.

The forum, held in the Jefferson School's auditorium, focused on affordable housing, race relations, economic development and wage issues - and on the Jefferson School itself, which this week has become the city's most popular backdrop for news conferences and campaign events.

Asked by moderator Susan Fraiman of the University of Virginia's Labor Action Group to limit their statements to two minutes, the candidates, all Democrats, faced the daunting task of differentiating themselves in a crowded field.

Responding to the nights first question, all six - Mayor Blake Caravati, business owners Joan Fenton, Bern Ewert and Waldo Jaquith, nurse David Simmons and photographer Alexandria Searls - said they support a 'living wage' for workers in the city.

Since the city's power to impose such wage regulations on the University of Virginia and other large employers is dubious, the candidates proposed different methods for convincing reluctant parties. Most offered variations on Fenton's approach: 'We can't force anything on the university, but we can make them aware of our commitment,' she said.

Ewert said the council should use its 'bully pulpit' to push the issue, Caravati said it depends on communication and Searls said the council should announce that 'we're going to support the living wage, and anyone who doesn't is not going to receive the same level of respect.'

Asked how they would improve race relations, Searls, Ewert and Caravati all said the key lies in the future of the Jefferson School, one of the last remnants of the historically black Vinegar Hill neighborhood, which was leveled in the 1960s in an 'urban renewal' project.

'How we treat the school is either going to heal wounds that we've had since the '60s or not,' Searls said.

'We know that this is their best chance,' Ewert added, referring to the preschoolers who now use the building. 'You want to talk about race relations? Lets deal with the babies.'

Jaquith advocated programs such as Computers4Kids and the Music Resource Center, which bring people of different ages, races and classes together, while Simmons and Fenton proposed community-wide discussions of racial issues.

Even as they struggled at times to remain within time limits, the candidates used their first formal public appearance to stress their campaign themes.

Caravati stressed his four years of experience on the council, and said he will focus on education, economic development and cooperation with UVa and Albemarle County. He also emphasized his desire to interact one-on-one with voters and listen to their concerns.

Searls stressed the preservation of the Jefferson School and said the city should do more to encourage small businesses, including promoting opportunities for business startups in a renovated, more densely developed Garret Square Apartments complex.

Fenton said the city should better address the differences in performance between black and white students in city schools. She also called for establishing a 'business incubator' to help establish non-profits and small businesses, [as well as] better parking downtown.

Ewert contended that the council should put more money aside in its annual budgets for repairing public buildings, and emphasized the importance of having sound fiscal policies.

Jaquith stressed his history of involvement in city affairs as an activist and business owner, and his eagerness to take on difficult tasks. He I also called race relations a priority, and apologized to a black audience member for the city's handling of Vinegar Hill.

Simmons pointed to his leadership abilities and experience on city boards and his willingness to listen to residents' concerns. He said city schools should work to recruit more minority teachers, and should try to keep teachers with high salaries and good benefits.

The next candidate forum is scheduled for Feb. 6, at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library downtown. City Democrats will choose their nominees for the two open council seats at a convention Feb. 23." (Jake Mooney, The Daily Progress, January 31, 2002)