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With election season upon us, several individuals might still be undecided on who to vote for in local races. 

Recently, an event provided some perspective. 

At The Engine House Pizza Pub, candidates for the City Commission races answered a number of different questions for individuals in attendance and online to hear. 

“[This] evening will be a fun event aimed at getting to know your candidates,” said Chad Walker, co-owner of the Engine House Pizza Pub and host of the event. “Our general format of the evening will include time for candidates to introduce themselves, [questions] and [answers], and conclusions.” 

Present were current City Commissioners Kenny Book, Shannon Cox, Kitty Strode, and Hannah Toole. 

Also present were candidates Ralph Harrison and Joe Chenault – who previously served on the City Commission. 

Candidate Carson Hunt, while unavailable to attend the event, later answered questions as well. 

Questions included those pertaining to what candidates felt were the top issue facing Winchester at this time, whether or not they were in favor of term limits, where they last served as a patron in Winchester, whether they believed the idea of a city and county merger should be investigated, what they already accomplished or hope to accomplish, and what their plan was to ensure a healthy and successful downtown during the time period of the Main Street High Side Project. 

As might be expected, a variety of answers were provided. 

When asked what excited Commissioners most regarding what they hope to accomplish or have accomplished in year one, Commissioner Toole responded that – as she had pledged when running for election in 2022 – adding and revamping an entertainment destination center has been a priority. 

“We’ve had some people…really work on the documentation and legislation…it should hopefully be completed by the end of the year if not earlier,” she said. “That is just an added benefit to bulk up and bring excitement to our tourist downtown district.” 

Commissioner Strode mentioned advancements in housing. 

“We have just bought property on Mutual Avenue, where we’re going to build [more] affordable housing,” she said. “We have strengthened our ordinances for dilapidated property. We’re taking down properties as fast as we can in some areas to make that better.” 

Regarding what they would like to see completed in the future, candidates also had various answers. 

While acknowledging that it will not all take place in two years, Chenault responded. 

“The empty buildings that we have on Main Street downtown, I would like to see something going in those,” he said. “Whatever we can come up with, whatever the Winchester people would like to come up with, then we should try to come up with those. I don’t know who owns them, but something needs to go in those.” 

Cox, mentioning numerous ideas, included the addition of parks. 

“On this entire quarter of the town…from Broadway, Main Street, [and] southeast…there isn’t a park. We’re doing all this work over on Lincoln Street…there’s no park over there,” he said. “We need something over there that’s going to be a park for those people.” 

Book mentioned additional projects. 

“I’d like to see [the] Seventh Street project done and get the heavy truck traffic out of the neighborhood,” he said. “It’s been talked about for years.” 

In answering what he felt was a primary challenge facing Winchester citizens, Hunt responded. 

“Through conversations with people in the community. I believe Winchester’s primary challenge lies in balancing smart growth with the goal of attracting new businesses,” he wrote. “Managing sustainable development while bringing in opportunities that align with the community’s character could have a significant impact on our city’s future.” 

Harrison, noting that he also felt business development was crucial to the town’s future success, offered some insight in his closing comments. 

“People are good to you here…the majority [of] people are just absolutely nice,” he said. “I love everybody in [this] community…that’s the thing with Winchester. It’ll just draw you right in.” 

The full video of the forum can be found at https://www.facebook.com/enginehousepizzapub/videos.