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. ! >„V Page 5 Spelman Spotlight September 1981 Spelman Hosts Open Forum For Mayoral Candidates Pamela Cook Theodora Lee Valerie Barrow, by Karen Burroughs News Editor On Thursday, October 1,1981, the Spelman College SGA presented a political forum in Sisters Chapel involving six can didates for mayor of Atlanta, and four candidates for 4th district city councilman. Opening remarks were given by Gena Hudgins, Vice President of the SGA, who served as moderator and time keeper. She then introduced the student panelists and the candidates for election. The six mayoral candidates present were A. Reginald Eaves, Sidney Marcus, Warren Shulman, Mildred Glover, An- dree Kahlmorgan, and Andrea Young, representing her father Andrew Young, who was not present at the forum. The four candidates for 4th district coun cilman who attended the forum were incumbent James Bond, Thomas Cuffie, Hildred Shumake, and Robert Reese. Since the forum took place, the October 6th elections revealed that Andrew Young, who receiv ed 42% of the votes and Thomas Cuffie with 30% of the votes, will also have to engage in a run-off to determine the position of 4th district councilman and mayor. Andrew Young has had a large amount of experience in a broad range of organizations, programs, and positions. He was elected 3 times to the House of Representatives where he served Atlantans in matters such as Social Security, health care, civil rights, and education. At the request of former president Jimmy Carter, Young resigned his seat in Congress in 1977 to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations. As chief delegate to the UN, Young represented the United States in complex international negotiations and diplomatic mis sions. During this period. Young was also a member of the President’s Cabinet, where he worked for assistance to cities, job creation, food stamps, and other domestic programs. As mayor, Young has plans for improving Atlanta’s job and economic development, neighborhoods, public safety, taxes and services. Sidney Marcus, the candidate around whom much controversy was centered because of his delinquent payment of taxes, has been a state representative for the past 13 years. In his opening statement in the SGA forum, Marcus told the students that Atlanta needs a mayor who is “dedicated and worried about the welfare of the city.” Marcus was instrumental in establishing the World Congress Center in 1972 and fought successfully for its expansion in 1981, which should provide 8,000 new jobs for Atlantans. He was also instrumental in the expan sion of Hartsfield International Airport, and the establishment of community recreational facilities. Marcus has several plans for revitalizing the city if elected. These include protec ting the neighborhoods and cleaning up the downtown area, making jobs accessible through better transportation, and in creasing the efficiency and productivity in the delivery of city services. James Bond, 4th district coun cilman for the past two terms, is the son of Spelman librarian Mrs. Julia Bond. He has formerly served as chairperson of the Development Committee of the AUC. This committee was responsible for monetary con tributions for the redesign of Graves Hall on the Morehouse College campus, high intensity lighting near the Clark College dormitories, and the renovation of historic Fountain Hall on the Morris Brown College campus. In his opening statement, Bond told the students “Black College Day meant a lot to me. However, I felt there should have been more particiation from the facul ty; it affects them also.” Thomas Cuffie, a lawyer, has been a public servant for over 10 yers. If elected, he has plans geared toward reducing un employment, reducing crime, improving housing, and providing better services for senior citizens and the han dicapped. “I am about the business of the people,” Cuffie said in his opening statement. Mayor Maynard Jackson is per sonally endorsing Cuffie, and assisting in his campaign. Following the opening statements by the candidates, Pam Cook - Freshman Class President; Theodora Lee - Sophomore Class President; DeAna Jo Swan - SGA Social Chairperson; and Valeria Barrow of the Political Science Society, directed questions to the can didates as panelists for the forum. Theodora Lee, directing her question to Sidney Marcus, asked him if he would support state legislation to help poor people by permitting them to defer the payment of taxes over a period of time.. To this Marcus replied that the law already provides "that if you pay later, you have to pay late charges, interest, and principal, which is what I did, and what you can do.” He said, however, that he would not support such a bill. Valerie Barrow, directing her question to James Bond, accused him of having "not yet reached political maturity” and "riding on the coattails” of his brother Senator Julian Bond. “You don’t get elected twice, once with 65 percent majority and the other with 75 percent majority of the votes by riding on someone else’s coattails,” replied Bond. Following these and several other questions delivered by the panelists, the students and can didates joined hands and com pleted the forum with the sing ing of the Spelman Hymn. James Bond Andrea Young Thomas Cuffie Sidney Marcus