| Two of the three candidates for the Henryetta Ward 1 council seat braved the rain Thursday to give their views on the town and the coming four years. Shannon Scott and Michelle Stremme were questioned by Thehenryettan.com and Free Lance on several issues including their vision for the town, challenges facing Henryetta and the community strengths and weaknesses. |  |
| A third candidate, Darrell Coppedge, was unable to attend due to a medical issue. He will be included next Thursday's forum with Christy Jeffcoat, Richard Larney and Lucy Peoples. Stremme pushed for more cleanup in the community and transparency of government. Scott said he felt the town is going in the right direction and promised to work with the community as a whole instead of, "doing what is popular with smaller groups." In her view of a vision for the coming four hers, Stremme said water issues are facing the city and the town needs, "to take care of it before anything else." She said her mind has changed after a tour of the water plant earlier this month. 'When I moved here, I never drank the water. I'm drinking Henryetta water now." The plant was built improperly. I don't want to blame anybody. I want to take care of it." She said people need to be told what happened and urged more news coverage of the meetings. In cleaning up the town, Stremme suffused people get together in groups and start taking care of one block at a time. She said people are not taking care of their properties, and accused some people of being "slum lords" who, "buy up property cheap and don't take care of it." She went on to say people move into some homes, "rent them for nothing, her it up and leave." Stremme praised the city work that has gone into cleaning up the east side of town and felt that attracting businesses such as dining facilities would help bring people off the highways into the community. When asked if the city is going in the right direction, Stremme first said "No," then added the town is making progress. We have got a long way to go." She claimed the residents don't trust city officials and the town needed to get more local support. "The only way to do that is go door to for and talk to the people. She said that should be done by city officials including fire and police department. During his responses, Scott pointed out the location of Henryetta should be capitalized on. He said he has seen more enthusiasm and progress in recent months. "It was different in past councils." Scott went on to say the town needs to, "quit holding on to old ideas and old ways. We have to change with the times and go forward." He countered Stremme's wish for fire and police going door to door, "what are the firemen and police going to say to the people. We need to create a new Henryetta identity, not try to recover something we were a long time ago." SEE THE FULL FORUM VIDEO HERE: | |
