Three City Council candidates joined last night in Clark Hall to discuss environmental issues with University students and community members.
"The students have provided a wonderful opportunity for discussing the environment," Democratic candidate Alexandria Searls said. "No one else had come forward with that discussion."
Student Environmental Action sponsored the Earth Day forum along with the Sierra Club. About 40 people, mostly students, were in attendance.
Third-year Architecture student Dana Coelho, who moderated the event, said the turnout was larger than many SEA events. Audience participation made the forum successful, she added.
"I didn't have to pipe up at all because people really kept it going," she added.
Charlottesville Mayor Blake Caravati, another Democratic candidate, and independent Stratton Salidis joined Searls at last night's forum. Republican candidate Rob Schilling was not present.
In addition to raising environmental issues, the SEA wanted to encourage student activism in city affairs, Coelho said.
Students "do live in the city. It's important for them to feel like they can participate," Coelho said.
The candidates also said that University students had the ability to influence city affairs more and bring positive change.
"Developers are at every meeting. They make their voices heard. Students need to do the same," Salidis said.
The discussions addressed issues of city development such as the proposed Meadowcreek Parkway. Both Salidis and Searls oppose the parkway. Caravati said he supported a parkway but only as a smaller, two-lane road.
The candidates differed in their stances on infrastructure development within the city. Salidis said he supported municipal high-occupancy vehicle lanes as an incentive to pedestrian-oriented transportation. Caravati and Searls both said the city needs to work on improving the current system by methods such as adding bike lanes to roads.
"As much as we might want it, the cars will not stop coming," Caravati said.
Meanwhile, all the candidates opposed the University's current plan for construction of the Ivy Parking Garage, to be located on Ivy Road by the Cavalier Inn and which would impact a nearby creek and wooded area.
"I want the city to not just be for human beings, but support biological diversity," Searls said.
Yesterday's forum is one of several meetings between the candidates to debate issues affecting the city. The candidates already have met for a forum on local businesses and a call-in radio forum on WNRN last Sunday.
Another forum tomorrow at the Jefferson School will focus on the future of that city landmark.
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