Chambana Sun

Democratic Urbana mayoral candidates were able to discuss their main issues in a forum on Jan. 30.

Diane Marlin, Laurel Prussing and Evelyn Underwood gave voters a chance to hear their issues and plans at the forum hosted by Champaign County's League of Women Voters (LWVCC) and NAACP as well as The News-Gazette.

One of the more prominent issues mentioned by the candidates was the topic of violence, especially gun violence, in Urbana.

“If people have an alternative path, if they have hope, if they have an opportunity for education and training, they’re less likely to pick up a gun and start shooting,” Marlin told the voters. “Long-term, we also need to be reducing stresses felt within families. We need to adequately staff our police force. We need to engage the community. The police can’t do it alone; it's a community effort.”

Prussing, Urbana’s current mayor, stressed the need to reach out to children to prevent violence at a young age. Underwood also mentioned the children, saying there are not enough activities and places for children to go.

In addition to speaking about violence, candidates considered ways to reduce the jail population.

Prussing spoke about the importance of addressing mental health issues.

“We’re working the county and eventually with the city, I hope, to find a place where people can be evaluated and be treated,” Prussing said.

Moving forward, the candidates spoke about their plans to bring jobs to Urbana. In particular, Prussing discussed efforts by the current administration to bring more jobs in, including trade education and road construction. Underwood, however, said there's not enough currently being done to address the problem.

“The mayor talked about so many businesses, but I see Urbana dying and I don’t want to see that,” Underwood said.

Marlin spoke about the importance of focusing on businesses already in the community and not trying to bring big businesses in from the outside.

“We need to seriously look at specific procedures and practices that have been used over the years to see how they're impacting business and work with the community for suggestions on ways that we can modify them,” she said.

Candidates were then asked if they would support sanctuary cities. Underwood pointed out that Urbana has long since passed a law allowing for sanctuary. Marlin passionately agreed to support that law.

“While Urbana passed a resolution, what we are doing is very, very similar to what most other cities in this nation are doing in terms of protecting the rights of immigrants,” Marlin said. “In actuality, if the president chooses to punish cities who protect and stand up for human rights, then he will punishing the entire country.”

The candidates were also asked questions about police staffing and facilities; opportunities and treatment of women and people of color; economic issues; and environmental concerns.

The primary will take place Feb. 28. The winner will face off against the Republican candidate, Rex Bradfield, in another forum on March 8.