Columbia mayoral candidates Matthews, Molder spar over city's future growth at forum
A different approach to leading the city of Columbia emerged at the city mayoral forum hosted by Maury Alliance Tuesday at the Ledbetter Auditorium at Columbia State Community College, drawing a couple of hundred constituents.
Both Columbia natives incumbent Chaz Molder, a lawyer who also works in real estate, and challenger Debbie Matthews, a realtor and co-owner of a small record label, discussed pertinent topics including how to manage growth, expand infrastructure and maintain a strong economy.
Matthews focused on fighting to preserve Columbia’s character and identity, while Molder outlined the current successes of the city and how to maintain its prosperous momentum, proclaiming the city's character could never be lost.
While Matthews, who serves as the current chairman of the Maury County Republican Party, proudly emphasized her endorsement for city mayor by the MCRP, Molder strayed away from emphasizing political affiliations in the nonpartisan election.
Matthews highlighted her focus on striving to control “unfettered” growth in the city, while Molder praised the progress that Columbia has made over the last four years of his tenure, even throughout the effects of the pandemic.
Over the past several years, Columbia has experienced unprecedented prosperity, including the creation of 1,200 jobs, over $300 million in investments, and “ribbon cuttings galore,” Molder said.
Molder, who was first elected at 35 to his first term as the youngest mayor in state at the time, attributed the city’s successes to a robust chamber of commerce — Maury Alliance — and wise decisions made by the Columbia City Council. He also pointed out that the city experienced higher revenue in sales tax than property tax last fiscal year, while city expenditures have also gone down. And, there has been no city tax increase during his tenure, he said.
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Meanwhile, Matthews said a top priority would be to preserve her hometown.
“I sell Tennessee dirt, which is my favorite thing to do,” Matthews said. “Columbia is home, and there is no other place like it. Our little jewel box downtown is so special, but it’s the people of this town that make it so great.”
She said the city is attracting people from all over the country, which she sees as a realtor.
“The country is now tuning in, and everybody wants to live here, everybody. That’s why I am running.”
Molder emphasizes uniting community
About his current role as mayor, Molder said he believes, “people want the mayor to unite the community.”
“We are a community first and there’s unity in that word. I believe we need to focus on the issues that bring us together rather than the issues that drive us apart,” Molder said.
Although the city mayor is also a voting member of the seven-member city council, Molder emphasized the “ceremonial power” of his position in having many opportunities to speak whether people agree or disagree.
“I disagree that this is a rah-rah position, ceremonial position,” Matthews said. She said the Bible says, “without a vision, the people will perish.” “We have a jewel box with no plan,” she said.
Molder said his main priority would be to maintain the city’s prosperous economic momentum as well as focus on connecting and expanding the parks of Columbia, calling the county’s natural resources among the most beautiful in the world.
Matthews highlights areas of improvement
Matthews criticized the high number of building permits pulled for residential development over the past several years and the number of new subdivisions approved throughout the city, increasing traffic and a strain on infrastructure.
According to city and county leaders, over 15,000 new residential rooftops are planned to be constructed over the next several years.
Matthews says she worries that if Columbia does not implement more controlled, well-managed, strategic growth, decision could lead to Columbia losing its identity.
Experience leading city government
Matthews and Molder outlined experience that would contribute to being a successful mayor.
“I am living it every day,” Molder said. “It’s the honor of my lifetime.”
Matthews served two terms on the Columbia City Council from 2008 to 2017, which she said shows consistent knowledge and a successful record.
“I served with two great mayors from 2008-17, nine years, on the city council, a conservative council, during the greatest recession since Great Depression. We had no building permits for two and a half years, unemployment was 25% and downtown was empty. We made strategic growth plans invested in ourselves, made historic downtown an economic engine, built Ridley Field, an arts district, and Riverwalk Park.”
Matthews, who said she is not opposed to development, said the council at the time had a strategic vision to grow Columbia into the future.
For example, with an arts district, Matthews said the council had a vision to develop Columbia into an “authentic craftsman paradise, which it is,” she said.
Matthews also praised former Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, now a candidate for the 5th Congressional District, for defying pandemic-based policies in closing nonessential businesses for a time, which she said contributed to the county’s buzzing economy.
“I believe growth needs to pay for growth,” Matthews said. “I want to make sure we have freedom in Columbia, no mandates, and we are free and open to keep our businesses open and churches open.”
Plans laid for the future
However, Molder argued that Columbia city council and leaders are managing infrastructure for the future of Columbia, citing a $200 million investment by Columbia Power and Water Systems to expand and improve drinking water capacity in the city, the city’s investment in a new wastewater plant to serve the community over the next 50 years and the city’s investment of $5 million to pave roads.
“We are doing things daily in managing growth [and investing in Columbia's future]," Molder said.
Matthews also said she is concerned about Columbia’s high crime rate and its previous ranking in the bottom 8% of safe cities across the state.
She also said law enforcement and firefighters need a higher salary to retain the best workers, which would be a priority if elected mayor.
“We are losing people,” Matthews said, citing that many had left the department over the past 60 days for various reasons such as seeking higher pay in other counties.
However, Molder cited the recent Tennessee Bureau of Investigation report released this week showing an 11% decrease in crime in Columbia, based on statistics by the Columbia Police Department, though Matthews says there's still room for improvement.
Molder also said the prosperity and charm of Columbia is apparent to all who visit.
"If you were at First Fridays, you have to walk away slightly amazed," he said regarding the amount of positivity, activity and people supporting downtown. "It didn’t matter what they looked like, doesn’t matter the political party, young or old ... ," he said.
Building impact fee a must
A topic that both candidates agreed upon is the need for a building impact fee on new developments in Maury County, a bill proposed by Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, last legislative session, which failed in a House committee.
Matthews addressed the need for a building impact fee and her involvement in testifying before the legislature during the legislative season last spring. Molder also said he looks forward to joining Mayor Sheila Butt in the fight to secure the impact fee.
Matthews expressed disappointment that the lack of collaboration between the city and county on the initiative. Though Molder, emphasized elected officials should be the primary drivers of the bill, not unelected constituents or leaders of a political party.
Overarching ideals remained for the candidates until the end of the forum, led by moderator Wil Evans, president of Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance.
"We get drawn in to the things that drive us apart. As mayor my focus is to make sure we are not focused on things that are driving us apart," Molder said.
"The city and county need to work together because Columbia is disappearing. I am running to protect it," Matthews said.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia mayoral candidates spar over city's future growth at forum
