Our Views: Ask hopefuls about divides

• Advocate Opinion page staff
• Published: Sep 12, 2008 - Page: 6B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Two events have made this year’s election for a new Metro Council in East Baton Rouge Parish among the most significant in years.

The first event was the onset of term limits. Because of term limits and retirements, at least eight new members will be elected this fall for the 12-member Metro Council.

Another event: Mayor-President Kip Holden’s call for almost $1 billion in borrowing to catch up with decades of deferred projects involving city drainage and facilities, as well as funding what Holden is touting as economic development projects.

The all-or-nothing bond issue will be on the Nov. 4 ballot. Council members run in the primary election Oct. 4. Some of them probably will face runoffs on the day of the bond election. But many voters in the next month will be asking where candidates for council stand on the bond issue.

It’s a perfectly legitimate question, and further, it’s one that aspiring politicians have little way to dodge. After all, they have to vote on the bond issue like everybody else. They can’t weasel out of a “yes” or “no.”

The virtue of such a comprehensive bond proposal as that put forward by Holden is that it allows questions — whether one is for or against the Nov. 4 proposition — about    issues facing the city. How does Baton Rouge keep up with growth? How much money should the city be borrowing, versus trying to fund projects on a pay-as-you-go basis?

What is economic development, anyway?

The mayor-president has proposed funding a big expansion of the convention center and subsidized parking structures to spur private investment in new downtown hotels.

What should the taxpayer pay for in economic development?

Those don’t exhaust the questions that the public ought to ask council candidates.

Some of the questions are pretty obvious and have been the subject of much public debate. The role of gambling in the city is one issue: Today’s administration has started the practice of using part of its gambling revenue — long held for one-time projects and purchases — in the operating budget.

Is that wise, and should that trend continue?

Holden’s administration also has pushed a controversial resolution promoting Baton Rouge as a diverse community, but that drew fire from people who don’t want to include gays in the list. Where do candidates stand on the “One Baton Rouge” resolution?