Election Day 2013: The Issues

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) “This is not something we do very often,” says Melanie Huggins, Director of the Richland County Public Library. 

On Tuesday, the Richland County Public Library hopes you’ll vote ‘yes,’ to the Library Bond Referendum that will give the library an additional $59 million. 

“We know that it’s needed and interest rates are at historic lows and now is the best possible time to move forward,” says Huggins.

The money would be used to renovate existing libraries, including giving users better access to technology. 

It’s the first request for money, outside of the operating budget, by the Richland County Public Library since 1989. 

“We are really good stewards of the taxpayer dollar,” says Huggins. 

Also on the ballot for voters, living in the City of Columbia, is the well-publicized Mayoral Race.

“You’re choosing in some ways a candidate’s vision for the future of the City of Columbia,” says Dennis Lambries, Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina. 

We sat down with Lambries to talk about the issues, including the much debated Bull Street Project. 

“Economic growth is a lot like fishing, you have to cut a lot of bait to catch a fish,” says Lambries. 

Incumbent Mayor Benjamin supports the recently approved project that will transform the former home of the state mental hospital. 

While Mayoral candidate Moe Baddourah has raised questions about funding the project. 

Another issue is crime reform.

“Often times you have solutions in search of a problem,” says Lambries.

Baddourah wants a permanent police chief while Benjamin acknowledges successes of the police department and the room for improvement. 

Finally, Lambries says one of the biggest factors of Tuesday’s election is voter turnout. 

“If you don’t vote, you’ve got no right to complain,” says Lambries. 

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. ABC Columbia will have full coverage at noon, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.