At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, the final two La Crosse mayoral candidates, Chris Kahlow and Shaundel Washington-Spivey, gathered at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Cleary Alumni & Friends Center to debate voter issues. The two will face off in the April 1 election.
Washington-Spivey is the executive director and co-founder of Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge (BLACK). He said this role gave him insight into community organizations and businesses and the resources they provide to the city.
“We cannot solve today’s problems with yesterday’s politics … I know the kind of city that La Crosse can be and I am truly committed to being the person and going alongside this community and our city staff to make sure that vision is sought out,” said Washington-Spivey.
Kahlow, the city council representative for District 6 and council president, said she has worked on issues of public safety, protecting open spaces, funding neighborhood assets and homelessness.
She said, “I am the only candidate with local government experience here and I am ready to hit the ground running on day one as your next mayor.”
The debate was moderated by Lee Rasch, and questions were posed by a panel of the following representatives from local news outlets: Allyson Fergot with WKBT, Brad Williams with WIZM, Chandler Brindley with WXOW, Ezra Wall with Wisconsin Public Radio and Todd Krysiak with the La Crosse Tribune.
One question posed to the candidates regarded City Brewery.
City Hall voted to restrict parking access for City Brewery trailers in an attempt to get the company to fix the rancid sulfur smell emitted from the plant. Williams asked the candidates if they would take similar actions if elected.
Washington-Spivey expressed his agreement with the decision made by the council to hold businesses accountable when it comes to the well-being of city residents.
Kahlow disagreed; She said more collaboration between the city and local businesses should be done before these decisions are made and that City Brewery has already agreed on a schedule to fix the odor.
Wall asked the mayoral candidates about tangible plans to increase accessible and affordable housing. Both candidates referenced the city’s plan to incentivize the building of affordable housing through loans. Washington-Spivey added that a variety of housing options should be available across a wide range of neighborhoods. Alternatively, Kahlow said the neighborhood’s wishes should be considered when adding housing and that more solutions are to come.
An estimated 252 individuals in La Crosse are unhoused and the areas of the city where the population is “allowed” to camp have been continuously restricted; Wall asked if this was the correct approach. Both candidates showed support for the Pathways Home Plan that seeks to functionally end homelessness in La Crosse.
Kahlow used her rebuttal time to discuss that preventative measures are just as essential as the response. Washington-Spivey added resources and preventative measures already exist within REACH, among others, whose efforts have been stalled in the past by the council.
The REACH Center had previously attempted to rezone the current area of Washburn Residential for commercial use, allowing for expanded services for the low-income community, but was halted by the neighborhood’s concerns and the council.
Kahlow said the rezoning takes away from housing, which is against the city’s plans; “I think we really need to be looking at our plans, looking at what the neighborhood’s desire is and looking at what’s best for the city as it grows,” she said.
Washington-Spivey responded that the city needs to “serve alongside and lead organizations and the work that they’re doing, or get out of their way and allow them to do what they need to do to carry out their mission to ensure that they’re providing resources for the individuals in our community.”
An audience member posed the question as to why the 5th district council seat, often called the UWL district, is vacant and how the council will represent student interests. Kahlow answered that the council decided to hold a special election for the seat to not have any unfair advantages.
She said she works with students regardless of the 5th district seat being open and that those are the kinds of tough decisions council members must make. Washington-Spivey made clear that if he were to be elected, the seat would be filled and recalled Mayor Mitch Reynolds’ disapproval of the council’s decision.
“We have to ensure that when we talk about being democratic and … making sure everybody has a seat at the table and representation, that we do our due diligence to ensure that that actually happens,” said Washington-Spivey.
In her closing remarks, Kahlow said, “We need steady, experienced leadership here in La Crosse.”
Washington-Spivey said, “Business as usual is not working for us anymore. We need innovative, collaborative and compassionate energy in our city’s government.”
If you missed the debate, you can watch it here.
For voter information, click here.
