Mayoral candidates differ on how to move city forward

Published 7:30 am Thursday, October 20, 2011

Dalton Mayor David Pennington and Joel Goldberg, Pennington’s opponent in the Nov. 8 election, agreed Wednesday night that the city must diversify its industry, bring in new jobs and attract young, educated professionals.

But they outlined different plans on how to do that during a forum hosted by the Coalition of Latino Leaders (CLILA) at its headquarters on Murray Avenue.

Pennington spoke of his plan to end the city government’s share of the property tax. He noted the City Council has cut the property tax rate by 25 percent since he took office four years ago.

“Four years ago, we had the highest property tax rate in the state, and no one was looking at us (for development),” he said. “I can assure you that businesses are looking at us again.”

Goldberg said he, too, wants to lower the property tax rate. But he said officials have to be careful about how far and how fast they cut tax rates because those taxes are what pay for city services.

Goldberg said he would like to see the city make more aggressive use of special tax breaks and other incentives to lure more industry to Dalton.

Pennington and Goldberg also agreed they would like to help make Dalton a retail hub. Pennington said if voters defeat a Special Purpose Local Option Sales (SPLOST) on the November ballot the sales tax rate in Whitfield County will fall to 5 percent next year. That would be 2 percent less than in surrounding counties in Georgia and 4.24 percent less than in neighboring counties in Tennessee. He said that could bring in shoppers from outside the area, which, in turn, could help attract more stores.

But Goldberg, who said he supports the SPLOST, said he didn’t believe having a lower sales tax rate would make that much difference.

“People drive from Georgia to Tennessee every day to shop, knowing that they will pay a higher tax. That’s because they have stores there that they want to shop at,” he said.

Goldberg said to make Dalton a retail hub local officials are going to have to bring in new businesses that people will want to shop in.

Pennington said he has helped city officials make “tough choices.

“The council, since I’ve been mayor, has cut spending $6 million. You don’t do that without making tough choices. That’s one of the reasons this economy is in the shape it’s in now because our leaders at the state and national level have been afraid to make those tough choices,” he said.

Goldberg was asked why he is running for mayor and he cited his three children.

“I want them to have a reason to come back to Dalton after they graduate from college. And I want your children to also have a reason to come back, and if they don’t go to college, I want them to have a reason to stay in Dalton,” he said.

Both were asked about police roadblocks inside the city, a subject of concern within the local Hispanic community since some drivers caught in those roadblocks were later discovered to be in the country illegally and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Both said they have seen no evidence the Dalton Police Department is using roadblocks improperly or for any reason other than traffic enforcement and public safety.