The three Republicans vying for the nomination to be the next mayor of Shelbyville squared off in a friendly debate Tuesday at Landwerlen Hall at the FOP Lodge No. 84.
David Finkel, Scott Furgeson (main photo) and Brad Ridgeway answered several questions posed by GIANT fm radio’s Johnny McCrory for about 60 minutes. The debate was broadcast live on GIANT fm and is available to be listened to at the radio station's digital newspaper, the Shelby County Post (www.shelbycountypost.com).
Listen to the debate in its entirety at https://shelbycountypost.com/local-news/684142
“I think it went great. I think you saw three great candidates with great ideas and solutions,” said Ridgeway after the debate. “I think it’s a win-win for the city to have this quality of candidates running. We all have different ideas but we want the same things for the city.”
More support for emergency services and more options to treat mental health issues were at the forefront of the topics presented. The trio also discussed what the future holds for Shelbyville and how they would handle their personal careers if elected mayor.
“I think it went exactly how I thought it was going to go,” said Furgeson, formerly the mayor of Shelbyville. “We’ve all been friendly throughout the whole campaign. We all think alike. The bottom line is, can they get it done?
“I know I can get it done. I’m not saying they can’t but I think we need to choose that way.”
While Furgeson has been mayor and Ridgeway was the Republican nominee four years ago, Finkel is a first-time candidate for mayor.
“I think that this whole affair is a natural progression for me,” said Finkel (photo), the director of the Strand Theatre in Shelbyville. “I have been in the public eye since 1991. I have done very difficult things and this is the next step and shame on me if I don’t do it. I am in a position in my life where I am able to do it. I have the skill to do it. And I have the knowledge and the experience.”
All three men are local businessmen. Ridgeway owns and operates Nuesound Hearing. Furgeson is the owner of Cagney’s Pizza King.
Early voting for the May 2 election starts Monday. Over the next three weeks, the candidates must convince voters that they are the right person to potentially lead the city.
“I’ve always been my own person. I’ve had my own business. I’ve done everything that is needed in city government in my own life,” said Finkel, who is currently a member of the city’s Board of Works and Public Safety and is a board member for Shelbyville Central Schools. “Fiscal spending is something that I am used to. When you have your own business, it’s out of your pocket. I do not drink the kool-aid of public funds.
“I don’t need any accolades or glory. The people in our city that deserve the glory are the people that are helping you as a citizen – whether it’s taking your trash or helping you with an emergency when you call 911.”
Furgeson is leaning heavily on his past experience as mayor.
“For me, I will hit the job running on day one because I’ve done that before,” said Furgeson, who currently is a member of the city’s Common Council. “I know from 20 years ago, it was overwhelming that first month because you are trying to get everything into place and trying to figure out what is going on. Already having that experience helps.
“I’m not saying not getting going within a month is a bad thing, but we need to get going right away. I plan on doing four years and if we can be successful, I plan on doing eight (years).”
Ridgeway (photo), a former common council member, believes he has a rock-solid plan to improve the city.
“I need to keep talking about my 10-point plan,” said Ridgeway. “It’s a common sense solution and it works. It’s a lot of good ideas that will do exactly what we’re talking about.”
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