Mayor Robert D. Coble has been in office for 20 years, since 1990. He has decided to retire as the mayor of Columbia, SC. There are many uncertainties the citizens of Columbia face from the economy to the local waterways issues. One of these issues involves the strong mayoral system that has been used in major cities throughout the country, and it is now being considered for Columbia. With the field wide open, they also have to choose a new mayor.
Among the race for the soon to be vacant mayoral seat is Sparkle Clark. Born and raised here Columbia, she attended the University of South Carolina (graduating with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies), Limestone College (where she graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Computer Science) and has been worked for the Postal Service for 28 years. A lover of the wildlife and a nature photographer, she is a member of the SC Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society, as well as the past co-chair of .
Ms Clark, thank you for taking the time to respond to this interview. I know it is getting down to the wire, and I am grateful you could spare the few minutes to answer some questions so the voters can get to know you a little better.
How long have you been a resident of the Columbia, SC area?
51 years, 10 months
What made you decide to run for the office of Mayor?
To lead Columbia in becoming the premiere city of the Southeast. A model of a Green city..clean air, clean water, with biking paths, hybrid busses, and solar energy. A city to vacation in without leaving the city limits.
Do you support the strong mayor form of government being proposed?
I am a leader regardless of what form of government. Let the people decide.
You state you want to cut the wasteful spending in the budget. Do you have any thoughts on where you would start, what specific areas do you think need to be cut?
I will examine every department to find any possible savings for our budget. We have over a 5 million dollar deficit. One goal is to protect city employees from having to sacrifice wages until our revenue projections increase. An example of wasteful spending is $150,000 for an efficiency study. Spending money without the audit reports was inexcusable. That won't happen on my watch. I have confidence in the current City Manager at this time. It is projected that we can be back on track within three years. That is a horrible price to pay for a few years of spending blindly.
How would you approach your "green" vision of Columbia?
Firstly, a stormwater/buffer ordinance must be enacted. This will keep our water clean. I will utilize the water and sewer fees to aggressively replace our aging infrastructure.
Secondly, the economic development plans need to be revised to include urban refilling, complete streets, and a transportation system with energy-efficient busses. Thirdly, we will integrate hybrid and crossover vehicles into our city fleet. Fourthly, I will encourage businesses to come to Columbia that can offer green jobs and services. An example would be solar panels.
We can partner with that company to offer discounts to our residents by offering a tax break. Government rebates can be included in the mix. In conclusion, we can have cleaner air, cleaner water and lower energy bills while reducing our carbon imprint. There are endless possibilities for Columbia. The time is now.
How do you feel about the media attention (or lack thereof) in your run for office?
Media is just a part of it. Most of the media have been wonderful in their coverage. My job is doing the footwork to meet and greet as many citizens as possible and to listen to them. Media coverage is a one-way street. I want to listen to the people and not just have them listen to me.
Is there one thing that maybe the citizens of Columbia should know about you, what would that be?
I see the world through my camera lens. A new perspective is what I bring to you.
If there was one thing you could say to voters before they head to the polls on April 6th, what would that be?
Let us begin our journey to a way of life of cleaner air, cleaner water and greener days ahead. Come walk with me.
Ms. Clark, again, thank you for taking the time to answer these few questions. Best of luck on April 6th. That is Sparkle Clark for Mayor of Columbia, SC. The election is April 6, 20120 and Ms Clark's campaign website is www.sparkleformayor.com.
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