The Columbus-Lowndes Political Action Committee showed its giving side and offered to provide up to $3,000 for travel expenses for the three out-of-town finalists for Columbus police chief.
The out-of-town candidates are Nathaniel Clark of Albany, Ga.; Curtis Brame of North Chicago, Ill.; and Robert Spinks of Sequim, Wash. They live a combined 3,611 miles from Columbus, 60 hours of driving in total, and Spinks lives 2,551 miles away.
The only local finalist is interim Columbus Police Chief Selvain McQueen.
CLOPAC board member Jimmy Galloway said the one provision is that the interviews be televised to the public.
“We want to make certain that all candidates are given an equal opportunity,” Galloway said via telephone.
Mayor Robert Smith said CLOPAC’s request falls in line with the city’s plans for the interviews.
“We were going to televise them anyway,” Smith said. “I want to televise them, and they are open to the public.”
The group started discussions Tuesday and voted on the matter Wednesday. CLOPAC’s mission is to promote fiscally responsible government, including the encouragement of well-qualified candidates to seek office.
The city cannot, by law, directly help pay for candidates’ travel expenses. City Attorney Jeff Turnage previously said it is considered “an unlawful donation.”
However, with CLOPAC’s generosity, the out-of-town candidates can avoid most, if not all, of the expenses of a long-distance trip. Smith is thankful for the group’s support.
“We want to graciously thank CLOPAC for their cooperation and participation in the process,” Smith said.
The mayor previously said the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link and local businesses were his targets to ask for help.
“We are still sending a letter to the Link,” he said, noting he believes CLOPAC’s help is enough but if more is needed, the city will look for additional funds.
Link CEO Joe Higgins previously said that, if asked, the board would consider helping the city with the travel expenses but did not seem optimistic about the idea.
Link Vice President Melissa Cook was one of the 21 committee members and one of the five subcommittee members, but she withdrew from the subcommittee due to the Link’s belief that the process was “flawed.”
According to Smith, the city appropriated $100,000 to the Link this fiscal year.
“I was disappointed in the statement that (Higgins) made that the process was flawed and he said he thinks the Link would not participate,” Smith said.
Date set for interviews
City officials have set a date for the interviews, Smith said.
The Columbus City Council will conduct interviews with the four finalists Dec. 8 beginning at 4 p.m. in the Columbus Municipal Complex.
“It will be (45 to 60 minutes) for each candidate,” Smith said, noting the four finalists have been informed of the interview date.
Smith declined to offer any specifics about how the interviews will be conducted, including what order the candidates will be interviewed.
Commercial-Dispatch Publisher Birney Imes contributed to this story.
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