Wendy: Do you plan on revising city policies for emergency response? In reference to the recent poor weather causing a near city shut down, as well as the 'rash of crime' that happened while everyone was all cooped up.


Lois: The recent city-wide shutdown exposed our need for standing severe-weather emergency protocols. Ashdown is a city on the coast, and as the climate changes, we need to be prepared for more extreme weather. As Mayor, I will meet with law enforcement and community members to devise protocols for a wide number of emergency situations that may arise.

George: The current mayoral administration has cut the police department’s budget and reduced the size of the force. I would expand the size of the police department and increase the number of cops on the streets so that we are prepared to handle future emergencies.

Scott: So here’s the thing: what are we gonna do to fight the fog? If you can’t see where you’re going, the safest thing is to not go anywhere. We’ve got a pretty awesome blizzard and storm response setup, as Hurricane Sandy proved; it’s just that visibility sucked so bad with the fog. Anywhere would’ve shut down. I’d say we did alright on this most recent hashtag-fogpocalypse-2016. Though, maybe next time we’ll get cops and emergency responders to do a little bit more than trash pickup. Like, if you run out of milk, you know? Like, you pay the police bills, so… they should probably work for you. Wink wonk.

    Borr: What will you do to boost tourism business to the city?


Lois: Ashdown is a beautiful, historic town with miles of pristine beach and forest. My goal is to preserve and promote this historic beauty and encourage small local businesses to thrive, making Ashdown a truly unique part of the region.

George: I want to bring big businesses to Ashdown. As they say, if you build it, they will come, and we’re going to build a waterfront five-star hotel! As mayor, I will make Ashdown a regional destination for business travel and conferences, as well as an attractive gateway to the Boston Metropolitan area.

Scott: Ashdown’s awesome. I think we can all agree about that. I think following the model of other towns in the area with their Restaurant Weeks and their Fashion Weeks is a great idea, and I’ve already taken steps on my own as a citizen to ensure this through my support of S.P.A.C.E. and the college Fashion Week coming up this April 14th. Publicizing our great town so it looks a little less like every other truly unique city on the North Shore seems like the best route to me.

    Asiya: What is your take on the recent disappearances of Ashdown citizens, and how do you plan to increase safety so more people don't go missing?


Lois: As mayor, I will work with the staff at Waite State Forest to ensure that everyone can enjoy the park safely, and to ensure that local police have the resources they need when operating on public land. I also intend to increase services for at-risk youths, so that teenagers do not wind up on the streets in the first place.

George: We need a police presence in the State Forest. It’s dark. It’s huge. It’s unpatrolled, and it surrounds the whole damn town. There could be anything in there! We need surveillance, and we need it yesterday. I want the park service to start keeping detailed records of everyone who enters and leaves the park - no exceptions.

Scott: Okay, so, let’s not fill the historic old-growth forest with cops who are gonna like, stomp all over the plants, and stuff. And… let’s… also not ignore that none of the missing teens were actually considered at-risk? Adoelle was a model student, she sat in a few of my classes, cool kid. Michael was there too but like, he wasn’t super talkative. Bad things happen sometimes, we can’t prevent it, as I’m sure Lieutenant Mercer would agree. But like, it could be useful to put some rules in place so cops don’t go wandering into the forest without radio equipment. Cell phones cut out all the time, my bro.

    To all the candidates- What will you do about the encroaching urban expansion that threatens the wild-lings? They've already started harassing my neighbor Sycamore's cat Rasputin.



Lois: While I’m not so sure about the existence of Wildlings, I am very concerned about the impact of Ashdown’s population growth on the environment. As mayor, I would instate strict environmental guidelines for all future construction in Ashdown, as well as create incentives for bringing current buildings up to code. I support the expansion of public parkland, and the creation of new playgrounds and community gardens on undeveloped lots, and will create programs to encourage the development of eco-friendly spaces and the preservation of Ashdown’s natural beauty.

George: What are you talking about? Are you high…? Next question.

Scott: Maybe Rasputin needs to stop loving on the Russian queen. (I’m talking about you, Spektor.) (Stop trying to get your dog to eat my cat.) There was a cat who really was wild.

Okay but real talk, I think as long as the city remains firm on not selling off existing greenspace, we’ll be alright. The wildlings have plenty of space in Waite State, and they just need to stop going to war against our feline overlords. If they would only live in peace with their neighbors, all will be well.

    Cid: A very serious question to all candidates. What are your thoughts on the inclusion of potential masked superheroes as part of a way to look after the city in light of all the recent events?


Lois: I am open to meeting with any and all masked crusaders and will investigate the logistics of installing a bat-signal on the roof of city hall.

George: No. What the ******** are you on?

Scott: Obviously, yes, this would be an excellent idea. I would want to make sure that all of our superheroic protectors have proper training before they began to patrol the streets, but that could be accomplished with a youtube video of sweet nunchuck tricks.

(He flashes a thumbs-up at Cid on the far side of his podium.)

    Nasir: (for Scott) In regards to discussing the expansion of the arts, does this include the culinary arts as well?


Scott: Hell yes it does! Food art is one of the most important arts. Where paintings and sculptures feed our brains and our human desire for contact and stimulation, food feeds our tummies and keeps us alive. I am one hundred percent here for Restaurant Week and would hells of support whatever contests and showcases the culinary community can come up with. Also, like, imagine if we could have an Ashdown version of Chopped using local ingredients. That’d be so awesome.

    Eve: Where does your platform stand on accessibility and advancing disability rights in town? Will you be taking steps to ensure facilities such as single-stall bathrooms comply with ADA requirements?


Lois: As part of my building code reform, I will require that all new construction in Ashdown comply with the ADA’s accessibility requirements. I will also incentivize retrofitting older buildings through the same tax credit program as the environmental standards. That includes restroom accessibility - all businesses will be required to have restrooms that meet the ADA’s standards. I will also have the city conduct a full survey of its sidewalks to determine where repaving and additional wheelchair ramps are necessary.

George: Obviously I want all city buildings to comply with the ADA’s requirements, but we can’t tell people what to do on private property - same reason I’m not getting involved in this bathroom business. I’m not gonna tell anyone what they can and can’t put on the doors of their restrooms. However, the sidewalk repairs have needed to be done for years - it’s just good business. So I’d be making sure that gets done.

Scott: Doesn’t state law already require compliance with ADA requirements? I remember reading a bunch of this stuff in 2009 when I was doing my master’s degree and on the student government board, the whole problem was like, we were looking at renting out a space that wouldn’t have been accessible and we had to decide if we wanted to rent that space and update it or, you know… build new space on college grounds. I probably sound like a huge idiot, but yeah, if a place has a public restroom it should definitely meet ADA standards in single stalls. And duh on the sidewalk repairs, Anna scraped a knee tripping over one of those a few weeks back.