From left to right, Bloomington Ward 4 candidates Amelia Buragas, Don "Chip" Frank and Jeremy Kelley stand on stage at the Hanson Student Center on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus Tuesday night. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Three Bloomington City Council candidates offered different opinions when it comes to the city's finances during a debate between Ward 4 candidates. The debate was held at Illinois Wesleyan University Tuesday night.

Insurance agency owner Chip Frank says the council should look for cuts from within city government.

"We need to look at those (departments) and see if there's ways that we can reduce expenses by having some more part-time people, maybe some volunteers, maybe some interns, to help out with some of those city functions," Frank said.

Attorney Amelia Buragas wants a well-funded Community Development Department.

"This is one area where cutting actually costs us more money in the long run," Buragas said. "Quality code enforcement will help us avoid building problems and it's also, unfortunately, a source of revenue."

Public Policy Analyst Jeremy Kelley wants to overhaul management of the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

"I feel like we need to put that contract up for bid and try to get a company in that's going to drive people coming in from the region or other cities down to the U.S. Cellular (Coliseum) so that it can have that spillover effect and raise all tides," Kelley said.

Two other candidates, Ron Schultz and write-in candidate Dan Metz, were unable to attend Tuesday's debate at Illinois Wesleyan University due to scheduling conflicts, according to debate co-moderator and IWU College Democrats President Brexton Isaacs. IWU College Democrats, IWU College Republicans and political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha hosted the debate.

The primary election is Feb. 24, and the top two candidates will advance to the municipal election April 7.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].