Candidates for Bloomington City Council spoke at a forum Wednesday night. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington City Council candidates stepped into the spotlight Wednesday night for a candidate’s forum at the Laborer's Local 362 Hall.

Five of the city's wards are up for election in April.

Amelia Buragas and Jeremy Kelley are vying for Ward 4 alderman. Buragas said she will not support right to work zones.

"I do not believe that they are good for our community and I do not believe that they will work for McLean County of the State of Illinois," Buragas said.

Kelley had a slightly different view. He saw both sides of the argument.

"I think ultimately that the right to work issue is something that we should talk about, debate, and then, if it comes to it, have a vote in the community," Kelley said.

In Ward 5, Lupe Diaz is challenging incumbent Joni Painter.

Diaz believed good infrastructure and low taxes is what creates a high quality of life.

"Instead of expanding the zoo and building hotels, we need to accelerate the repairs to our streets and sewers," said Diaz. "Which will provide good paying, middle class jobs."

Painter said cities with high quality of life have higher bond ratings.

"It also encourages new business start ups because people want to live and work in nice communities," said Painter. "And young people want to stay in communities that have a lot to offer them."

Ward 8 features a battler between incumbent Diana Hauman and Alton Franklin. The two agreed right to works zones are a bad idea.

Franklin said he's always been a big supporter of unions.

"My parents divorced when I was 15-years-old. At the ripe old age of 16, I was helping mama," said Franklin. "I went to work as a grocery bagger, joined RCIA Local 313, and a finer group of folks I never knew in my life."

Hauman said she would oppose any effort to establish a right to work zone in Bloomington.

"I view such attempts to eliminate the power of collective bargaining and I would consider right to work zones to be both bad for our economy, and also for our community as a whole," Hauman said.

Incumbent David Sage is unopposed in the election for Ward 2. Incumbent Karen Schmidt is also unopposed in the Ward 6 election.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].