Four individuals joined the City Commission race on the day of the filing deadline last week, bringing the total number of candidates to 16. Job growth and looking out for the future generations were common themes among their platforms.
Deirdre Carbon graduated from Owensboro High School in 1979 and has worked at Owensboro’s MPD for the last 32 years. A mother to two children and grandmother to seven grandchildren, Carbon attends Center Street Baptist Church and has lived in Owensboro all her life.
“The reason I am running is because I believe it’s my civic duty to do what I can to uplift Owensboro,” she said. “It’s time for someone to help our next generation take over in the near future. Our teens and young adults need a place to go to hang out without getting into trouble.”
Carbon said she wants to help create new jobs in Owensboro and give residents a sense of pride about their community. She also believes areas other than KY 54 should be focused on for development.
“Build our mall back, bring entertainment for all races,” she said. “It all starts with us. Rebuilding what has been torn down. We are all working people, and we need to work together for the good of our city.”
Mark Castlen has lived in Owensboro his whole life and grew up with 12 siblings. He has four children of his own, as well as six grandchildren. Castlen sold real estate for five years before spending the next 40 years working at UPS.
Castlen said his main focuses for the City of Owensboro include addressing flooding issues, bringing more jobs to the community and helping cultivate a successful environment for the youth of Owensboro.
“I’m concerned about the lack of activities for the teens and young adults in our city. I believe they are our future and are currently ignored and forgotten at an impressionable age when they need the most help,” he said.
Castlen also said he is concerned about racial division in the City. As the grandfather of two black grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, he said he would like to bring the city together in “unity of peace and care for all people, regardless of race or orientation.”
Andy Gamblin has worked at Owensboro Public Schools for 20 years and currently serves as a bus monitor for the district. A member of Southside Fellowship Church, Gamblin has thrown his hat in the ring in past City Commission elections and has been involved in politics for some time.
“I’m concerned about our city. When they spend $80,000 of our taxpayer money on a consultant to try and get people to move downtown, I think that’s wrong,” he said. “We vote for our mayor and city commissioners. They should be the ones to get out and find out how to get people to move downtown.”
Gamblin said he’s against monopolizing one contracting company to do construction projects around the City and believes city commissioners should reach out to other companies, as well as unions.
“Downtown and KY 54 are great, but we need to take care of all of Owensboro, and I don’t see that happening,” Gamblin said. “We need to bring in higher-paying jobs and cut taxes if we can.”
Bill Moss could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts.
These candidates join incumbents Larry Maglinger and Jeff Sanford, as well as Bob Glenn, Deanna Endicott-Smith, Mike Walker, Walter Lee, Deborah Fillman, Dale Taylor, Gordon Wilcher, Joseph Martin, Jay Velotta and Jared Revlett.
There are only four seats available. There is no primary for the race, and the general election is Nov. 3.
