Residents of Urbana will be able to vote for Urbana’s next mayor in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election. The Daily Illini editorial board met Wednesday with two of the candidates – Laurel Prussing and Tod Satterthwaite. Shirley Hursey, a former human relations commission member, is also in the race. We decided not to endorse any candidate, but instead present our views on the pros and cons of Prussing and Satterthwaite.

Prussing

Pros:

Prussing is backed by the majority of the Urbana City Council. In fact, Prussing claims that every council member except Joe Whelan, the lone Republican council member, endorses her for mayor and said as much Wednesday – “the only one supporting Todd Satterthwaite is Todd Satterthwaite.”

As an Illinois state representative, Champaign County auditor and Champaign County board member, Prussing has had years and positions of experience in working with administration and government.

As someone who has never been on the Urbana City Council, Prussing could be the new blood that Urbana needs. She is the fresh face that could address the city’s economic stagnation.

Prussing seems to have student interests at heart. She talked about how she worked against the proposed at-large seats on the Urbana City Council last year, which she said would have diluted student influence on the council. She also said she was against raising the Urbana underage drinking fine to match Champaign’s $280.

If elected, her game plan for Urbana includes increasing economic development. With her background and degrees in economics, she has the experience needed to make this a reality.

Cons:

Prussing did not seem to have too many concrete answers when we interviewed her – instead, she only spoke in generalities. If she wants to be mayor, she better start doing her research and fast.

Prussing, despite her years of experience, has never worked at a city level. She may find that the difference between county and city levels is astoundingly different.

A lot of her campaign is centered around attacking Satterthwaite and his policies instead of proposing actual changes in detail. It almost seems as if she lacks a passion for Urbana itself, and is more interested in seeing Satterthwaite removed from office. The new mayor of Urbana better be able to deliver to this economically depressed area – not just spout empty rhetoric.

Satterthwaite

Pros:

Satterthwaite has been on the job for three terms already. He was elected mayor in 1993 and has a wealth of experience in dealing with the climate and politics surrounding Urbana.

He also has concrete examples of events and statistics during his term. When pressed for details, Satterthwaite not only knew the ins and outs of Urbana, but he had specific ideas as to how he planned to develop it.

He has Urbana interests at heart. Satterthwaite talked about butting heads with the University to make sure the city received its proper dues and this shows his passion for Urbana and for making sure the city gets what it deserves.

Satterthwaite also has concrete ideas with what he wants to do with the tenant landlord registration situation. He wants to pay for a new inspector so that the city can enforce codes regularly as opposed to the current seven-year cycle the one inspector goes through now.

Cons:

He has two people running against him, and most of the Urbana City Council does not endorse him. This is not a good sign for an incumbent official and points to some mismanagement and lack of interpersonal skills on his part.

He does not really seem to put student interests first. His proposals and ideas don’t address students’ needs.

The rumors about his quick temper and the complaints about bullying portray a particularly ugly side of his character that may or may not exist. The new mayor of Urbana should be known for friendliness and a willingness to listen – not for temper tantrums and character flaws.