Reno for Ward 6 seat

In Tuesday's race for the Ward 6 seat on the Rock Hill City Council, we endorse incumbent Jim Reno.

This is the only contested race in this year's city election. Reno, who has served on the council since 1998, is opposed by Hugh Haynsworth, a cook at the Rock City Tavern who is running for public office for the first time.

Reno has been a consistent moderate-conservative vote on the council, voting with fellow conservative Councilman Kevin Sutton on many occasions. Both opposed a citywide smoking ban and voted against using bed tax money a public art project at the water treatment plant. The full council later backed away from funding the water plant art.

Reno and Sutton also had early misgivings about the velodrome plan for the Riverwalk project at the former Celanese plant, but Reno now supports an expanded plan that includes other recreational sites along with the velodrome.

We have disagreed with several positions taken by Reno, notably his opposition to the smoking ban. But we believe he brings a thoughtful and low-key approach to decision making on the council and a commitment to what he perceives to be the welfare of the constituents he serves.

Haynsworth, by contrast, appears to have little to offer in terms of experience or new ideas. His platform consists almost entirely of a proposal to introduce a micro-loan program to encourage creation of small businesses and to increase maintenance on city water and sewer lines.

Haynsworth, 50, is a self-described �libertarian-Republican� who is dedicated to shrinking government involvement in people's lives. He also opposed the smoking ban, saying it is an intrusion on the rights of business owners. He said his hands-off approach to government also would include ending mandatory closing times for restaurants and bars.

We think city government has a larger role to play in protecting people's welfare, sponsoring cultural activities, encouraging development and maintaining vital infrastructure needs that falls well outside Haynsworth's narrow concept of the responsibilities of city government. We think he would be an impediment to progress on the council.

While Reno is a conservative, he embraces the broader role of city government as an instrument of enhancing the community's quality of life. Though he initially had doubts about the velodrome, he said now likes the way the Riverwalk project is going. He also hopes for progress on the Textile Corridor redevelopment, although a number of obstacles remain. If necessary, he said, the city might have to consider a �take it or leave it� offer for owners to get the former Bleachery site cleaned up.

Reno also hopes to see improvements along the Saluda Street corridor, though he also sees obstacles to that effort. Infrastructure improvements and rezoning alone have failed to attract significant private investment, he said. The city might have to become more actively involved, he said, in seeking ways to encourage new businesses, including a grocery store, to move into the neighborhood.

Reno would like to alleviate the problem of trains blocking major downtown intersections but is skeptical about a plan to extend rail yards into the Aragon Mill neighborhood. He believes the city should improve the dangerous crossing in the neighborhood, but doesn't want access out of the neighborhood impaired.

Reno states that he is �not combative.� Rather, as a reasonable counterpoint to the majority on council, Reno says he can play a useful role in shaping the council's agenda.

Reno, we think, would increase his effectiveness if he would work harder at communicating his point of view and explaining his positions to the public. In this race, however, Reno clearly is the better candidate.