Cole on the Banks

Q. Do you consider the Banks deal to be the city’s number one development priority and do you expect to support the deal the Banks Working Group has been negotiating? Does it matter to you if the deal is finished before or after Election Day?

A: Yes, I believe the Banks deal is very important and should be a key priority; this development will be a driving force in economic development for our city through increasing opportunities for our citizens and visitors. However we must work diligently to ensure that the citizen’s tax dollars are spent effectively and efficiently. I believe in letting the Working Group do the job we asked them to do, and I support giving them the flexibility to do so.

The election is not a driving force for me; I just want the deal completed and the bulldozers to move in.