In Carmel debate, Brainard, Sharp agree on human rights but little else

In a mayoral debate Wednesday, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and challenger Rick Sharp said they would support enacting a human rights ordinance to protect against discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Brainard and Sharp also said the state's "freedom of religion" law needs to be fixed to ensure it does not allow discrimination.

"Growing up in a little town in Indiana, one of the first things we were taught as kids was that you treat everyone fairly and equally," Brainard said.

"I think he stated it well," Sharp said. "I abhor discrimination in any form."

The moment of agreement was fleeting. Brainard and Sharp found little else in common during the 90-minute debate sponsored by The Indianapolis Star at the Carmel library.

They disagreed on whether the city had accrued too much debt during its massive redevelopment. They disagreed on how the city should move forward with development deals. They even disagreed on how much cash Carmel owes.

Brainard wants a sixth term to continue his vision to redevelop the city, including finishing City Center, starting Midtown and building a roundabout-style interchange at 96th Street and Keystone Avenue.

He wants to continue to offer tax incentives to build infrastructure such as parking garages to spur development, saying the city easily makes money by increasing its property tax base.

He thinks he can find funding, perhaps applying for federal or state funds, to build the interchange on Keystone.

He says the city has low taxes and an excellent credit rating, is safe, can pay off its debt without raising taxes and has a bright future. "Anyone who thinks I would jeopardize that is sadly mistaken," he said.

"For those who are trying to alarm Carmel with fuzzy facts about our financial stability, I say look around," Brainard said. "What we are doing in Carmel is working."

Sharp, the City Council president, has served on the council for 12 years. He believes Carmel needs to rethink how aggressively the city offers tax incentives for developers.

He believes Carmel can attract development on its own merits.

"What I find to be disturbing is we are the wealthiest demographic in the state of Indiana," Sharp said, "... and yet we are subsidizing developers to come to Carmel and build."

Sharp said the mayor has moved forward, often with little transparency, with development projects that often have escalated in cost, including the Palladium and reconstruction of Keystone Avenue.

He also noted the city has no federal, state or local funding available for a roundabout-style interchange at 96th and Keystone, calling it a meaningless election year promise. It was turned down for a federal grant and isn't in the pipeline for state funding. Carmel, he says, is maxed out on debt.

Sharp said it should be concerning to residents that the city owes about $1 billion, or, he said, nearly $12,000 per capita. He said that's the second highest in the state behind Evansville and far behind Indianapolis at $1,000 per capita.

Sharp said he has serious concerns about the fiscal management of the city. Carmel needs to stop spending money, he said.

"My concern is our ability to continue to move the city forward as opposed to being forced to retrench," Sharp said, "because sooner or later it catches up with you."

Brainard, though, said the city owes $550 million. Sharp's higher debt figure includes interest.

Brainard said the average person pays about $10 a year in property taxes toward debt, pulling a $10 bill out and offering it to Sharp, who accused him of theatrics.

Brainard said debt seems to come up every four years during the election, but the city seems to be doing fine otherwise.

"Our shared vision for this community is working," Brainard said. "We're not only not in bad financial shape. We're in great financial shape."

Two different points of view. Little room for agreement. Who is right?

Voters will have their say May 5 in the Republican primary.

Call Star reporter Chris Sikich at (317) 444-6036. Follow him on Twitter:@ChrisSikich.