Though he is one of four candidates vying for two contested seats on the Hiram City Council, Stephen Bray was the sole candidate from Hiram present at Tuesday’s candidate forum.

Bray led off the forum, which was held at the Dallas Theater and put on by the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce. The first question posed to Bray, appropriately enough, was “What motivated you to run for public office?”

“More than anything, I really do feel like the council needs to be unified in trying to bring in new business to the city,” Bray said. “We’re seeing businesses leave, we need to get new tax incentives in, give temporary relief for start-up costs for businesses to come to Hiram.”

The other question posed to Bray asked for his plan for economic development in Hiram. Bray answered that the biggest key for such development is infrastructure.

“We have to have what the businesses need to come here. We need to work specifically on the septic and sewer system—I believe that’s one of the problems that is stifling business in downtown Hiram. [Fixing that] will allow businesses to expand,” he said.

See more of Bray’s comments from the forum, as well as his opening statement, in the two attached videos.

Bray is facing Prather “Pep” Rollins for Hiram’s Post 1 council seat. Rollins is the husband of former Hiram Mayor Carmen Rollins, who resigned earlier this year.

Neither candidate for the city’s Post 2 council seat—Kathy Bookout and incumbent Helena Williams—were in attendance at Tuesday’s forum.

Also on the Nov. 8 ballot is the office of mayor, though Jack Paris, currently serving the remainder of Carmen Rollins’ unexpired mayoral term, is facing no other formal or write-in candidates.