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REIDSVILLE — Reidsville has come a long way in rebounding from the collapse of its signature tobacco industry, and the candidates for City Council say they have ideas to keep that momentum going.

Jobs, better parks and recreational facilities, and support for the city’s youth are on the minds of the six candidates seeking the two at-large seats. None of the candidates has previously held office.

Election Day in Reidsville is Oct. 6. To hear more about what the candidates have to say on the issues, attend the candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce, 513 S. Main St.

Tom Balsley

Balsley, a 65-year-old retired human resources manager is on the board of Rockingham County Cooperative Extension, Help for the Homeless, Help Inc. and the county Partnership for Children. He says this experience will translate well onto the City Council.

“I know how boards work. I know how committees work. I just feel that the City Council is a lot like that. It’s a board that oversees the policymaking of the town and oversees how things are done.”

Balsley said his only agenda is to see Reidsville continue to progress. The work that has been done to revitalize the downtown and other areas will go a long way in attracting more people to live and work here, he said.

“I feel like we’re going in a good direction, and I just want to see us continue.”

Roger Hayes

Hayes is the 63-year-old owner of Hayes Carpet in downtown Reidsville. He is co-chairman of the Downtown Merchants Association and is a member of the Reidsville Downtown Corp. board.

Hayes said he wants to focus on developing more activities for young people. “In Reidsville, really, there is nothing for children to do,” he said.

He said the city has areas available for a skate park and other activities for children.

While Hayes said city leaders have done a good job recruiting businesses downtown, he’d like to see remaining empty storefronts filled. “We still have a little ways to go downtown, but it’s getting there.” He also said he’d like to see some of the improvements made downtown spread across the city.

Although he hates incentives, Hayes said offering more of them might be one way to attract more industry. “You have to offer a little to get a little.”

Caldwell “Bubba” Hobbs III

Hobbs, a 61-year-old retired postal employee, said he gave two council incumbents a good challenge two years ago.

If elected, Hobbs said he will focus on sprucing up the city’s parks and playgrounds. He said some, such as Jaycee Park, are in bad shape. There also are neighborhood play areas that could use some remodeling, he said.

Hobbs said residents can expect him to be fair, impartial and trustworthy. “I listen, and I would do what the residents want done, not necessarily what I want done.”

Richard Johnson

Johnson said he wants to help the city’s youth. The 36-year-old is a juvenile counselor technician in Guilford County. He is also involved with a gang prevention program through his job.

Johnson mentors children at his church, West End Baptist. “Whatever the youth need me to do I do, even ... singing in the choir with them,” he said.

Johnson said he plans to work closely with the parks and recreation department to reach more children. He said the department and its Teen Center do an excellent job for kids, but could do even more with additional resources.

Johnson said Reidsville sits between two major hubs — Greensboro and Danville, Va. — and should be a more formidable opponent when it comes to recruiting business and industry.

One way to make it so, he said, is to be more open to small businesses and support the work force by giving them the educational tools they need to improve their skills.

Terresia Scoble

Scoble, 54, said the solution to the city’s job problem does not lie with large industries. What the city should do, she said, is concentrate on recruiting 25 small businesses that will each employ four people. Those people would likely live in Reidsville and spend their money here, she said.

“Small businesses, they tend to stay around a long time,” said Scoble, owner of a company that makes pet-grooming equipment. “I think our answer is to encourage small business growth and build our community that way.”

Scoble is the chairwoman of the Reidsville Appearance Commission. She said the city’s appearance is about more than just flowers and trees and includes the condition of streets and buildings, and whether the city is considered friendly.

Scoble said she’s concerned about increasing residents’ pride in the city, and how the city is perceived by visitors and prospective businesses.

Jeffrey Sykes

Sykes is a 38-year-old former newspaper editor and current administrator with Remancenter in Reidsville. Sykes said he wants to improve residents’ quality of life by providing more recreational opportunities. He also wants more government transparency.

“We have to make Reidsville into a vibrant city that people will want to move to, raise their family in, shop in our stores, send their kids to our schools,” he said. The efforts downtown have been a good first step, Sykes said, but he wants to see those efforts occur elsewhere in the city.

Sykes said he wants to get a discussion going about bringing a municipal pool to Reidsville. He also wants to focus on maintaining and upgrading parks and playgrounds.

“The parks can be either a huge plus for a locality, or they can just be seen as part of the decline of a community.”

Other recreational facilities, such as the senior center also need of attention, he said.

Sykes said he’s spoken to residents who have complained about a lack of responsiveness from city officials. He said residents can expect transparency and openness if he is elected.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com