Arguing that incumbent Greg Fischer has failed the city in critical ways, Jackie Green will again running for Louisville Metro mayor.Green, a 61-year-old transportation activist and small business owner, will enter the race as an independent. Fischer, a Democrat, and Republican Robert Devore are the only candidates who filed for the May primary.Green also ran for mayor in 2010—that year, he pulled his candidacy soon before the election and endorsed Fischer, the Democrat. He was accused of dropping out of the race under an assumption he would get a job in Fischer’s administration.Green denies ever talking with Fischer’s staff about any job, and now he says the mayor's vision for Louisville is wrong.“While he’s made some great administrative and business decisions, in other critical areas he’s failed Louisville,” he says.Green says Fischer is too focused on a super-region that includes cities to build Louisville’s economy. He criticizes Fischer for not investing enough in the West End, though Fischer has some initiatives in place to address problems like vacant housing and crime.“The West End will define the failures of the East End. Investment for 50, 60 years has been going eastward. Why are we doing this to our city," Green says.In an interview with WFPL, Green says the following are Fischer's "failures":
- Too much East End investment and not enough West End investment
- Green criticizes Fischer for pursuing a Local Option Sales Tax
- Too much attention on developing a super-region and not enough concentration on Louisville itself
- Not enough attention to public transportation
WFPL has placed a call to a Fischer's campaign spokesperson for comment.UPDATE: 3:47 pm: Through a campaign spokesperson, Fischer says: "It's an honor to be Mayor. My team and I will continue working hard to grow jobs and opportunities for all the people of Louisville."
