Keystone candidates discuss deer, media, marketing

A Keystone Town Board candidate forum was held March 26 in Keystone. Nikki Ball, Matt Fullilove and Lynette Tyon fielded questions from town finance officer Samantha Epler as well as members of the community.

Each candidate was given time for an opening statement. Ball said she has been in Keystone since 1982 and moved here permanently 20 years ago. She has served on the library, historical society and senior center board as well as being the only person to volunteer for Bill Babcock’s town board seat when he resigned mid-term. 

“I like to do my homework before I make a decision on something,” Ball said, adding, “Keystone is my home.”

She said she would like to represent both businesses and residents. 

Fullilove, who has been in Keystone since 2011 and has previously served on the town board, took his opening statement time to paint a picture of his version of Keystone and the last election for trustees. He said the town is a train heading off course.

He questioned the validity of the last election, which was voided and redone due to ballot printing errors, saying that because it was held in May, versus April it was flooded with J-1s (a non-immigrant visa for individuals participating in exchange visitor programs.) He also claims there were non-residents  voting, calling the vote “fraud perpetrated by a couple of people” to get a “toxic majority.”

Fullilove said he is running due to complaints from citizenry, a lack of civility and bullying on the part of the current board president. 

“What’s really got the town upset is the lack of transparency and communication of the board,” Fullilove said. 

He said Keystone is “setting itself up for a lot of legal liability.”

Tyon was born and raised in Keystone and has served on the town board a couple of different times. 

“I’m here for the citizens. I feel I have Keystone’s best interests  at heart,” Tyon said. 

While each candidate listed infrastructure as a priority, Ball wants to also focus on the oversight of the marketing of the town.

Fullilove said his priority was communication and transparency. He was also concerned about the budget being slashed and wanted to seek out grants for outside funding. He repeatedly referred to Keystone needing a change in direction.

“We need a change of leadership. We need a change in direction. We have this fork in the road, and it’s just gonna get more and more dark,” he said.

Although not listed as his priorities, Fullilove also expressed his desire to cap vacation rentals and to “think about planning and zoning to take care of the T-shirt situation.”

Tyon also wants to focus on marketing but added, “We need to get along. We have events that happen throughout town we need to show up for.”

Audience members asked questions that focused on deer, marketing and social media.

Ball said that Keystone has always had a lot of deer. She appears in favor of an ordinance for deer feeding, saying, “I do think that we should have something where we can’t feed them  so many feet from the road.” 

Fullilove stated he was the individual who brought up the original deer ordinance. 

“It does need some kind of mitigation,” Fullilove said, calling it a 50-50 issue in town. His idea was to hold down deer populations  in certain areas and donate meat to disabled veterans.

Tyon said the town needed “something to mitigate feeding deer,” saying it is a very contentious discussion.

Ball said she would like to see the marketing of Keystone include businesses and organizations, including meeting times for nonprofits. 

It would, “help if we have a Facebook presence,” Ball said. 

She envisions print being used as well and some type of liaison between city and HomeSlice, the town’s current marketing agency. 

Fullilove asked for clarification to the current town marketing strategy after which he said he favored maybe two people being involved in drawing business to Keystone. He was also in favor of not having boundaries for marketing purposes. 

Tyon admitted she made a mistake when it came to the town’s current marketing strategy. 

“I thought it was going to be different than what it’s become,” she said. 

She is optimistic of having a marketing director to oversee things in the future. 

After some concerns over the Facebook Keystone Happenings page, each candidate was asked  by a business owner in town as to whether there should be a social media policy for the board and if board members should be held to a higher standard than other citizens. 

Ball responded that she doesn’t like social media. 

“I hold myself to a higher level when it comes to social media,” she said,  adding that people have a right to their personal opinions.

Fullilove was the only candidate who felt there should be a social media policy for the town board and that its members should be held to a higher standard. He referred to election interference and bullying of citizens that he said took place on the Keystone Happenings Facebook page while it was not listed as private as it is now. 

“I got kicked out of Keystone Happenings for not posting anything on Keystone Happenings…That’s not in the spirit of what we should do. Inappropriate, not ethical,” he said.

Tyon was not in favor of a social media policy for the  board, but said, “Business and politics just doesn’t go together.”

All three candidates said they support a Business Improvement District (BID).

Ball called herself fair and impartial, saying she would listen. 

“I will respect you. I will respect your opinion,” she said.

Fullilove said he will focus on drumming up business.

“I think Keystone is heading for dire straits, I really do,” he said. 

He described himself as pretty neutral, and said, “I honestly never had a conflict with anyone in the city.” 

Tyon said, “I do think there’s some things that the board needs to be more transparent on. I try to see both sides and make a fair decision.”

Keystone voters will be able to choose two people to serve as trustee for a three-year term. 

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 8.