ECU professor plans to improve road safety, parking if elected mayor

East Carolina University religious studies professor Calvin Mercer normally spends his days educating his students about the power of faith, but on Nov. 7, he’ll have to trust in the power of the voters to win the seat of mayor of Greenville.

For the upcoming election, Mercer, a current city council at-large member, said his involvement with the student community gives him a better understanding of issues they are invested in.

“As an educator, I get to talk to students all the time and I get to hear their concerns and understand their situations in regards to parking, housing and entertainment activities,” Mercer said. “We want our students to graduate from ECU and remain in the city working and participating in the life of our community.”

One issue crucial to the Mercer campaign is making Greenville more open and friendly to bicyclists.

“I’ve been a strong supporter of bicycle lanes and making our city easier to bike in,” Mercer said. “I’ve been a strong supporter for many years of the city’s bike and pedestrian commission which advocates for a bikeable city.”

Mercer said the city needs to work harder on enforcing safety at crosswalks.

“I am a professor at ECU and I workout at the rec center three times a week, so I go across the crosswalk at Cotanche Street three times a week,” Mercer said.

Mercer said his workout routine has helped him recognize the issues with crosswalks close to campus. Mercer said when he crosses the intersection next to the Student Recreation Center, he makes sure vehicles are aware they need to be stopping.

“I try to help train the cars that they have to stop at that crosswalk,” Mercer said. “I think that is something we need to work on. I have talked to our police chief about this and ways that we can better patrol those crosswalks.”

Student parking is one issue in this election and Mercer said he plans to address those concerns if elected.

“Parking problems in our center city is a sign that we are growing and that people want to come to our Uptown and eat at restaurants, shop and do recreational activities,” Mercer said.

Mercer added the city is in the process of evaluating the parking situation in Greenville to be able to make improvements, such as providing additional parking which will be convenient for both residents and students.

Mercer is one of two candidates running for mayor who are currently serving on the city council. Mercer said he believes his experience makes him more prepared to be mayor than his opponent, P.J Connelly, who represents District 5.

“I have been on the city council for ten years and I have represented the entire city for four years as the at-large representative,” Mercer said. “Connelly has been on the city council less than two years. There is a learning curve to be mayor. My experience will reduce my learning curve.”

Mercer said unlike Connelly, he has more widespread support from the residents of Greenville.

“I have broad support from businesses, students, the medical district, educators and I think a mayor needs to have that broad support,” Mercer said.

No matter who they vote for, Mercer wants students to know their political choices are important to Greenville.

“Students are a valuable part of our community and we want to make the city a wonderful place for students to live, study and remain after they graduate,” said, Mercer.