GULF SHORES – Both candidates in the race for Place 2 on the Gulf Shores City Council say they don’t believe the city’s spring break alcohol ban will be as adverse on the local economy as the Panama City ban.

Kevin Corcoran and Gary Sinak, hopefuls in the only contested municipal post on Pleasure Island, gave opening statements and answered questions from the audience on Tuesday night at the Gulf Shores Cultural Center.

Gulf Shores banned alcohol on the beach on March 18 after consecutive days of unruly crowds of spring breakers massing on beaches. During the week of March 14-20 Gulf Shores police made 249 arrests.

Reginald Pulliam, a local insurance agent who says he has clients worried about losing business because of the ban, said Panama City reported lodging taxes were down 41 percent in 2016 versus 2015 numbers.

“I think the reason the decrease was so significant in the Florida panhandle is because they were already catering to that element,” Corcoran said. “They were already bringing in those young kids who were there for the beer bongs, the wet-T-shirt contests.

“That’s never been the element in Gulf Shores, that’s not the family atmosphere we present. I believe if we can get back to the family atmosphere that Gulf Shores stands for, then we won’t see a decrease like that.”

Both candidates agreed the ban, which is still on the books for March 1 through April 17 for next spring, was the right move by the city.

“Our spring breaks over the years have gotten bigger and a lot wilder,” Sinak, a Gulf Shores firefighter for 34 years, said. “I’ve had to work them. This last one here did get a little out of hand and I think the ban was the right thing to do.

“I don’t think it will affect our businesses as much as the others because we are more based on family atmosphere.”

Among other issues discussed were help for Baldwin County Schools with the overcrowding issue in Gulf Shores schools. All three are over the capacity they were built for and there are 11 portable trailers at Gulf Shores Elementary.

“People like to locate and bring their businesses and like to retire in very nice places and the school system provides a lot of that,” Sinak said. “It is important that we stand firm and do what we can to support our kids.”

Corcoran has worked on two task forces to find education solutions, first a countywide group, and now one supporting a Special Tax District for schools in the Gulf Shores High School feeder pattern.

“The current proposal of the special tax district is to pay in 3 mills, the equivalent of $69 for the average household annually in Gulf Shores,” Corcoran said. “Of that we keep all three and we’ll be able with a board of trustees of citizens just like yourselves to dictate how that money’s spent. And that’s the right solution right there. Education is our future.”

Sinak said he would support getting the 3-mill tax on the ballot for voters to decide the issue.

“I believe we need to support it and I think it will help our city in the long run,” Sinak said. “As far as raising the taxes I feel that should be left to a vote of the citizens. When it comes to your money, you should have the vote on where your money goes.”

Both candidates expressed support for better medical facilities and said there was a move afoot to move South Baldwin Regional Medical Center to the Foley Beach Express.

Other issues drawing support from both were more bicycle and pedestrian friendly access around the city, the Waterway Village District and keeping the Hangout Music Festival, but under a tight rein.

“I think we can craft the Hangout Festival to be the acceptable festival that we can live with here,” Corcoran said. “The economic impact in 2016 was $49.9 million. While I’m not a huge fan, but I believe if it’s managed properly, and they have a five-year contract, it deserves serious consideration if it comes up again.”

Sinak has viewed the festival from the inside serving with the fire department.

“I don’t have a problem with it myself, but it is something that has to be managed because there are a lot of drugs there,” Sinak said. “People come down there, mostly young people, and things do get out of hand.

“That’s two ends of the spectrums and sometimes you have to meet in the middle and find out what’s best for the city.”