Corbin Mayor’s Race: Razmus wants Corbin to be tourism hotspot

Corbin businesswoman Suzie Razmus is seeking to return to local government as Corbin’s next mayor.

“I love our town. I think of this as public service,” said Razmus, whose family owns Tri-County Cineplex. “I was raised by parents that believed very strongly in public service and doing what you can to help your fellow citizens.”

Razmus, who previously served on the city commission, said she has a number of projects, large and small, that she believes would improve Corbin.

“I would like to see some improvements downtown to the infrastructure and signage to make it more user friendly,” Razmus said explaining the city paid for the street scaping and wayfinding study, but has yet to move forward with any of the proposals.

Among the priorites for Razmus would be signage leading to the city’s public parking lots on Depot Street.

“It is confusing, especially for people from out of town, because when you see those lots you don’t know if the are public or private,” Razmus said.

Razmus said she would also like to tackle the ongoing issue concerning potential expansion into Laurel County to Exit 29.

Under current state law, a city may only annex property in a county in which it was chartered. Corbin was chartered in Knox and Whitley counties.

In order to permit the annexation, the state law must be amended. Multiple attempts have been made by the legislature, but it has, so far, been unsuccessful.

“We have got to get that conversation started,” Razmus said.

While the recruitment of new business and industry in the area is a priority, Razmus said the communities throughout the tri-county area, including, Corbin, Barbourville, London and Williamsburg, must take a more regional approach.

“I have seen some movement toward regionalization, but it is something we all need to work on,” Razmus said. “Corbin is the center of the tri-county area. Because of that, I feel like we need to be leaders in this movement.”

In addition, Razmus said Cumberland Falls, Laurel Lake, the original KFC, and The Arena, along with the proposed railroad museum and horse track, give Corbin a variety of drawing cards in the tourism industry.

As such, she doesn’t see why Corbin cannot become a tourism destination.

“I think people are looking for authentic towns with a history. We are so close to so much natural beauty and we are strategically placed along I-75, making us easy to get to,” Razmus said. “Things like KFC and Cumberland Falls pull people into the area. It is our job to show them everything else we have to offer by properly marketing it.”

Razmus said tourism is another area where the various communities need to be thinking regionally.

Razmus said it is a combination of traditional business and industry along with tourism business opportunities that will provide the economic future for the people of Corbin.

While those outside of the area may be saying that people in the area need to move because the coal has dried up, Razmus said she firmly believes Corbin and Southeastern Kentucky have too much to offer.

“You don’t know what you have here until you and get out into the world. Corbin and the mountains are in my blood. It is my home,” Razmus said.

“I humbly ask everyone for their vote. God willing, I will do my very best to move Corbin forward,” she said.