Forget Clinton vs. Trump, what about Five Points vs. the Vista?

In such a contentious election, disagreements and side-taking abound. No, we’re not about to get political in Go Columbia, but we are getting swept up in the spirit of heated debate.

In hope of lessening some of the political fatigue heading into Nov. 8, we spoke with Columbia politicians and community leaders on light yet contentious topics such as which entertainment district they liked best, Five Points or the Vista (or Main Street as a write-in)? One Congressional candidate even said it was the hardest interview of his campaign so far. Feel free to chip in, disagree and maybe even sling a little mud. It’s election season, after all.

Who we talked to

S.C. Sen. Joel Lourie

Arik Bjorn, Green Party and Democratic candidate for U.S. House District 2

S.C. Rep. Kirkman Finlay

Tyler Gregg, Democratic candidate for S.C. House District 75 (challenging Finlay)

Jaime Harrison, chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party

Matt Moore, chairman of the S.C. Republican Party

Richland County Councilman Seth Rose, D-District 5

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin

Columbia Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott

USC student body president Michael Parks

Former Mayor Bob Coble

S.C. Rep. Todd Rutherford

Former S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers

Note: Not all categories add up to 100 percent. Participants sometimes chose a write-in or to abstain.

Five Points vs. the Vista

29%, 43%

Votes for Five Points: Gregg, Finlay, Rose, Sellers

Votes for the Vista: Lourie, Bjorn, Harrison, Moore, Lott, Rutherford

What they said:

Lourie: “I’m a Forest Acres guy. We tend to rotate through three restaurants near where I live quite often.”

Finlay: “Even though my father (the late Mayor Kirkman Finlay Jr.) is widely credited for creating the Vista, I’ve got a restaurant in Five Points – Pawleys Front Porch – so I gotta go Five Points.”

Rose: “Both are excellent, but Five Points is walking distance from my house, and my family enjoys having breakfast at the Gourmet Shop. My children also enjoy visiting the fountains and getting a gelato at Scoopy Doo’s.”

Benjamin: “I’m waiting for the comet circular to come that’s going to allow me to enjoy both in the same evening.”

Devine: “Depends on what I’m craving at the time.”

Lott: “If you’d asked me 40 years ago, I would have said Five Points.”

Coble: “The same. I invested equal amounts of blood, sweat and tears into both.”

Parks wrote in Main Street. “I love the new energy that’s coming. It’s fun growing up in Columbia and seeing how Main Street has evolved in the past five to 10 years.”

Sellers: “I just got married a year ago, but before that, it was Five Points.”

St. Pat’s in Five Points vs. Famously Hot New Year

64%, 36%

Votes for St. Pat’s: Bjorn, Gregg, Finlay, Rose, Lott, Parks, Coble, Rutherford, Sellers

Votes for Famously Hot: Lourie, Harrison, Moore, Benjamin, Devine

What they said:

Lourie picked Famously Hot, but his initial response was neither – he said he’s too old for both.

Benjamin: “I love them both, but Famously Hot is my baby. St. Pat’s during the day and Famously Hot New Year’s at night.”

Devine: “My kids love the carnival portion.”

Coble: “I’m too old to stay up for Famously Hot.”

Drip vs. Starbucks

71%, 29%

Votes for Drip: Bjorn, Gregg, Finlay, Moore, Rose, Benjamin, Devine, Parks, Rutherford, Sellers

Votes for Starbucks: Lourie, Harrison, Lott, Doble

What they said:

Benjamin: “Always go local.”

Rutherford: “Their french toast. That would be why Drip is better.”

Riverwalk vs. Riverfront Park

43%, 50%

Votes for Riverwalk: Lourie, Bjorn, Gregg, Harrison, Rose, Rutherford

Votes for Riverfront Park: Finlay, Moore, Benjamin, Devine, Lott, Parks, Coble

What they said:

Benjamin: “The top of the canal on the riverfront is the most beautiful sight in the city. … You have to see it.”

Devine picked Riverfront Park – “especially the new outdoor exercise equipment the city just put in.”

Sellers’ write-in: “The walk from Blue Marlin to Liberty.”

Casual Pint vs. Craft and Draft

7%, 50%

Votes for Casual Pint: Finlay

Votes for Craft and Draft: Lourie, Gregg, Moore, Rose, Coble, Rutherford, Sellers

What they said:

Bjorn offered a write-in: “Jack Daniels. I miss Kelly’s.”

Harrison’s write-in: Twisted Spur.

Benjamin: “I’ve heard both are great. Can’t wait to try both of them.”

Devine: “Neither because I don’t drink beer.”

Lott also said neither – he doesn’t drink.

Fireflies vs. USC baseball

36%, 64%

Votes for Fireflies: Harrison, Moore, Benjamin, Devine, Coble

Votes for USC baseball: Lourie, Bjorn, Gregg, Finlay, Rose, Lott, Parks, Rutherford, Sellers

What they said:

Benjamin: “My blood has run garnet for 30 years – and it always will – but it’s Glo time now.”

Devine: “My 6-year-old loves the mascot.”

Parks: “I think Founders Park is the best place to watch a college baseball game.”

San Jose vs. Cantina 76

21%, 57%

Votes for San Jose: Finlay, Lott, Parks

Votes for Cantina 76: Lourie, Gregg, Harrison, Moore, Rose, Devine, Rutherford, Sellers

What they said:

Bjorn and Benjamin were undecided. Coble said he has never been to either restaurant.

“Cantina, no question. All day long,” Gregg said. He added some advice: “Get the original margarita. Try to get as many of those as you can.”

Finlay: “Either way, I’m going to offend somebody, but Eric’s is across the street from my house.”

State Museum vs. Columbia Museum of Art

50%, 36%

Votes for State Museum: Lourie, Bjorn, Gregg, Moore, Lott, Parks, Rutherford

Votes for CMA: Finlay, Harrison, Rose, Coble, Sellers

What they said:

Finlay: “My wife is on the board, so I have to say Museum of Art.”

Benjamin: “Two very different but world-class offerings.”

Devine: “I can’t choose. I love them both!”

Parks: “Love the observatory (at the State Museum). It’s awesome.”

The Township vs. Colonial Life Arena

43%, 50%

Votes for The Township: Lourie, Gregg, Finlay, Rose, Devine, Rutherford

Votes for Colonial Life Arena: Bjorn, Harrison, Moore, Lott, Parks, Coble, Sellers

What they said:

Benjamin: “For sports, it’s Colonial Life Arena; for a show, I love the historic intimacy of Township.”

Devine: “Love the intimacy and the acoustics (of The Township).”

Parks: “Kanye’s coming to Colonial Life Arena. That’s all I got to say.”

Fair food: fried Oreos vs. funnel cake

7%, 57%

Votes for fried Oreos: Bjorn

Votes for funnel cake: Lourie, Gregg, Finlay, Harrison, Moore, Lott, Rutherford, Sellers

What they said:

Bjorn said, “This is the hardest interview of the campaign by far.”

Rose: “I’m going to throw in a ‘neither.’ Trying to eat healthy.”

Devine and Coble agreed, citing diets.

Parks: “Fried mushrooms at the State Fair. They’re really good. It’s a different kind of food, but it’s still fried, right?”