Answers to questions from the Newport News-Times
Do you support Newport
I would like to have a new swimming pool built in our community, but this is a bad time to be asking the taxpayers for the pool bond. With unemployment high and other city projects millions over budget I believe that the timing is wrong. I am willing to support it later when the economy turns around and we get the water treatment plant back on budget. I will work hard to make sure that the pool is on sound financial ground and that it incorporates sustainable fees.
Do you believe the city should continue to subsidize the pool and recreation center given budget constraints or must they become financially self-sufficient?
The city needs to run these programs like a business and get them on a more self-sustainable footing. This cannot be done by raising the fees overnight. That may mean looking at finding expanded revenue generating activities.
I will work to insure that our city budget is on sound financial ground. In this time of financial instability, we need to work harder with the fewer resources we have. We need to explore other options rather than raising taxes and fees in a bad economy. We need to increase the city reserves, look at consolidating positions, and find ways to partnership with other communities/governments. We should look at consolidating advertisement campaigns and subsidizing air carrier service to the whole region. Frugality must start with government.
The city’s reserve fund is less than half of the recommended minimum. How important is it to increase reserves. Would you cut services to do it?
Just as with any household budget, an emergency fund is important. We need to increase the reserves but need to be watchful that we do not cut into core city services to make this happen. We need to make sure that any expenditure focuses on our core services. We will have to say ‘no’ to certain new expenditures to make sure we increase the reserves. I do not believe that cutting core services to add to the reserves is prudent.
What should the city’s top three priorities be in the next two years?
Finding a balance for funding basic services that we all need: public safety, water, sewer, street maintenance with the affordable amenities we all enjoy: parks, senior center, recreation center and library.
We need strong leadership from the mayor and council as we face the challenges of both a tough economy and an aging infrastructure.
Wise use of the resources we all share, including our tax dollars and to improve the environment in which we live.
What can the city council do to attract more businesses to the area?
We should work with our neighboring cities to create a strategic development plan for the local economy and hire the business talent to make it happen. We need to examine our business license fees and Sewer Development Charges to see if we can set a payment plan to offset the initial sticker shock. I will work with the Chamber, NOAA, and HMSC to recruit supporting businesses of NOAA.
What makes you the best candidate for city council?
My strength as a candidate comes from my understanding of the entire city after 30 years of patrolling this community. I know the city and our residents from the ground up and know what will work in the real world. I will bring to the council my skills in bringing people together and mediating problems. After all that is what I did day to day for 30 years, mediating conflicts on the street in such areas as domestic disputes and neighborhood disputes. My job was not just putting people in jail but trying to help them with quality of life issues to make their lives better and that of the entire community.
The city gave me a great career and now I would like to give back to the city by serving on the city council.
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