League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

Name ___Bob Proffitt Phone 982-2084 (O) 982-3300 (H)_________________

Candidate for County Commission District 5, Seat B

Please write your answers in the space provided or use a separate sheet, and return your survey in the enclosed stamped envelope. It is very important that you write legibly. Please consider e-mailing your completed survey by requesting an electronic survey at rderycke@bellsouth.net

The League of Women Voters will acknowledge receipt of your completed survey.

I. Qualifications and experience:

1. Please list your diplomas and degrees, along with the areas of study.

B.A. Maryville College

M.D. University of Tennessee College of Medicine (Memphis)

2. What relevant experience do you have, including previous public offices held?

No previous public office held

Chief of staff Blount Memorial Hospital

Chairman, Tennessee Medical Association Committee on Rural and Community Health (2 years)

3. Please list local service and civic groups in which you have participated, including when and for how long.

Kiwanis Club - 30 years

Charter member Blount Education Foundation

Chairman Blount Education Foundation - 2 years

Chairman Blount Red Cross - 2 years

Camp Montvale Board – 12 years

4. Please indicate any business activities that could constitute a conflict of interest in the event you are elected.

None

5. Name three leadership skills that you practice.

1. Ability to get best information on issues and consult when needed.___

2. Evaluate other’s opinions; utilize team work. ____________________

3. Make even difficult decisions based on best information.___________

6. What unique qualities, besides the above leadership skills, do you have to contribute to this office?

Interest in, and to some extent, a knowledge of all levels of government, local, state, and national.

II. Questions about your understanding of the office you are seeking:

1. What do you see as the three most important functions of this office?

1. Regulation of budget of different departments. ______________________

2. Establishing fair taxation measures._______________________________

3. Informing public, the best way possible, of County Commission’s action _

2. What would you identify as the three most important issues facing Blount County in the future?

1. Education; Evaluation of staff and facilities K-12____________________

2. Environment (i.e.: noise control, adherence to building codes, etc.)_____

3. Transportation (includes roads and traffic control)___________________

3. What can you do in this office to impact these three most important issues?

1) Obtain detailed input from School Administration and School Board as to needs and budget as needed.

2) Examine present regulations and see if others are needed

3) Evaluate status of present roads. Carefully look at need for additional roads.

III. Positions on specific issues of importance in Blount County: Use a separate sheet to respond.

A. Means for insuring the fair and respectful treatment of all Blount County citizens, regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic background, given recent concerns about racism and bigotry in our county

A respectful treatment of all Blount County Citizens comes about by early education including involvement with church community efforts.

B. Promotion of greater diversity in our hired and appointed government officials and employees

Diversity promotion comes best by electing officials who are committed to equality of opportunity.

C. Reconciling the potentially competing interests of growth/development and adequate infrastructure in our county, including the application of the Hunter Growth Strategy

I have studied the summary of the Hunter Growth Strategy, but do not know the range of details.

D. The environmental impact of development and/or non-attainment status with the EPA

Do not know the range of details

E. Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

Conflicts of interest will lessen only when office holders admit a conflict on crucial votes

F. The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

No opinion as yet on consolidation on city and county schools or government. I strongly support a study on consolidation.

G. Health care

Health care facilities in Blount County are excellent. There is a large supply of physicians; vast numbers have little or no access to primary care, particularly those on TennCare or with no insurance.

IV. Questions for CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY COMMISSION: Use a separate sheet to answer these questions.

1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?

Telephone or e-mail.

2. Which recommendations of the Hunter Growth Strategy do you support, and why?

Recommendations of the Hunter Growth Strategy will require more study on my part.

3. How do you propose to fund infrastructure growth and improvements?
1. A wheel tax
2. An adequate facilities tax
3. Other____________________________________________

All taxes must be evaluated in context of the entire tax structure.

4. How can the county address the needs of the senior population?

The needs of the senior population can be addressed by actively assessing from seniors their needs as to recreation, access to restaurants and ready access for medical care.

5. What is your position on hiring a county law director vs. the current practice of retaining an attorney for the Mayor?

I tend to favor a county Law Director but need to evaluate experiences of other counties.

6. Concisely describe your vision for Blount County’s future.

Hopefully Blount County will achieve adequate recreational facilities, will take strict environmental preservation stands as needed to preserve one of the country’s most beautiful areas. Hopefully our County will continue to acquire more museums that display the art of our area, helping us to attract more tourists.