League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name DAVID BENSON                                                                  Phone

 

Candidate for         COUNTY COMMISSION – DISTRICT 7, SEAT A

 

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.

GED

 

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

None

 

 

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

 

 

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

None

 

  1. Name three leadership skills that you practice.

1.   Manager of a detail shop

2.   Operate my own business detailing cars

3.

 

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

 

I  have dealt with the public for about 20 years.  People would say I am a people person.  I am for what’s right for the citizens of Blount County.

 

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

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

 

1.   Making the right decisions for the taxpayers of Blount County

2.      Listening to any input the taxpayers may bring forth in a commission meeting and taking full consideration of their input.  Not just shrug them off.

3.     .

 

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

                1.     School overcrowding

               2.      Insurance for everyone in Blount County whether you are rich or poor.

               3.      Reckless spending of taxpayer’s money

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

To the best of my skills help accomplish all three.  Vote no on such things as buying a fairgrounds for Blount County that we don’t need and can not even use because the county is liable for anyone that gets injured on the property.  That makes no sense.  Vote yes on building a high school to prevent the overcrowding. Do whatever it takes to insure all people in Blount County from birth to death.  There is no reason anyone should not have insurance especially children and seniors.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

 

Build a high school and that solves the problem.  Not just put a band aid on it.

 

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

 

G.                 Health care

 

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

 

  1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?    

 

Very well

 

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

 

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

 

Quit spending taxpayers’ money on things we don’t need and put it toward things we do need.

 

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

     

Anyway possible

 

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

 

Why spend more money when we don’t need to?  It’s working fine now.  Why fix it if it’s not broken?

 

 

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

 

At the rate we are going, not good.  We need changes.  With the right changes I think Blount County can boom.