League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name _____Dennis Cardin_____________________________Phone____983-0972

 

Candidate for ____Commission – Seat B Dist. 6__________________________

 

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.

 

Attended Everett High.  Attended The University of Tennessee.  Received Teaching Certificate in Vocational Education.

 

 

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

 

I have held the office of Commissioner for eight years representing District 6, Seat B.  I was a teacher at William Blount for 18 years.  Many of my constituents are former students.

 

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

 

I attend Middlesettlements Methodist Church.  I have served on the Public Service Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee, the Korean War Veterans Committee and the Blount County Museum Board.

 

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

 

None - Retired

 

  1. Name three leadership skills that you practice.

1. I have always tried to listen to people.

2. I’m not too timid to speak up

3. Working with young people and adult groups.

4.       I have always been active at Eagleton Middle as judge of events, etc.

 

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

 

Being a retired teacher, I have time to listen to the concerns of my constituents.  I have learned to analyze situations and try to defend those points that I think are in the best interest of Blount County.

 

 

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. The Commission is the legislative body for Blount County.

2. The Commission has the final say on most issues for Blount County.

3. Our most important function is looking after the welfare of the citizens of Blount County.

 

 

 

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

                1. School Issues

2. Roads

3.     Growth – Infrastructure can’t seem to keep up with the growth.

 

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

 

First, I want our leaders to take an analytical look at each of the problems.  I want to have the involved people say their parts and have such points discussed in public.  The commission then should take steps to address each issue.

 

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

 

I grew up in Blount County.  In fact my neighborhood was a mixed racial neighborhood.  I know that people can get along with each other if they will and if we can isolate the troublemakers.

 

I think the solution to the problem is in meeting together and discussing the issues.  I think the churches should have a stronger and more active role promoting Christian activity involving all races.

 

 

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

 

I believe that promotions, hiring and appointments should be based on ability, job proficiency and performance not favoritism.  I believe in and will push for equal opportunity in all aspects of employment.

 

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

 

I think that the commission needs to take a more in depth study of the growth issues.  I think the Hunter Study is a step in the right direction if we follow through with the implementation recommendations in the study.  The study calls for a committee of stakeholders to put all the factors in place.  The commission is ultimately responsible for funding.

 

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

 

Organizations like Little River Watershed group, etc. bring up those issues.  We need to look at legislation to control air pollution.  We need to control other issues, such as water pollution by putting stronger restraints on the how and where development takes place.

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

My approach is to better educate local officials as to what is ethical practice.  Officials and appointees to all decision- making bodies need to subscribe to a uniform code of ethics in addition to and in clarification of what the state laws say.

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

 

My approach to any one of these topics is to first complete a feasibility study.  My next approach would be a voter referendum.

 

G.                 Health care

 

I think that we need to look at the same program that Knox County recently adopted for prescription drug coverage.

 

 

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

 

  1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?

 

I have always taken a straightforward approach and gone straight to and talked to my constituents.

 

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

 

I support most of the Hunter Study topics.

 

I disagree with the Pellissippi Parkway extension because it takes so much farm land out of production.  I’m also fearful that residents will find it too easy to bypass Maryville and shop in Knoxville.

 

I like the National Heritage designation proposed by the study.

 

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

 

I think an adequate facilities tax is the most fair approach at this point.

 

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

 

I have supported the Senior Center and its programs.  I have supported the Parks and Recreation Departments programs and walkways for seniors.

 

I plan to, as I stated above, ask our commission to look into and copy the Knox County prescription drug program for all our citizens if possible.

 

I will be making a motion to supplement the Meals on Wheels program for seniors with Five Thousand Dollars from the county budget.

 

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

 

In the past I voted to have a private act passed to allow the commission to hire its own attorney.

 

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

 

Hopefully, Blount County will learn from its past.  I see efforts to reduce the county’s debts and put us in a more stable financial position.

 

I see planning to preserve the things most Blount Countians hold dear.

 

I see Blount County making every effort to provide good paying high tech jobs for our residents.

 

I see our school system working on and reducing our drop out rate.  I propose a high achieving academic program for all our schools.