League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name Dan E Neubert, Sr.                                                                Phone 983-1731

 

Candidate for Blount County Commission, 1st Dist. 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.

 

Numerous diplomas in Law Enforcement Schools.

 

 

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

 

I have spent 3 terms on the Commission.

 

 

 

  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.  I am retired.

 

 

  1. Name three leadership skills that you practice.

1. A good listener.

2. Good discussions of upcoming legislation.

3. Ability to communicate with others.

 

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

 

Honesty, integrity, and known by so many of the Blount County residents.

 

 

 

 

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.       To see that legislation is passed that will benefit the residents.

 

                2.   To make sure our children are taken care of.

                3. To keep taxes as low as possible, especially  for the elderly.

 

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

                1. Education and facilities for our children.

               2. Growth containment to our infrastructure.

               3. Road upkeep and improvement.

 

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

 

Make educated decisions according to the most urgent needs.

 

 

 

 

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 believe all are created equal. Therefore, I strive to disregard race, creed, gender, or other backgrounds in making all my decisions.

 

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

 

I believe in equal consideration for all.

 

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

 

Careful study and decisions with the regard for all involved should be foremost in making any and all decisions.

 

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

This needs to be addressed by the appropriate agencies.

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

There should be no conflict of interest by public officials. They should know when they are out of bounds and decline from participation in decisions.

 

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

I recommend answer # 3.

 

 

G.                 Health care

At my age I would rather not comment on this subject.

 

 

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 always answer my phone or record the message, and try to return all calls, to anyone in the county.

 

 

 

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

 

Several, without being more specific, until I see what comes before us.

 

 

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

 

Answer #2 and #3 with no specific plan at this time

 

 

 

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

 

Again, by reason of my age, I have no specific answers. I would be in favor of some sort of tax break for the senior population-(of which I am one.)

 

 

 

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

 

Because of the costs involved in hiring a full time attorney, I am satisfied, for the present, with our present setup.

 

 

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

 

 

We have a great outlook for the future if we can control spending, needless purchases, wiser visions of the whole picture, and work together with all entities and citizens for the betterment of us all.