League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name              Ernie Tallent                                         Phone           (865) 379-8125

 

Candidate for         Blount County Commissioner District 1, 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.

High School Graduate

 

 

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

Currently on the County Commission for two years.

 

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

Blount County Democratic Party (40 years)

Veterans of Foreign Wars (60 years)

United Vets of Blount County (Past President)

 

  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.   Integrity

2.   Leading by example

3. Fairness

 

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

            Back up and support the people of Blount County.

            Ask for people’s views, but remain neutral and objective.

            Plan and prioritize.

 

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.   To be available to the people.

2.   To promote fair, efficient, and good governance.

3. To prioritize needs versus wants.

 

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

                1.     Growth planning

               2.      Schools

               3.      Transportation and roads

 

 

 

 

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

Being on the County Commission will allow me to be a facilitator between the

Commission, city governments, and other government bodies in order to

capitalize on these important issues facing Blount County.

 

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 would never discriminate against anyone regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic

background, and would promote others to do likewise.

 

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

 

I believe that government should be very diversified, representing people of both genders and all races.

 

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

 

I believe that proper planning and the implementation of parts of the Hunter Growth Strategy would help in the growth/development and adequate infrastructure of Blount County.

 

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

 

Any development in Blount County must adhere to regulations set in place by the EPA.

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

I believe in a conflicts of interest free government.

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

 

I believe that a study on consolidation would prove to be the best way to find out what would be best for the county and the cities within.

 

G.                 Health care

 

I believe that we need to expand our health care program to insure that those who cannot afford health care can be taken care of.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

  1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?

 

Public meetings, phone calling, letters, etc.

 

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

 

The Hunter Growth Strategy needs to be analyzed, and we need to put in motion the proposals that would be most effective to Blount County.

 

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

 

An adequate facilities tax seems to be the best way to go right now.

 

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

 

By making all businesses and parks accessible for senior citizens, and facilities that contribute to senior activities.

 

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

 

A county law director would be better for the County, because it would save money and take care of problems within the County.

 

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

 

If nothing is done the growth in Blount County will lead to more unguided and uncoordinated infrastructure.  It is vital that steps be made to catch up with the ever changing growth in population, and planning be made to correct zoning for infrastructure.