League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey
Name ___Gerald C. Russell______________Phone_____865-982-9222__________
Candidate for ____General Sessions Judge, Division I__________________________
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:
- Please list your
diplomas and degrees, along with the areas of study.
Doctor of Jurisprudence,
- What relevant
experience do you have, including previous public offices held?
Thirty (30) years as a trial lawyer in civil, criminal, and juvenile cases
- Please list local
service and civic groups in which you have participated, including when
and for how long.
Adult Sunday school teacher for over ten years
Evangelism director for two churches for six years
- Please indicate any
business activities that could constitute a conflict of interest in the
event you are elected.
Loan with United Community Bank for four-plexes
- Name three leadership skills that you
practice.
1. Patience______________________________________________________
2.
Compassion_________________________________________________
3. Impartiality_________________________________________________
F. What
unique qualities, besides the above leadership skills, do you have to
contribute to this office?
I want to help people have the abundant life by helping develop them
II. Questions about your understanding of the office you
are seeking:
- What do you see as the
three most important functions of this office?
1. To use free counseling in addition to sentences
for drug offenders
2. To use
free counseling in addition to sentences for alcohol offenders
3. Render
fair and impartial verdicts
*** This free counseling would be by qualified
volunteers at no cost to the taxpayer****
- What would you identify
as the three
most important issues facing
1. Reduce alcohol addiction
2. Reduce illegal drug use
3.
Reduce drug addiction
- What can you do in this
office to impact these three most important issues?
In addition to jail sentences, require as a condition of probation that those convicted of drug and alcohol offenses attend comprehensive counseling.
Note: Mr.
Russell indicated that he answered the questions for which the Canon of ethics
for Judges will allow.
III. Positions on specific issues of importance in
A.
Means for insuring the fair and
respectful treatment of all
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
3. or a feasibility study on consolidation
G.
Health care
IV. Questions for
CANDIDATES FOR JUDGE: Use a separate sheet to
answer these questions.
- How can a judge improve
the safety and security of
There are good criminal laws already passed by our
state legislature which, if enforced properly, would improve the safety and
security of our county.
The enforcement of those laws is the key to safety
and security. Once the criminal is arrested, has a trial, and is found guilty,
or pleads guilty, then the crucial part is the sentencing. The sentence given sends the message to the
community that for this type of crime, you can expect this sentence.
There is an additional action that can be
taken. For example, currently there is
no comprehensive counseling required in the General Sessions Court for those
convicted of drug and alcohol crimes.
There is a drug rehabilitations program called the “
The Centerpoint rehab center in
There is another rehabilitation program available
that uses almost the same program as Centerpoint. However, it is free to the
taxpayers and has the capacity to take all persons convicted of drug and
alcohol crimes in all of our courts in
In addition to proper sentences to be served by drug
and alcohol offenders, I would change the administration of the
- What can be done to
ensure the safety of and respect for victims of domestic violence or other
crimes in your court?
The domestic violence laws passed by our legislature
are strong and forceful. Some judges
have a philosophy in which they try to become a mediator between the parties
and balance preserving the relationships-- boyfriends-girlfriends, relatives,
or marriage--against the strict enforcement of those laws.
A determination of whether the accused is guilty
must be made before a temporary order of protection is made permanent for a
year. A determination of whether the
accused is guilty of assault must be made before sentencing for that
charge. After these determinations, the
remedy comes into play.
The order of protection has plainly written verbiage
regarding what actions are forbidden.
Those forbidden actions cannot be done with the consent of the victim,
but only with the consent of the Court.
It is the intent of the legislature to enforce the orders of protection
and punish the violations.
A victim can ask the Court to modify or drop an
order of protection, but if there is an assault conviction, it should be
treated as any other assault with sentences to be served.
For providing help to those convicted of assault, in
addition to jail time, the Court can require counseling as a condition of any
probation to help that person control and manage his or her emotions.
I would require counseling of those convicted, after
they served their sentences, as a part of the administration of the