League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name JERRY G. CUNNINGHAM                                        Phone 983-8578

 

Candidate for BLOUNT COUNTY MAYOR

 

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.

University of Tennessee, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management

University of Tennessee, LLB, Law

 

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

 

Eight year member - Budget and Finance Committee

Eight years - Blount County Attorney

Assistant State of Tennessee District Attorney General

United States Attorney

Member of U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s Committee on Controlled Substances

State of Tennessee Judicial Council

Blount County Election Commission Member

Captain, United States Marine Corps-Vietnam Veteran

 

 

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

 

Kidney Foundation, Board of Directors

Arthritis Foundation, Board of Directors

Blount County Children’s Home, Board of Directors

Asbury Acres, Board of Directors

Smoky Passion Play, Board of Directors

Cades Cove Preservation Association

Blount County Republican Party Chairman, 15 years

Various committees – First United Methodist Church

Veterans of Foreign Wars - Member

 

On the above, I did not keep records as to exactly when and as to how long I served, but I have served in the various offices since 1969.

 

  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.  Organization

    1. Prioritizing
    2. Following Through

 

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

 

The unique quality which I possess that none of the other candidates possess stems from my 13 month service in Vietnam in the United States Marine Corps.  Under the kinds of situations faced there, a person learns a lot about himself when tested under the trying circumstances of war.  I have learned to appreciate and cherish each day that I have been allowed to live and to serve my Maker, my family, and my fellow citizens. 

 

 

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.  Leadership

2.  Communication and interpersonal relationships with Blount County Governmental Departments, Blount County Commission, Blount County Personnel and with all of the Municipalities.

3.  Serving as the Ambassador for Blount County

 

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

                1.  Balanced and Sensible Growth

2.     Education

3.     Public safety and infrastructure challenges

 

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

 

I can provide the necessary leadership for Blount County, control the growth of government, control spending, and serve as a facilitator and peace maker whom commissioners and citizens of Blount County will respect.

 

 

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 will strongly support and demand equal treatment and equal opportunity for all Blount County citizens regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic background.  I will cooperate fully with law enforcement and with the Attorney General’s Office relative to the investigation and prosecution of illegal acts involving racism and/or bigotry.  It is has always been my personal policy and certainly should be the policy of Blount County to ensure equality for all and the treatment of all with dignity.

 

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

 

I believe in equal opportunity for all, but I also believe that the most qualified person should be hired or appointed to any given position based on his or her individual abilities correlated to the specific needs of Blount County

 

 

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

 

A way must be found to find a balanced approach to growth versus preservation.  I foresee a growth commission being created as the County moves into Phase II of the Growth Strategy.  I feel that the Hunter Growth Strategy, as with all studies of this nature, has a lot to offer, but that it fails in a number of areas in its basic understanding of Blount County and the desires of the majority of Blount Countians.  Certainly many of the differences of opinions relative to the Hunter Growth Strategy will be fully addressed as the county moves into Phase II.

 

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

 

The preservation of the quality of our air and water is of the utmost importance here in this county which encompasses much of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Along these lines, my friend, Senator Lamar Alexander certainly would be a strong resource in these areas.  Non-attainment status with the EPA is not acceptable.

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

We already have adequate State and Federal Statutes and these laws need to be strictly enforced.  I will insist that the law be enforced along these lines and certainly will lead by example.

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

 

Depending on its cost, I would possibly support a study on the issues of consolidation.  However, fairness and common sense dictate that questions of consolidations deserve to be addressed by a referendum of the citizens of Blount County.

 

G.                 Health care.

 

The Federal Government as well as the State Government should extend a safety net to our citizens who can not afford health insurance.

 

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

  1. How would you facilitate communication and collaboration between county departments?

 

By promoting stability, by being a good listener, and by serving as a diplomatic presenter of my ideas.  Further, I would be receptive to constructive criticism and would facilitate monthly meetings with the heads of all County Departments being present.

 

  1. How would you ensure the accountability of the various county departments?

 

Inasmuch as most of the County office holders are independent constitutionally created offices, those offices are governed strictly by the Tennessee Code Annotated.  If I discovered violations relative to the required accountabilities, then I would immediately report these alleged failures to the office of the District Attorney General.

 

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

 

The recommendations relative to sewage treatment, water quality, and proposed road corridors were among the more interesting and possibly viable suggestions of the Hunter Growth Strategy.  I support these because of my concerns relative to the environment and because of the congestion that anyone can foresee as our population grows.  We must continually be cognizant that growth here is inevitable and must prepare and plan sensibly for it.

 

  1. How will you represent the county interests at regional forums such as the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization?  How will you communicate these activities to your constituents?

 

The County interests at regional forums will be dictated by the Blount County Commission.  I will represent those interests as directed by the Commission.  The manner in which I represent the County interests will be communicated to the constituents at public meetings as well as through the media.

 

 

  1. What do you propose to fund infrastructure growth and improvements?

1. A wheel tax

2. An adequate facilities tax

3. Other Just like all Blount Countians, I do not want to pay or be faced with additional taxes.  I hope that through controlling spending and downsizing government new taxes will not be necessary.  However, if additional taxes become necessary, I feel that the concept of a real estate transfer tax is deserving at least of discussion and consideration by the Blount County Commission. 

 

The wheel tax concept has already been placed on the August 2006 ballot for a referendum decision by the citizens of Blount County.  I feel that the adequate facility tax would discriminate against first time new home owners.  This tax as it evolves simply will be borne and paid by the buyer of a new residence because this tax would be built into the purchase price of each home sold. 

 

A real estate transfer tax would be on a graduated basis and would correlate directly with the purchase price paid both for older and new homes as well as other types of real estate transfers.  It is simply a more fair and across-the-board tax if a new tax becomes necessary.  When you think about it, most sales and transfers of property of whatever kind quite naturally place additional demands on our infrastructures. 

 

Again, however, due to my strong conservative beliefs relative to taxation, I would hope that by controlling spending and downsizing government, that these new taxes of whatever kind can be avoided.  

 

 

  1. Do you favor hiring a county law director vs. the current practice of retaining an attorney for the mayor?

 

I favor the current practice of retaining an attorney for the mayor.

 

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

 

Blount County quite evidently has addressed many needs of its senior population in view of its enormous influx of senior citizens who are finding Blount County such an attractive place to move to and retire.  The new senior citizen center and the easily accessible library, together with the many assisted living and nursing homes, certainly reflect that.

 

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

 

While understanding a change inevitably is going to occur, I envision a Blount County that will have a balanced growth plan, balanced and sensible budgets, fair tax rates, equal opportunity for its citizens and a decrease of bigotry and racism, a civility between governmental officials and between the citizens and governmental officials, and a pride by Blount Countians in the leadership whom they have selected.