League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name       John T. Keeble                                          Phone   865-982-2699     Pgr: 417-5437

 

Candidate for County Commission, District 8, 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 Diploma

Other work related courses

U.T. County Government Courses

 

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

 

16 years as a Blount County Commissioner while serving on public service and intergovernmental committees

Chairman of Education Subcommittee for the past several years

 

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

 

Tuckaleechee Cove Advisory Board,  6 years.

Cades Cover Preservation Association,  6 years.

Civic Arts Center, 2 years.

Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, 2 years.

Blount County United Way Board (elected in February, 2006)

 

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

 

Not Applicable

 

  1. Name three leadership skills that you practice.

1. Trustworthiness

2. Honesty

3. Goal Oriented

 

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

 

Willing to take responsibility

Vision

Passion

Humor

 

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. Formulation of a budget

2. Appropriation of funds

3. Setting tax rate

 

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

      1. Schools

2. Roads

3.     Growth

 

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

 

Be knowledgeable of issues.

Work with School Department, Highway Department, Planning Department and support funding.

 

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

 

Means for insuring the fair and respectful treatment of Blount County citizens is to

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

 

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

 

Promotion of greater diversity is to afford everyone the opportunity regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic background.

 

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

 

Growth and development should be matched with an adequate infrastructure such as utilities, roads and schools.  I will work with the Planning Department in trying to adopt portions of the Hunter Growth Study that are worthy.

 

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

 

Before any major development is started I support a full and complete environmental impact study be done.

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

Discuss conflict of interest of public officials with the District Attorney’s Office.

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

                       

                        I support a feasibility study on consolidation.

 

G.                 Health care

 

Work with Health Department in providing medical care for uninsured Blount County residents and those dismissed from TennCare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 can communicate effectively with my constituents by phone, cell phone, e-mail and pager.

 

 

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

 

I support clean water, air, Little River Watershed, road improvements, adequate public facilities such as schools and retain rural character of the county.

 

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

 

Wheel tax--If approved by a referendum.  An adequate facilities tax—if and when approved by legislatures.  Other—Increase tourism tax base.

 

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

 

The county can address the needs of the senior population by working with the community action agency which provides assistance to seniors.

 

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

 

I support the county hiring a county law director.

 

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

 

My vision for Blount County is to be the best place to raise a family, with good police and fire protection, competitive schools, improved roads, good medical and recreational facilities with the lowest tax burden possible.