League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey
Name _Keith A.
Earley_______________________________________________
Candidate for _County Commission, District 9, 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:
- Please list your
diplomas and degrees, along with the areas of study.
None-
Attended
the
- What relevant
experience do you have, including previous public offices held?
Owning and managing private businesses in
1986 until present
- Please list local
service and civic groups in which you have participated, including when
and for how long.
Maryville-Alcoa Jaycees member
1972 – 1981 and Director 1973 – 1981
- Please indicate any
business activities that could constitute a conflict of interest in the
event you are elected.
None
- Name three leadership skills that you
practice.
1.
__Communication_________________________________________
2. __Sharing Leadership______________________________________
3. __Problem
Solving________________________________________
F. What
unique qualities, besides the above leadership skills, do you have to
contribute to this office?
The talent to listen to all points
of view and help formulate the best for the future of the county.
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. Planning for future county growth.
2. Managing the current growth rate.
3. Managing funding for the
county and it's necessary projects into the future.
- What would you identify
as the three
most important issues facing
1. Increasing the perceived
value and availability of education for all county residents.
2. Increasing the wage base of
the county to provide more and better jobs without sacrificing the local
environment.
3. Changing the attitudes of
residents toward change and progress.
- What can you do in this
office to impact these three most important issues?
As a single commissioner, little can
be done individually except setting an example and providing a voice for my constituents, but as a team working
for the benefit of all residents, the commission as a body representing the citizens can conduct the business of the
county in a manner not favoring special interests, but providing a competent
representation on all issues.
III. Positions on specific issues of importance in
A.
Means for insuring the fair and
respectful treatment of all
Enforce the laws that currently exist and encourage all residents to get involved through community events, cultural events where all can get to gain knowledge of other races, religions, etc. Most racism and bigotry is the result of ignorance and fear of other groups.
B.
Promotion of greater diversity in our hired and appointed government
officials and employees
Greater diversity can be achieved by encouraging all offices to hire from open advertising of positions and setting up an active “community relations team” to go out into the community to seek qualified individuals and encourage them to apply for openings.
C.
Reconciling the potentially competing interests of growth/development
and adequate infrastructure in our county, including the application of the
Hunter Growth Strategy
We should set up our own committees of
citizens and government members to resolve the differences that
have been pointed out
D.
The environmental impact of development and/or non-attainment status
with the EPA
The county needs to set up a committee to work with the EPA and other area governments involved to see if anything can be done on a local level to assist in attainment.
E.
Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials
Conflicts
of interest are never a good thing. I
would recommend that an impartial group be appointed to discover abuses and prevent them in the future
F.
The consolidation of:
1. city and county schools
2. city and county government
3. or a feasibility study on consolidation
While I don't believe that consolidation is on the immediate horizon, I believe that a feasibility study should be conducted as to both schools and governments. The money to fund the many separate entities that are in Blount County is quite possibly wasted dollars that could be used for funding education, civic centers that are suitable for the area other needs as senior citizens, public health clinics and such.
G.
Health care
Health
care is another item that definitely should be researched further if a source
of funding can be found
IV. Questions for
CANDIDATES FOR
- How can you communicate
effectively with your constituents?
I will communicate to my constituents
through any means necessary, but mainly by making myself available to listen to them.
- Which recommendations
of the Hunter Growth Strategy do you support, and why?
I think the Hunter Growth Study needs to be reviewed in depth by all interested parties. I don't think that anyone except the planning commission has looked at it in enough depth to make any decisions on it.
- How do you propose to
fund infrastructure growth and improvements?
- A wheel tax
- An adequate facilities
tax
- Other____________________________________________
While no one wants to pay more taxes, I believe that we should consider any and all methods as funding for truly necessary reasons. A small wheel tax would aid the road projects and would be paid by the users of the service.
- How can the county
address the needs of the senior population?
The senior population of
- What is your position
on hiring a county law director vs. the current practice of retaining an
attorney for the Mayor?
I believe
- Concisely describe your
vision for
(Responses to
Sections III and IV were copied directly beneath each question above)
III
A. Enforce the laws that currently exist and encourage all residents to get involved through community events, cultural events where all can get to gain knowledge of other races, religions, etc. Most racism and bigotry is the result of ignorance and fear of other groups.
B. Greater diversity can be achieved by encouraging all offices to hire from open advertising of positions and setting up an active “community relations team” to go out into the community to seek qualified individuals and encourage them to apply for openings.
C. We should set up our own committees of citizens and gov't members to resolve the differences that have been pointed out.
D. The county needs to set up a committee to work with the EPA and other area governments involved to see if anything can be done on a local level to assist in attainment.
E. Conflicts of interest are never a good thing. I would recommend that an impartial group be appointed to discover abuses and prevent them in the future.
F. While I don't believe that consolidation is on the immediate horizon, I believe that a feasibility study should be conducted as to both schools and governments. The money to fund the many separate entities that are in Blount County is quite possibly wasted dollars that could be used for funding education, civic centers that are suitable for the area other needs as senior citizens, public health clinics and such.
G. Health care is another item that definitely should be researched further if a source of funding can be found.
IV.
A. I will communicate to my constituents through any means necessary, but mainly by making myself available to listen tom them.
B. I think the Hunter Growth Study needs to be reviewed in depth by all interested parties. I don't think that anyone except the planning commission has looked at it in enough depth to make any decisions on it.
C. While no one wants to pay more taxes, I believe that we should consider any and all methods as funding for truly necessary reasons. A small wheel tax would aid the road projects and would be paid by the users of the service.
D. The senior
population of
E. I believe
F.