League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name ____Mike Walker________________________________________________

 

Candidate for ___Blount County Commission, District 8 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:

  1. Please list your diplomas and degrees, along with the areas of study.

·         Graduate – Heritage High School

·         Currently Attending Axia College

 

 

 

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

 

·         1990-1997 Blount County Commission District 4 Seat A

·         1997-1998 Tennessee House of Representatives, District 8

·         2000-present Blount County Commission District 8 Seat B

 

“Political experience is something that is gained at the expense of those you represent.  If you do not represent your constituents, do you gain experience?”

 

 

 

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

 

·         Not Applicable

 

 

 

  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.

·         Honesty

·         Lead by example

·         Truthfulness

 

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

·         Life long county resident

·         7th generation

·         Business knowledge and experience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. Financial Budgeting______________________________________

2. Setting Policy______________________________________________

3. Do all functions of the office while representing the views of my district

 

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

·        Funding

·        Planning

·        Growth

 

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

·        Review spending and budget accordingly

·        Implement a long term planning strategy

 

 

 

 

 

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

We must lead by example, and by we, I mean all people who are put in positions of leadership.  Fair and respectful treatment should be given to all people regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic background.  It should also be given even in instances where there is a difference of opinion or point of view.  When we fail to give respectful treatment in one area, it will soon fail to show in others too.

 

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

By encouraging a more diverse group of citizens who are willing to serve to come forward.

 

 

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

I would like to point out first that it should be recognized as the Hunter Growth Study not Strategy.  The study is meant to provide, in one centralized report, all the resources to develop and initiate a strategy. 

 

As for the first part of the question, I do not see them as competing interests.  Growth will produce the necessity for a more complex infrastructure.  The more residents, the more schools, the more upkeep of roads and the growth in other government provided services produce the need for more funds.  More funds raise the interest of the current citizens.  When the awareness and interest is raised this produces, many times, what is viewed as a competition among interest of individuals and groups.

 

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

Over the last 2 years I have been participating in the Clean Air committee meetings that are comprised of business, government, and community citizens.  Attainment will only be reached through education and increasing the interest of each resident and those who visit the area that we must do our part.  And even then it will be difficult due to the amount of pollutants that are carried across county and state lines.

 

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

Conflicts of interest are clearly defined by state law as are the procedures to rectify them; often times what is viewed as a conflict of interest is not.

 

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

Unlikely

2. city and county government

Unlikely

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

Should be done and initiated by the County Mayor and the City Managers

 

G.                 Health care

We must find ways that the collective purchasing power of the non-insured county residents can be consolidated and used to leverage lower costs.  One example will be the BlountRX card that will be considered soon by the Blount County Commission.

 

 

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

 

  1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?
    • Face to face
    • Make them aware of how to contact you (Phone, letter, email)
    • Always return the call

 

  1. Which recommendations of the Hunter Growth Strategy do you support, and why?
    • Further review is needed on my part.

 

  1. How do you propose to fund infrastructure growth and improvements?
    • A wheel tax
    • An adequate facilities tax
    • Other – Currently options are limited as to how County governments can increase funding.  In Blount County, besides the 2 mentioned above assuming the State grants permission, the only other ways would be to raise property tax or increase sales tax.

 

  1. How can the county address the needs of the senior population?
    • Realizing that each population has needs that need to be addressed, we (government) must focus on our primary responsibilities.  The more government is involved, the more it is going to cost, the more it costs, the more you pay.

 

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

 

Currently Blount County is paying approximately $120,000 a year.  Hiring a full time law director, even if he/she were just out of law school would probably cost the county $160,000+/- after office and support setup.  But it would give fulltime direct support to the county.  I would support an in-depth study of surrounding counties that have a law director to establish cost and benefit of the position and discussion before the full commission.

 

 

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

 

To maintain it where the next 7+ generations of my family can live, work and contribute as did the 7+ generations that came before me.