League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name              Ned F.  Coker                                                            Phone      865- 982-1649

 

Candidate for                         Blount County Commissioner District 3, 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.

 

Everett High School Graduate – Class of 1965

Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Walter’s State Community College

 

 

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

 

Retired employee of Delta Airlines

 

 

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

 

Board of Directors for Eagleton Little League for approximately 10 years

Deacon at East Maryville Baptist Church for 15 years

Vietnam Veteran

 

  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.   Honesty

2.   Commitment

3.   Servant hood

 

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

 

The ability to seek and discover my constituents’ concerns on various issues

 

 

 

 

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.  The future plans of Blount County in several areas (i.e. growth, education)

2.   Listen to my constituents and communicate their concerns

3.

 

 

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

               1.   Growth

               2.   Education of our children

               3.   Safety of the community

 

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

 

To learn more about ideas and ways to improve in these areas

 

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

 

Follow laws already in place

 

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

 

Follow laws already in place

 

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

 

I am still in the process of researching the Hunter Growth Strategy

 

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

 

Unaware of the current situation

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

Follow laws already in place

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

Prefer #3

 

G.                 Health care

 

Additional funds are needed to fund the health department to meet the needs of all the members of our community.

 

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

 

  1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?

 

Make myself available

 

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

 

See III, part C (I am still in the process of researching the Hunter Growth Strategy).

 

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

 

I would need to consider my constituents’ concerns in these taxation matters.

 

 

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

 

We need to be continuous in our approach to caring for our seniors

 

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

 

I’m unaware of any problems with the current practice.

 

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

 

I want Blount County to maintain its moral character and the education of future leaders.