League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name:  Randall McKenzie                                        Phone:  856-8133

 

Candidate for         County Commissioner,   District 7, 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.

 

Heritage High School graduate

Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy graduate

Several specialized schools including government management and supervisor training

 

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

 

Police Chief, 6 years

Total of 19 years in Public Safety

 

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

 

Member of East Maryville Baptist Church

Participated in several Muscular Dystrophy Telethons

 

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

 

No known conflicts

 

  1. Name three leadership skills that you practice.

1. Honesty

2. Dependability

3. Fairness

 

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

 

Ability to listen to 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. Education

2. Road conditions for the county

3. Public safety

 

 

 

 

 

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

                1.  Employment growth opportunity

2.  Continue to improve public schools

3.     Continue to improve roads

 

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

 

Try to fund these items, without any burden to the taxpayers

 

 

 

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

 

All citizens should be treated equally regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnic background.

 

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

 

Power should be in the citizen’s hands.

 

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

 

I need more research on this topic.

 

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

 

I am concerned with the impact of the environment, need to investigate further.

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

More communication with all public officials

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools—

Need more research

2. city and county government—

Need more research

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation—

Need more research

 

G.                 Health care

 

Not sure what the question is?

 

 

 

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

 

  1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?

Listen, return phone calls and e-mails to all constituents

 

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

 

Need input from citizens in my district before making any decisions.

 

  1. How do you propose to fund infrastructure growth and improvements?
    1. A wheel tax
    2. An adequate facilities tax
    3. Other:   Need to research other possibilities than any tax increases.

 

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

 

We need to be aware that senior citizens are living on a limited income.

 

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

 

I think we need to investigate the cost of the two positions.

 

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

 

Public officials need to listen to citizens before making important decisions.