League of Women Voters of Blount County 2006 Candidate Survey

 

Name:     Ralph W. Foster                            Phone:   865-977-7818

 

Candidate for County Commissioner   District 1   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.

 

Maryville High, Nashville Auto Diesel

 

 

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

 

None

 

 

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

 

None

 

  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. Owned and operated a business for 20 yrs.

2. Listening to people

3. Management of everyday details

 

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

 

I’m honest, out-going, and truly concerned for our community.  I will try to do and vote the way that is best for our community as a whole

 

 

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. To hear what the people want!

2. To spend the money wisely.

3. Control the growth

 

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

                1. Contain the growth

2. Adequate education and schools

3.     Keeping a conservative budget

 

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

 

1.  Find ways to control the growth but not stop it.

2.  Research options

3.  Implement the best plan for a budget.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

E.                  Identifying and resolving conflicts of interest of public officials

 

F.                  The consolidation of:

1. city and county schools

2. city and county government

3. or a feasibility study on consolidation

 

G.                 Health care

 

(NOTE:  NO RESPONSES ON SECTION III.)

 

 

 

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

 

  1. How can you communicate effectively with your constituents?

 

To communicate I must truly listen to them and to the best of my ability represent them.

 

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

 

I am not informed enough to comment at this time.

 

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

 

Wise spending of sales tax and property taxes should be adequate. Stop unwise spending.

 

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

 

Freeze property taxes at age 65.  Also, know what the specific needs are.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Would have to know more about the costs of these practices before making a comment.

 

 

 

 

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

 

I see Blount County continuing to be a great place to live if we will work together to contain growth, keep education a priority, control unwise spending of funds, and listen to the people—care what they think, making their concerns, our concerns.