In an effort to inform South Fulton voters, The Citizen is printing District 7 County Commission candidates' answers to the Chamber of Commerce's recent questionnaire.

Only four of the 13 candidates in the race answered the questionnaire.

The answers of two candidates are offered below, and the other two will be printed in next week's edition.

Jimmy Bennett

What is your position on the expansion of Hartsfield International Airport to include the possible sixth runway?

I believe the proposed development of the fifth runway is adequate expansion for Hartsfield International Airport. A study should begin immediately on the cost and benefit of expanding the Fulton County Airport, with the intent to provide reliever service until a decision can be made at the state level as to the feasibility of a second airport in the metropolitan area.

Continued growth in air service is expected, however the rising cost of fuel may have an adverse affect on the cost of air travel and a leveling off of anticipated growth may occur. The development of high-speed rail service will also serve as a balance for air travel.

We can expect rail service to attract substantial patrons for the Southeast regional travel, both business and vacation, which will reduce the need for expanded air services.

Should the state of Georgia take control of Grady Hospital? Why or why not? What is your prescription to insure the viability of this facility?

No. I don't think the state of Georgia should take control of Grady Hospital. I believe the state should become an equal partner with Fulton and DeKalb counties in the funding of Grady. Grady primarily serves Fulton and DeKalb County residents and is responsible on indigent health care.

These services should in no way be removed for the Fulton and DeKalb citizens. I would encourage the expansion of Grady as a teaching and medical research facility by working with the medical universities in the area.

A blue ribbon panel comprised of citizens, state and county elected officials and medical professionals should be charged with the task of predicting where medical services in the future are headed and provide some sense to the community of creative financing tools which can off set the current burden on Fulton and Dekalb taxpayers.

How should Fulton County government work with the schools to improve quality education in South Fulton?

I think the most immediate way is through the use of shared resources. Parks, nature centers, libraries should become aggressive teaching tools of the school system. Fulton County staff departments should adopt schools and bring county professionals into the schools to work with teachers and students.

Teacher aide services can be expanded and the hands-on learning experience of students could be expanded. Materials, supplies and equipment can be used by the school system through shared purchasing arrangements.

The schools can also serve continuing education needs of Fulton government personnel.

What type of development, if any, would be essential to the success of the South Fulton Parkway area? As a Commissioner, what would you do to encourage such development?

The acceptance by the public that higher density development will be the order for the future. The future cost of service delivery will demand development projects that are mixed use and higher density.

South Fulton Parkway corridor can and must satisfy the need for residents to live, work, and recreate in the same general area. A study should begin now on the feasibility of consolidation of service delivery with the identification of any cost savings that occur through the economy of scale of purchasing, the removal of duplication of services and the implementation of state of the art practices and procedures, which can be passed to the taxpayer.

Create incentives for the increase in restaurants, recreation facilities and multi-family housing. Seek the full development of Cochran Mill Park. As a commissioner, I would take a leadership role in securing the appropriate studies be done so that the Board of Commissioners and other elected officials can make informed decisions.

Describe a three-point plan to minimize the potential for corruption in Fulton County government.

I don't feel corruption is as rampant as the most recent activities in the press suggest. By and large Fulton County government is made up of very dedicated professionals and elected officials.

Thousands of honorable decisions have been made in the selection of contractors and rezoning projects in Fulton County.

If anything I would suggest the acceptance of the lowest bid is not always the best selection and work with the county manager and other members of the commission to structure a weighted system for selection of bidders and contractors.

Work with the Board of Commissioners and county manager to review all policies, practices and procedures to identify those, which have corruption potential and design necessary improvements to address any fallacies. Reinvigorate the Ethics Commission and have them participate in the review of policies and procedures.

Describe your plan to enhance the working relationship with the incorporated cities of South Fulton.

My action plan would start with an advanced scheduled monthly meeting with the mayors of the cities in South Fulton County.

The primary purpose for these meetings would be to identify and discuss issues, problems and successes the cities have that need Board of Commissioners' input and participation.

Implement a high level of communication between the cities and the Board of Commissioners so that true strategic planning and not consistent crisis management becomes the order of my relationship with the cities if I am elected.

What is the prevailing perception of South Fulton by non-residents and why?

Basically, South Fulton is viewed as a bedroom community for the working class citizen, and not as sophisticated and affluent as the north side. Very limited retail and entertainment options. The reasons for this perception are many. A few include the existence of the largest industrial district east of the Mississippi River in South Fulton.

The existence of numerous NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) land uses, e.g., landfills, railyards, wastewater treatment facilities and noise associated with the existence of the world's busiest airport.

Assuming that the perception of South Fulton is negative, what will you do as commissioner to change this perception among non-residents?

Continue to be aggressive in bringing to the public's attention that South Fulton County is the best kept location decret in America.

Twenty minutes from Downtown Atlanta, 15 minutes from Hartsfield International Airport and the rest of the world.

South Fulton can be a planning laboratory for "Best Management Practices" in land use planning, zoning, environmental management and protection and economic development.

I would act with all deliberate speed to create a climate with the other members of the Board of Commissioners to make the above a reality in board policies and staff procedures.

Why should the voters of District 7 Fulton County elect you as their commissioner?

My many years of providing constituent services (housing counseling) to metro area housing consumers in general and South Fulton residents in particular, has uniquely bonded my skills as a mediator and a consensus builder. This coupled with my numerous efforts to insure that zoning issues were resolved in an effort to protect the integrity and character of my community attest to my involvement in the affairs of my community.

I currently serve on the Fulton County Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners and the Fulton County Housing Development Corporation, which in both instances address the fact that I am actively involved in the changing face of South Fulton County. I am willing to go beyond political benefits to see true benefits accrue to the residents of South Fulton County.

Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker

What is your position on the expansion of Hartsfield International Airport to include the possible sixth runway?

I am against any further expansion of the airport beyond the current master plan. The residents of Fulton County have suffered a disproportionate share of the airport's burden.

While I appreciate Hartsfield as a key economic engine for the region, it would be ill advised to continue the expansion of the engine to the demise of viable communities which surround it.

Just as we now know that we cannot build our way out of road congestion, likewise we are beginning to learn that we cannot build our way out of traffic congestion.

Should the state of Georgia take control of Grady Hospital? Why or why not? What is your prescription to insure its viability of this facility?

The state of Georgia should not take control of Grady. Grady's problems are not a result of it being locally administered versus state-administered. The state needs to recognize the new reality of what Grady has become and contribute its fair share.

Grady Hospital provides services to people throughout the region. Where it once served a population that was largely confined to the core of the city of Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb counties, Grady Hospital now serves a regional population. It also serves as a state resource for severe trauma and other critical medical procedures.

Therefore, I believe there is a need to reconsider the funding source and allocation strategy which supports delivery of services by Grady. I do not think the county can or should bear this burden alone. There should be a state allocation which supports Grady given its service population.

In addition, Grady administrative and contracting processes need to be overhauled, to improve its efficiency and reduce the cost of service delivery.

How should Fulton County government work with the schools to improve quality education in South Fulton?

The County Commission does not have primary responsibility for the operation of schools.

Nevertheless, the commission should extend its resources and influence to help improve the educational environment for our children. A high quality school system is critical to vibrant neighborhoods, economic growth and a prosperous county.

All county development plans should incorporate the long-term plans for our school system, as a key component of neighborhood revitalization. We should also forge cooperative arrangements with recreation centers, seniors' centers and libraries for shared space and program resources such as after school care, day care centers, tutorial programs and technology centers.

What type of development, if any, would be essential to the success of the South Fulton Parkway area? As a commissioner, what would you do to encourage such development?

First and foremost, South Fulton Parkway should have the type of development that residents and business leaders have already indicated support for, which is reflected in the county's land use plan.

Within that context, there should be commercial and denser residential development, preferably most in a mixed-use fashion. What there should not be, however, is a lot of strip mall-type development with non-connecting lots and businesses that face out to the street, instead of into a neighborhood, or an office park.

This type of development will yield the kind of unwieldy traffic and unsightly aesthetics seen along Cobb Parkway, Jimmy Carter Boulevard, or Old National Highway.

South Fulton Parkway should be the main access for major employers or employment centers.

The thoroughfare should be complimented with rights of way preserved for alternative transportation modes, such as bike paths and bus rapid transit (high-speed bus) lanes. We should also require that all development have sidewalks to give the area a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.

We should look to establish "village centers" off of the parkway, so that we develop quality residential, work and recreational spaces to avoid the parkway developing the appearance of a traditional office industrial park.

Describe a three-point plan to minimize the potential for corruption in Fulton County government.

There are sufficient rules and regulations governing the behavior of elected officials to minimize the potential for corruption.

However, as in any system, someone intentionally seeking to violate the rules can do so. If not for the rules we already have on the books, the individuals in the metro Atlanta region who have been caught could not have been brought to justice.

In addition to the existing rules and regulations, my plan would focus on the enforcement of the existing regulations and add additional reporting and auditing functions.

First, I would recommend that disclosure reports required under the current regulations be routinely audited by an independent group, so that all commissioners are aware of the fact that the information on the report will be reviewed frequently.

This will encourage them to be as accurate as possible and help detect "oversights" earlier.

Secondly, there should be a periodic report that describes how each commissioner has voted on contracting matters.

It should describe the frequency with which a commissioner votes against staff recommendations and why. This will not ensure that a commissioner acts with integrity. Still, it will remind each of them that their actions will continue to be scrutinized by the public and should be justified.

Thirdly, I would publish commissioners' votes on zoning matters to see if there is a trend toward overturning the Board of Zoning Adjustment to favor one developer, neighborhood or advocate.

Describe your plan to enhance the working relationship with the incorporated cities of South Fulton.

I plan to work very closely with the mayors and leadership of the incorporated cities in South Fulton.