OPINION — The Citizen questions candidates

Last Thursday, I emailed political position questions to all candidates in council races for Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Tyrone.

Deadline for email responses to questions is 5 p.m. this Wednesday, Oct. 14.

There are 12 candidates in four races in Peachtree City, six candidates in three races in Fayetteville, and one contested race with two candidates in Tyrone.

The email said, in part, “There is NO word or length limit on your responses to the questions. We plan to publish without any editing your responses in their entirety online at www.TheCitizen.com.

“However, for our print editions, we plan to use excerpts from the responses because of limited newsprint space.”

Last year, we experienced a first: candidates in races for sheriff and board of education refused to answer our questions.

Two school board incumbents thought the questions were disrespectful of their high positions, and they conned some of their opponents into joining the boycotts.

The opposers lost, and the incumbents were reelected. Since then, there have been revelations of a $10 million empty new elementary school (well, it does house 40 special ed students in a building built for 600 kids), multiple teacher reductions, pay cuts, involuntary furloughs and stunningly bad financial forecasting, including the distinction of being among the 10 worst systems in the state for maintaining adequate budget reserves.

So, my question to all those who voted for the nonresponsive incumbents is this: How has that worked out for us taxpayers?

If candidates refuse to answer legitimate questions about their qualifications for office and their specific positions on important local issues, I suggest emphatically that those nonresponsive candidates should not be elected or returned to office.

If they refuse to be accountable as candidates, how do you suppose they will act once elected? If they are running for reelection, do they think they are exempt from accountability to their constituents?

Most important, what do YOU think? Should candidates be aloof from public inspection, should they shun questions about their positions? Or do they think nobody has the right to question them?

I encourage supporters of all local candidates to consider carefully whether your support is warranted or wasted if your candidate stonewalls tough questions.

Judge for yourself whether you deserve answers to the questions we are posing to local council candidates.

PEACHTREE CITY

1. Based on current zoning, there are roughly 1,400 more homes to be built before running out of virgin residential-zoned space. Do you see any need for the city to expand its borders through annexation for any zoning category? Why or why not? Please explain what type of development — if any — the city needs more of, how it will be paid for and where you think such annexation makes the most sense.

2. Do you support the rezoning of industrial-zoned property to any residential use? Also tell us specifically whether you support or oppose the Callula Hill project that would convert land in the city’s industrial park into an upscale “lake view” subdivision, and if so, tell us why or why not. Also, spell out whether this proposal does or does not represent spot zoning.

3. This has been one of the most painful budget years in the city’s history. Grade the City Council on personnel cutbacks and how it handled the funding shortfall. Explain exactly what you would have done differently.

4. If the city had to cut another $1 million out of the coming year’s budget, what specific actions would you take to balance the budget?

5. Under what conditions — if any — would you support an increase in the city property tax?

6. What is your opinion about Peachtree City selling city streets to a developer so as to enable a much larger shopping center to be built on Ga. Highway 54 West?

7. What will you vote to do to insure that the city’s existing village centers remain economically viable?

8. Will you vote for or against the countywide SPLOST renewal? Why or why not?

9. Describe your general political philosophy, particularly regarding local government.

FAYETTEVILLE

1. Whether an incumbent or challenger, what things do you bring to the table that would convince voters to cast their vote for you?

2. There has been some previous discussion about the area on the north side of Ga, Highway 54 between the hospital and Tyrone Road in terms of future development and possible annexation. What is your position on that or other potential annexations?

3. Fayetteville often has a very low voter turnout for municipal elections. Why is that and what can you do to increase voter participation past the 10 percent level?

4. The retail areas on Fayetteville’s north side continue to age and diminish. What will you do about that?

5. Grade the current City Council on openness and transparency to city residents. What will you do to improve the council’s “user-friendliness”?

6. Will you vote for or against the countywide SPLOST renewal? Why or why not?

7. Describe your general political philosophy, particularly regarding local government.

TYRONE

1. Whether an incumbent or challenger, what things do you bring to the table that would convince voters to cast their vote for you?

2. Having Tyrone maintain its rural character is something that many citizens say they want. Do you agree with that sentiment? How will the town continue having larger lots, limited commercial development and limited sewer capacity without requiring a much higher millage rate?

3. Tyrone has a recent history of factions strongly opposing each other, particularly regarding town government and growth policies. Do you see that division continuing? Why or why not?

4. Grade the current Town Council on openness and transparency to town voters. What will you do to improve the council’s “user-friendliness”?

5. Will you vote for or against the countywide SPLOST renewal? Why or why not?

6. Describe your general political philosophy, particularly regarding local government.

Cal, Did you post the candidates answers to your blog questions?

Submitted by bad_ptc on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 7:37am.

Did any of the candidates even respond?

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Cal: When?

Submitted by Hoosier Fan on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 12:34pm.

When will we get to see the candidate's full web responses to your questions? We've got a few candidates in PTC races whose voting records and/or past public statements are inconsistent with their campaign statements.

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City of Fayetteville Fire Department

Submitted by breeze348 on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 2:26pm.

Cal, I could tell you things about this department that would make even your jaw drop I can only hope this blog will start an investigation feel free to contact me.

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FD Bashing

Submitted by Charity Rider on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 6:17pm.

Maybe you and Douknow should get together and write an expose on the F-ville and PTC departments.

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City of Fayetteville Fire Department

Submitted by breeze348 on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 9:40am.

You people who do not work for this department have no idea what goes on inside this department I hope we get some new leadership voted in and they investgate the way this department in run it is a down right disgrace. If you are one of the fire chief's golden boys go ahead and do what ever you want

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City Of Fayetteville Fire Dept.

Submitted by Tug13 on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 11:48am.

This is your chance! Citizens of Fayetteville you have two new people running against the old guard on the council. You have a choice to vote and CHANGE things. Do it!! VOTE!

Please vote for new people,(except for Mr. Oddo, he's a keeper)

Clean house!

Tug

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