Mayoral Questions from the Virginian Pilot

What makes you the best candidate for mayor?

- A strong business management background and education.


What should be the city’s top priority? How can it be achieved?

- Slowing City spending and lowering property taxes.
- Focusing on "Core-Governmental-Services": Public Safety, Education, and Utilities; not speculative spending on Hotels, Land and Arts Centers.


What do you think will be the city’s most pressing issue in 10 years, and how should the city prepare for it?

- The SPSA Landfill closure. Due to high-debt loads defining "wants" rather than "needs", we must demand sound policies to close this expensive environmental situation.


What is your view on how the city should continue to develop? What does "controlled growth" mean to you?

- We need a strategic plan that wisely enhances commercial development that adds to our tax-base and job inventory.
- Controlled growth can strip property owners of their rights. We must encourage growth where appropriate, yet give property owners options to use their property.


If you were mayor, what would be your approach to regional efforts in Hampton Roads?

- Regional efforts must benefit Suffolk, FIRST! We have found ourselves pushed into bad deals like: HRTA and SPSA. I will always choose Suffolk FIRST!


Should the city and state raise more money to pay for transportation projects? If yes, how?

- Transportation is a statewide issue and must be solved primarily by the state, yet defined by local needs. This is a group effort!
- I favor a balanced approach that insures all users contribute their share. The Commonwealth must share the profits of the PORTS for local roads. I also favor a 5% to 10% Special Tax Assessment on all commercial property.


What, if any, improvements do you think should be done to the Holland Road corridor? How should these be paid for?

-Holland Road must be improved to six lanes prior to further development.
-Center-Point and similar projects will over-stress this failing corridor. To fund Improvements, I favor a "Special Taxing District". "Community Development Authorities" divert general property taxes to the benefit of developers over the people. A "Special Taxing District" protects the general property tax going to the city, while special taxes pay for local area improvements demanded by developers.