Fri, Oct 10 2008

Politics/Government |

Published: April 07, 2008 05:30 pm

CANDIDATE Q&A: Clark County Council At-Large - Democratic Primary

Editor’s Note: Submissions appear as the candidates submitted them without editing. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Except where noted, questionnaires are only being published for contested races.

Charlie W. Milburn

• AGE: 58

• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: High school and maintenance career training.

• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Two years at Imco Container Company, 12 and a half years at Jeffboat, Inc., 23 years at Colgate Palmolive Company.

• FAMILY NOTES: Married 40 years to wife, Melba; two kids, a son and a daughter; four grandchildren.

1) Why are you running for this office?

“I believe that office holders should be more prudent with peoples tax dollars.”

2) What is the most important issue facing this position and what is your plan to resolve it?

“The issue facing the people is how the council spends their tax dollars wisely on what the county needs not necessarily what somebody wants.”

3) What unique contribution will you make to local office?

“I know how to listen to people and I don’t mind hearing complaints because that’s how you fix them.”

4) Have you ever been convicted of a non-traffic court crime in the United States? If so, please explain all relevant instances.

“No.”

READER-SUBMITTED QUESTIONS

What do you think should be the local role and responsibility in dealing with illegal immigration?

“If it’s a crime it’s a crime you deal with it.”

Do you consider yourself a progressive? How would you define progress? What gets left behind in your vision of progress?

“Yes. For the better of man kind. Hopefully, no one gets left out.”

We live in the county in an unincorporated subdivision. We have neighbors who target shoot and have even shot a deer while sitting on their deck. There is no law to keep them from doing this as long as the target meets certain standards. Is there anyone willing to stand up for us and make it illegal to discharge a firearm within a certain distance of a home or do we have to wait for someone to be shot?

“According to state law it is legal, but county or city government can pass more stringent laws. And the more stringent laws will be inforced.”

Many roads and streets throughout the county are poorly lit. Roadway markers are often absent or indiscernible and, overall, our local area is dangerous to travel at night. Streetlights are an expensive remedy, embedded roadway reflectors and/or reflective road paint to indicate lane markings and roadside borders would save lives and reduce property damage at far less cost. What will you do to remedy this problem?

“I believe that anything that would make roads saver to save lives should be done.”

Perry Smith

• AGE: 58

• EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS: Jeffersonville High School (1968); Kentucky School of Mortuary Science; Indiana Law Enforcement Academy

• CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: E.M. Coots Funeral Home, Jeffersonville, 40 years.

Clarksville Police Department (Feb.-Nov. 1980)

• FAMILY NOTES: Daughter, Tiffany Smith; son, Charles Brandon Smith; grandson, Braydan Smith Ballard; mother, Etta Louise Morrison Cain; brother, Jerry R. Smith.

1) Why are you running for this office?

“1. To complete the County Council’s Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Recovery, that was passed in 2003.

“2. The County operation needs to adjust to “income interest” lost after 9/11.

“3. To make County government function better by improved dialogue with the Commissioner’s office.”

2) What is the most important issue facing this position and what is your plan to resolve it?

“We need new revenue sources, aside from just taxing households. We need to be creative in redevelopment, planning and in the utility area. Creative hard work, together, can bring new revenue ideas to the table.”

3) What unique contribution will you make to local office?

“My experience is a plus. I want to see the Council’s Long-Range Plan work, fulfilled and completed. I am not afraid to be a peacemaker between different factions. We need to all sit around the table and build consensus.”

4) Have you ever been convicted of a non-traffic court crime in the United States? If so, please explain all relevant instances.

“No.”

READER-SUBMITTED QUESTIONS

What do you think should be the local role and responsibility in dealing with illegal immigration?

“As a Council member I was following laws passed by the Congress and State governments. The local role is to recognize that our society is changing. We need to better support the different cultures no being shared with us.”

Do you consider yourself a progressive? How would you define progress? What gets left behind in your vision of progress?

“Yes. Progress is defined to include putting aside political agendas to better deliver county services. The last couple of years have seen a lot of complaining, without trying to fix problems. If the airport is a problem, let’s fix it. If we are short-staffed on zoning oversight, let’s fix it. Just complaining and criticizing gets us nowhere.”

We live in the county in an unincorporated subdivision. We have neighbors who target shoot and have even shot a deer while sitting on their deck. There is no law to keep them from doing this as long as the target meets certain standards. Is there anyone willing to stand up for us and make it illegal to discharge a firearm within a certain distance of a home or do we have to wait for someone to be shot?

“I would work and support a strong local ordinance that would assure safety of cities and surrounding property.”

Many roads and streets throughout the county are poorly lit. Roadway markers are often absent or indiscernible and, overall, our local area is dangerous to travel at night. Streetlights are an expensive remedy, embedded roadway reflectors and/or reflective road paint to indicate lane markings and roadside borders would save lives and reduce property damage at far less cost. What will you do to remedy this problem?

“Roads and streets are the responsibility of state government and the commissioners when passed down to them. State money has been delivered here. It is being held up. Other road and bridge money has been delivered too and the current Council won’t release it. If the State intends us to make roads better and safer I am 100 percent in favor of following the State lead and voting to release this money to be used on our roads and bridges.”

Kevin Vissing

1) Why are you running for this office?

“I am running because I have a great interest in politics, and would like to perform this type of public service, and as many say, I would like to give back to my community.”

2) What is the most important issue facing this position and what is your plan to resolve it?

“Running government efficiently, and trying to continue services without raising taxes.”

3) What unique contribution will you make to local office?

“I have always been a problem solver. I also feel I have a lot of common sense. I have been involved in many different things in my life which will help with decisions that will have to be made.

“I also get along very well with people, and will try to work with other council persons.”

4) Have you ever been convicted of a non-traffic court crime in the United States? If so, please explain all relevant instances.

“No.”

READER-SUBMITTED QUESTIONS

What do you think should be the local role and responsibility in dealing with illegal immigration?

“The local role would be to assist the Federal Government when asked, as long as it doesn't bust our budget. I feel that the Federal Government should control our borders.”

Do you consider yourself a progressive? How would you define progress? What gets left behind in your vision of progress?

“I consider myself progressive. Progress is moving forward without forgetting the past. Giving everybody what they may want, doesn't always serve progress well. An example of this is the building of our bridges over the Ohio. Progress has been set back because too many special interest groups were involved.”

We live in the county in an unincorporated subdivision. We have neighbors who target shoot and have even shot a deer while sitting on their deck. There is no law to keep them from doing this as long as the target meets certain standards. Is there anyone willing to stand up for us and make it illegal to discharge a firearm within a certain distance of a home or do we have to wait for someone to be shot?

“I am a gun owner, but do believe that there should be some criteria to enhance the safety of home owners. Common sense doesn't always prevail when guns are involved. Clark County Council does not have the authority to make laws or ordinances.”

Many roads and streets throughout the county are poorly lit. Roadway markers are often absent or indiscernible and, overall, our local area is dangerous to travel at night. Streetlights are an expensive remedy, embedded roadway reflectors and/or reflective road paint to indicate lane markings and roadside borders would save lives and reduce property damage at far less cost. What will you do to remedy this problem?

“I think if the funding is there, the road markers or embedded roadway reflectors should be installed. As state government keeps pulling back funding, it may be difficult to do this. Please go to my website http://www.kevinvissing.com if you would like to find out more about me.”

Candidates(s) listed on the ballot that did not submit questionnaires by deadline include: Thomas Campbell of Charlestown; and Charles “Chuck” Moore II of Jeffersonville.