Tuesday, December 29, 2009 • 10
The Jacksonville News
SEAT 40 QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS
The upcoming election is important to this area. Being informed on the candidates and where they stand on the issues affecting District 40 can help our readers make informed decisions during the elections. The Jacksonville News and The Piedmont Journal recently sent out questionnaires to all the candidates run-
What are your plans and goals for District 40? What is most important to get started on?
BROWN
DILL
ning for House Seat 40. Each candidate received the same questions and where given time to respond. Below, the candidates and their responses are listed alphabetically by last name. The full response chart with even more information will be available for download on our website: www.jaxnews.com.
During these tough economic times, how do you plan to help bring jobs to District 40?
For our readers in Jacksonville, what do you plan to do specifically for the city of Jacksonville?
As earlier stated, I plan to work extensively with the Chamber of Commerce, the EDC and other organizations to help bring new industry and new jobs as well as enhance existing businesses. Once the Eastern Bypass is complete, I strongly believe McClellan will be a booming development if we can all work together collectively and stop the power struggles that have slowed progress. We have to be willing to look for ways to improve infrastructure in order to attract new businesses. A new sewer treatment plant is a must in order to meet the needs of this new development at McClellan.
I would work very closely with Jacksonville’s elected officials, many of whom I have worked with for many years, to see that our needs coming out of Montgomery are met. I will be constantly be looking for grants and other means of funding for special infrastructure as well as education projects here in Jacksonville. I would also make myself available at any time, to address problems that come up to which I might find a solution. It would be nice to schedule maybe quarterly, town hall chats where we could come together and seek solutions to new challenges.
“Improving Alabama’s economy is my top priority. I am calling for a five point plan for real economic growth. 1. Create a small business task force charged with assisting Alabama businesses who re-hire laid off workers and for providing health insurance to their employees. 2. Aggressively recruit new businesses to locate in Alabama. 3. Make certain Alabama remains a right-to-work state. 4. Expand the role of the state workforce planning council and aggressively empower Alabama workers to become a highly skilled, competitive workforce. 5. Allocate every available education dollar directly into the classroom for instruction.”
I plan to work with the Alabama Development Office to recruit new businesses to our district. In conjunction with the Alabama Industrial Development Training, the Governor’s Office or Workforce Development and the State Workforce Planning Council we will be able to train workers to become a highly-skilled, competitive workforce that will be attractive to incoming industry.
One issue at the forefront is dealing with the aging storm water drainage system that is leaking into the waste water system. Because of this condition the waste water treatment plant experiences overload during times of heavy rain. This issue must be addressed to remain compliant with EPA regulations. I have met, along with Jacksonville’s elected officials with Alabama’s State Finance Director and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management regarding this issue in attempts to secure funding sources to update the system and I will continue to work aggressively on the issue when elected.
My first area of focus will be to check with the Legislative Department to make sure my tax bill is in the proper form, and then to the Fiscal Department so they can put the numbers to it, so I can present it to the Legislature and get it passed, so it can be on the ballot in November for the citizens to vote on. My bill can be found in full at www.carolhagan.com
I plan to get my tax plan passed, so companies will want to come to Alabama to do business because they won’t have to add all the hidden taxes to the cost of doing business and pass them on to their customers. Also, they won’t have to negotiate with the State to get tax concessions to come here.
My priority as representative will be to work with the agencies in the district and on the state level for economic development and industrial growth. I have met with the Staff of the Economic Development Council of Calhoun County and learned of the planning and preparations for industrial growth in the county. The Staff of the EDC has worked very hard and are prepared for new industry with property that has already been developed. They work with other agencies such as the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission and the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce. The Alabama Development Office and the ADECA are two state agencies I want to consistently pursue for this area. We have a lot to offer industry and new businesses. I also want to work to keep our current businesses viable.
District 40 has a low crime rate, low property taxes, low income taxes, two of the state’s top fifty schools, according to the recent U.S. News and World Report High School Rankings, a business friendly environment with State tax incentives, low utility rates, and available industrial sites with buildings already in place awaiting industry. Our county has the Northeast Alabama Entrepreneurial System where new businesses can get established with office space, manufacturing space, business guidance and counsel, and business assistance networking. These new businesses get established and become viable employers for the communities. I plan to work with the local agencies and the state agencies to aggressively pursue industry for this region.
I will represent all of the cities in District 40 with equal attention to their needs. As I have been campaigning, many people have reminded me not to forget about their community if I get elected. All of the communities in district 40 are as equally important as the other. However, in answer to your specific question about the city of Jacksonville, as the District 40 representative, I will work for the City of Jacksonville on a state level to ensure that Jacksonville State University gets the funding it needs to continue to be viable and competitive.
Government can help to create the conditions for economic development. Jobs follow when this development occurs. Maintaining a low tax rate and developing infrastructure is key. Long term, we must have a world class educational system that extends all the way through JSU. I will personally get involved in negotiations to bring business and industry into the area. Nothing will be too small for attention. Further, regional development must occur. This will be done by working with other representatives, senators, and our federal officials to make this happen. I am well situated to work across boundaries.
Specifically, I promise to work hard to maintain education funding for both the public school system and JSU. I also will work hard to see that infrastructure projects are developed and seen to completion. Increasing the city’s grant writing capability will be of importance and I will help in every way that I can in that regard. Even though the rains have come and the drought seems like a distant memory, we needs to upgrade our water supply an system. I will work in that area to improve the system. Additionally, I promise to be accessible and to listen to your concerns. I will represent the city’s needs to the best of my ability. Sharon and I have chosen to make our home in Jacksonville. We love our city and will work to make it as good as it can be.
I met with Dr. William Meehan, President of JSU, and with Dr. Lawson Veasey and they liked my idea to have JSU sponsor a Candidates Forum of all candidates for Governor. They are going to make it a really big event!! Whoever is elected Governor will get to meet our wonderful people in this community, and I know will be eager to help us get more jobs. Dr. Meehan is also going to allow me to work with him to expand the Nursing School to include a Doctoral Program in Nursing! I’m also going to also work with JSU on expanding their Emergency Management Program to include a Doctoral in Emergency Management. JSU, as our largest employer, will have to expand their staff to do these new programs which will bring more students and more business to the community. I have also covered my plans about jobs above.
I intend to coordinate between the EDC and ADO to bring more effort to developing industry and jobs.
The most important area of focus initially would be bringing more jobs to our district. With an unemployment rate of over 11% in our county, we need to focus on bringing more, good paying jobs for those who are not working. By working with the local Chamber and EDC, we can have an impact on job creation in our district. I have an established relationship with individuals who can best make this happen and have worked with many of them on other Boards and projects in our communities. I am a team player and it’s not about what “I” can do, but what about “we” can do together.
Get my tax plan passed. (www.carolhagan.com)
HAGAN
JONES
LESTER
Economic development is crucial. We must grow existing business and industry and attract new development to the area. This allows the tax base to expand. We can then properly fund development. Additionally, infrastructure is important. Infrastructure improvements attract development. This must be done while keeping taxes low. We cannot tax our way out of these problems. Growing the tax base helps everyone. Education must be “front and center.” The next generation must be prepared for a more complex world. K-12 and higher education must be healthy or long-term prosperity will be in jeopardy. Funding for education must be a top priority. I will fight for both K-12 and JSU. As an educator, I have a deep appreciation for how important education is to our future. The federal government has provided funds to prop up state and local budgets. This cannot continue. Federal funds will become harder to obtain. Our cities and our county need capable grant writers or we will be at a decided disadvantage in seeking the shrinking pot of federal funds. I will personally get involved in grant projects to insure success.
I am able to be a full-time State Representative because I have sold off part of my business. Having time available will give me the opportunity to coordinate with the cities in District 40 and our part of the County. I intend to pass whatever legislation is needed to enable our cities and for the County to have the ability to set up Commercial Development Authorities to build the retail tax base – if we can increase the income from sales taxes we can have more prosperity without increasing other taxes. I also intend to try to get our share of sales tax from internet sales. SHELTON
WHALEY
My priorities are jobs and education. I know more than anybody that a strong local economy starts with the best education we can give our children. As most of you know education has suffered back to back years of proration. Jacksonville City Schools lost $1 million, Piedmont City lost $600,000 and Calhoun County lost $5 million. JSU is one of the district’s largest employers. JSU had $49.3 million in state fund in 2008. This year JSU will get $40 million, a 25% cut! When JSU is cut everyone hurts. It is time to make sure the big boys pay their fair share. All state income taxes are earmarked for education. I will work with Education Appropriations Chairman Representative Lindsey (D) Centre, Alabama to restore JSU’s funding. Some corporations that make millions in income here pay less state income taxes than you or me, using special accounting gimmicks and loopholes. This is money that should go to our children and JSU. The Legislature has closed some loopholes, but there are others we have to look at. You and I pay our state income taxes, so should the big out of state corporations. It is only fair and it allows the small business man to compete on more level field. Whether it is teaching students a trade or working with them on skills that will garner success in college, I have worked hard at making sure the next generation is ready. I will bring my unique experience to the Statehouse, and you know I will make sure that Calhoun County gets the support it needs to move forward. Senior citizens, veterans, family farms, and rural fire departments are other issues that are important to me as well. In addition, I believe prisoners should have to work for their keep and every citizen deserves the right to bear arms.
As the area legislator, I will be in constant contact with the Alabama Development Office (ADO), the state agency that coordinates with companies looking to locate in our state. I will know what companies have put out proposals to be on constant lookout for a potential fit with area sites. I will work with the Mayor and the city council to highlight industrial sites now more attractive with the bypass. Make no mistake, a hardworking, and knowledgeable representative can make all the difference in the world when it comes to bringing resources and opportunity to our area. The state also has one of the nation’s top industrial training programs, AIDT, and I would like them to do an assessment of the skilled labor of our area so we may promote it to possible industries.
Jacksonville is in an ideal location between Atlanta and Birmingham, situated right in the corridor of auto manufacturers located in the South. Alabama is 5th in the nation in automobile assembly, and Jacksonville has the potential to attract satellite industries associated with the industry. The problem has been access to the Interstate highways which have been hampered by slow traffic up through Anniston or down from Gadsden. This is about to change with the completion of the Eastern Bypass, drastically reducing the amount of time for Jacksonville goods to reach I-20. However, even after the completion of the bypass, Jacksonville and northern Calhoun County must continue to improve roads. I will work to see that our area gets its share of road funds. Also, it is important for the for companies to know Jacksonville’s other great asset: its people. Businesses and industries want to locate in communities that have a strong, educated workforce. Jacksonville certainly meets the criteria with the skilled employees who gave many years of loyal service to companies like Federal Mogul and Parker. I know first hand a strong advocate can be critical for economic development. When I served on the Redevelopment Board for Ft. McClellan the promotion of the land and the infrastructure took a constant effort. We have begun to see development, but with added transportation infrastructure that could speed up considerably.