Somebody sent me the list of questions the Cabarrus Observer-affiliate “The Cabarrus Neighbors” is using for the Board of Commissioners candidates.
They are timely and engaging…FOR THE 2006 ELECTION!
If you don’t believe me, check them out for yourself; and see how you can do something about it
The Hard-Hitting Questions!
Commissioners approved $168.4 million in borrowing to help the North Carolina Research Campus without allowing residents to vote on the matter, and commissioners seem headed toward borrowing money to build some schools without holding a referendum. In both cases, commissioner have said the needs are critical and they can’t wait for results from a public vote. Do you agree?
Can anybody tell me if there are any outstanding financing issues with the NCRC to be handled by the Cabarrus BOC? Didn’t think so.
The N.C. Supreme Court will settle the issue over the county’s controversial jail planned for downtown Concord. County officials are talking about building additional buildings in that area, including a new courthouse. Should the county change the process it uses to consult residents on such projects? If so, how?
OK. I’m thinking - as a money making venture for this blog: I’m going to take bets on if the local papers manage to make the Jail an issue in the 2010 election. Take a guess what the house position will be.
What steps should the county take to help manage growth?
The Candidate Response: “ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Huh? Wah? Oh, pardon me while I take out my stock answer.”
Really, guys, you couldn’t get more specific? How about permitting? Lot fees?
Your Opportunity To Do Something About It
On Thursday, the Cabarrus County Republican Men’s Club will meet at the Hibernian Hall in Harrisburg and hold a candidate forum for those running for the GOP nominations for the two open commissioners slots this year. The questions list will be finalized before the meeting; but put in your suggestions for questions here ASAP and they’ll be considered for the forum.
The meeting will be at 7:30 PM.
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14 responses so far ↓
1 Steve Smith // Mar 25, 2008 at 6:41 pm
My question would be: How do you stand concerning the Homestead Exemption income level being increased to 50,000.00 and capping the valuation level for seniors at the 2004 valuation level????
2 Aaron // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Here’s a good’n:
We have seen the drastic backlog of the courts system in Mecklenburg County. Given our growth in recent years and our new jail which will soon be constructed (hopefully):
What would your position be on mimicking the Durham approach of providing the state courts with additional local funding for things such as additional assistant district attorney’s and clerks of court or the additional funds to hold more jury trials to clear the backlog of cases and ensure the defendants right to speedy trial?
3 Mark Smith // Mar 26, 2008 at 2:02 pm
(1) What is your favorite color?
(2) What is your quest?
(3) What is the capital of Assyria?
(4) What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow (Extra credit if you give both African and European)?
I’m sure there’s a link to see these questions asked and answered on YouTube.
Sorry, but I couldn’t resist.
4 liz poole // Mar 27, 2008 at 8:48 am
1) Blue
2) County Commissioner
3) Four actually: Ashur, Calah, Dur Sharrukin or Khorsabad and Nineveh (all now ruins in Iraq.)
4) European Swallow is roughly 11 meters per second or 24 miles per hour.
http://www.style.org/unladenswallow
Now, get on with it.
5 Steve Smith // Mar 27, 2008 at 10:07 am
Liz
How about the other questions? Where do you stand on them????
6 Justin Thibault // Mar 27, 2008 at 10:14 am
Steve - You can ask her all of the questions you want to at tonight’s forum at Hiberium Hall in Harrisburg at 7PM.
7 Mark Smith // Mar 27, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Thanks for being a good sport Liz.
8 Bob Carruth // Apr 3, 2008 at 12:02 am
Okay, here’s the answer I thought of to Aaron’s question, after the forum was completed:
Since the Durham County DA had enough time and funding to pursue three innocent Lacrosse players for rape, if we provide local funds for our courts, does that mean that check fraud cases get prosecuted here?
(rimshot)
9 Steven H Smith // Apr 3, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I guess no one wants to answer questions in this forum because their answers may come back to haunt them
(rimshot)
10 Justin Thibault // Apr 3, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Steve - It’s funny that you mention that; because every candidate and elected official that I could find an e-mail for was given an account for this blog, and has received two e-mails explaining - in detail - the parameters.
11 Steven H Smith // Apr 4, 2008 at 6:05 pm
The ball would be in their court now!!!!!
12 Aaron // Apr 5, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Bob:
OK, now that I’ve gotten my sides stitched together:
Actually the answer to that part of the question would be both a yes and a no. BUT: With a jail that was planned to be big enough for both current and future needs (gosh, what a novel idea) we would theoretically be able to put a huge portion of folks like that through the correctional system. This might only allow for 30 day sentences but it’s enough to get our point across that we are finally serious about our crime problems in this county.
More importantly, we might be able to try the “scared straight” approach with these first time offenders so they don’t become courtroom regulars like the moron’s in the Eve Carson case.
I would never go so far as to suggest that we start helping the state build prisons, hell, we’re already talking about doing one of their two primary functions by simply tossing around the idea of doing our “own” road improvements with our own money. But when we don’t have enough money to do but 2 weeks of jury trials PER YEAR! then we’re asking for a heap of trouble.
Overall, I think that with the right explanations you’d get a lot more folks to go along with minor tax increases for road improvements and adding staff for crime prevention than you would for nifty light rail lines and corporate give aways…
Your Thoughts Bob? (or any other candidates with the cajones to respond as Bob seems to be running away with the “cheap seats voting block”)
13 Justin Thibault // Apr 6, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Aaron - In all fairness, Bob knew about the Cheap Seats before many of the candidates. I think over the next few weeks you should be seeing some more participation.
14 Steve Smith // Apr 16, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I see that Liz’s children have found the forum, at least to the extent of defending her “shout out” remarks…..