County Commission questionnaire Ted Hensley 2nd District

These answers are from:  Ted Hensley    2nd District

Please understand first off:  I am no politician. I am simply a local citizen, having 100-year-old roots in Greene County, who has made his own way in various business enterprises, and now wishes to bring this entrepreneurial experience to our local government.  And having recently completed a class on the Constitution, I feel that I am grounded in the proper, limited role of government as designed by our Founders.

1) Q. The proposed Jail: I have not had the opportunity to evaluate the entire proposal. If elected and this issue comes up-I would want to see a very thorough analysis based on investment vs. returns, the various risks involved, potential employment potential, and all other aspects before making a final decision.  Only if it makes perfect business sense, and only if there are no potentials for private enterprise to perform these services-only then would I be in favor or for the proposal.

a)Are you in favor of building a new Jail, if so how do you propose to pay for it?

b) Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?

c) How do you see our county, Greene, benefiting from building this facility?

d) If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

2) Q. The Hatch Act: Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to, if , “NO” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

Only recently have I become familiar with the Act as reported in ‘The Greeneville Sun’. I do agree that we need blocks in place that would prevent ‘self-dealing’, ‘nepotism’, ‘cronyism’, or any other way that an elected official could use public funds to pad their own pockets, or the pockets of friends or relatives or could in some way enhance their chance of reelection by passing our favors from the public treasury.

3) Q. Property Taxes: We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property. Do you think this is a tax increase?

 Being a working Real Estate Broker who owns and manages an office with 33 agents-I am very familiar with the property tax situation. As you know, we are reassessed by the State every five  years.  Unfortunately the recent appraisals were based on the exceptional value folks were getting at the peak of the real estate bubble.  That bubble has bust and most folks could not sell their property today for what the appraised amount actually is. I do know that State Law prevents a county from profiting as a result of the reappraisals and consequently the rate was reduced accordingly so there would be no net gain. For the county, I believe the rate went from $1.85 /hundred down to about $1.50/hundred. That said, I think we are looking at a lowering of the appraisals and the setting of a new rate as something is only as valuable as what someone is willing to pay you for it.

4) Q. Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?Regarding the County Debt:  I believe that there are numerous areas that the county could see savings through increased efficiency. I am proposing a new way for the county to do business. If elected, it is my intention to initiate and set up what I am calling ‘Volunteer Citizen Action Committees’, My goal would be for all citizens who wish to step up have a committee that they could become a part of in order to bring fresh ideas and expertise to our myriad of issues and problems. One example of what could become dozens of committees would be one for energy in our public buildings. You are a retired person (or out of work drawing unemployment) with expertise in energy? Then how about you take one building, say a school, do a thorough analysis of energy needs-then make recommendations to the School Board as part of facility management.  We need ‘Volunteer Citizen Action Committees’ to look at the details of the various budgets, transportation (school buses, patrol cars), maintenance of facilities, telecommunications, insurance, etc. so that all areas are examined and made as efficient as possible. Through the savings of increased efficiency (and total elimination of some programs if found to be outmoded or ineffective) we will pay down our debt, keep our taxes low (or reduce), and have a more effective government.  This is the way it was intended by the Founders. Average citizens stepping up when needed to help solve problems-not relying on ‘career politicians’.

5) Q. In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

  Regarding areas to cut budget:  See #4 above-ALL areas of government need to be scrutinized and rolled back where possible.

6) Q .What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board? 

 What projects do I support:  I have outlined above my own project. I do not know of other projects that are presently or may in the future come before the board. Each project must be analyzed as they come up. Are they even Constitutionally mandated? Are they financially responsible? Do they solve some greater need that cannot be performed by the private sector? Do they promote business and free-market activities? Do they promote self-sufficiency in the citizens? Do they unnecessarily increase the size of government? These are just a few of the questions I would want answers to before reaching a decision.

7) Q. Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization? Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the partnership?

 Regarding the Partnership:  I would love to see a complete and fresh analysis as to the value to the Citizens of contributing to the Partnership. It may be that this effort has run its course and that another more effective and less costly way can be found to attract the industry we so desperately need in Greene County.

8) Q. What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

Regarding our financial management system: I have been seeking information from various sources on all aspects of our county government. I would like to review our Charter, or Constitution, or Articles of Incorporation, or whatever else we are supposedly operating under. At present, I have not found and reviewed any of these documents-obviously including the financial management system documentation.

a)Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

b)County Financial Management System of 1981

c)Financial management under the General Law?

9) Q. The Dept. of Education – School Budget:

  Regarding our School Budget: Not having been involved previously, I do not know the details of the budget for this important service. However, as I have stated above, we need to perform a top to bottom analysis of not only the School Budget, but all other areas as well. Looking at other systems in our area and the apparent effectiveness of their educational systems-it does not seem to me that simply throwing additional funding at the problems is the answer. Along with my concept of Volunteer Citizen Action Committees, it is my intention to implement an across the county program that might operate like a contest for our teachers and students. We could have competitions among the schools at the various grade levels-but to set up a program where each student or employee of the system would be encouraged to come up with their own ideas as to how to  make the system operate more efficiently by keeping operating costs down while increasing the effectiveness of turning out students that are better prepared for the future. We might offer special awards for the winners or other incentives that will get them on board, take ownership in the process, and hopefully work to help implement their own ideas.

a) Do you think more money spent of education would improve our system of education?

b) If you think more money would be beneficial, what areas would you spend it on?

10) Q. What laws take precedent, county, state, federal? 

 Regarding our form of government:  What we do not have is a democracy.  We live in a Representative Republic. The original States that were operating under the Articles of Confederation did realize that there needed to be a national form of government which was given certain enumerated (numbered) powers. These were primarily for Common Defense of our Nation, and for the promotion of the General Welfare (not specific!).  On the Federal level, these powers have been expanded to now mandate most every aspect of our lives, which was the fear our Founders had from the beginning. This is why there were so many checks and balances put into the system. Unfortunately, liberal judges have reinterpreted many of these concepts so as to add to the power and control of the Federal government. It is up to us,’We the People’, to take back the control of our country- roll these powers back-and return us to the way it was ment to be.

Remarks:  I feel that we stand at the edge of a great precipice that leads down to total tyranny. Only by returning to original intentions of the Founders and acknowledging God as the source of all our law and wisdom can we hope to provide the American Dream for our children as we ourselves have enjoyed in this great country of ours. Only by each of us stepping up to the challenge and pulling together can we have any hope of accomplishing this goal.

God Bless what’s left of the USA!

What kind of government did the Founding Fathers Give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our country?

　

These answers are from:

1) Q. The proposed Jail:

a)Are you in favor of building a new Jail, if so how do you propose to pay for it?

b) Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?

c) How do you see our county, Greene, benefiting from building this facility?

d) If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

2) Q. The Hatch Act: Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to, if , “NO” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

3) Q. Property Taxes: We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property. Do you think this is a tax increase?

4) Q. Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?

5) Q. In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

6) Q .What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board?

7) Q. Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization? Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the partnership?

.

8) Q. What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

a)Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

b)County Financial Management System of 1981

c)Financial management under the General Law?

9) Q. The Dept. of Education – School Budget:

a) Do you think more money spent of education would improve our system of education?

b) If you think more money would be beneficial, what areas would you spend it on?

10) Q. What laws take precedent, county, state, federal?

What kind of government did the Founding Fathers Give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our country?

　

10 Questions for Brenda Grogan 2010 County Commission Board

These answers are from:      Brenda Grogan      8th District 

1) Q. The proposed Jail:

a) Are you in favor of building a new jail? If so , how do you propose to pay for it?

b) Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?

c) How do you see our county, Greene, benefiting from building this facility?

d) If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

   A.   I am not in favor of the proposed jail.

2) Q. The Hatch Act: Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to, if , “NO” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

      A.  I think that if you fall under the “Hatch Act” you should honor the law.

3) Q. Property Taxes: We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property. Do you think this is a tax increase?

     A.  Yes!!

4) Q. Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?

    A.  Ask the mayor.  Commissioners hands are sometimes tied. 

5) Q. In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

     A.  All departments being more accountable.

6) Q .What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board?

      A.  Support projects to bring employment to Greene County.  Oppose nothing that will bring profit and prosperity to our community.

7) Q. Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization? Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the partnership?

.     A.   Economic development is an ongoing process.  Yes, we have been progressing with their help.  Some people get the message and some don’t!! 

8) Q. What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

a)Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

b)County Financial Management System of 1981

c)Financial management under the General Law?

     A.  Fiscal Control Acts of 1957 and County Financial Management System of 1981.  There was a change or changes made that not everyone is clear on this status.

9) Q. The Dept. of Education – School Budget:

a) Do you think more money spent of education would improve our system of education?

b) If you think more money would be beneficial, what areas would you spend it on?

     A.  Yes.  Teachers and buildings. Our children deserve more.

10) Q. What laws take precedent, county, state, federal?

What kind of government did the Founding Fathers Give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our country?

     A.   a) Federal.   b) Principals and values – no we don’t.

　Remarks:   Thank you!

Questionaire for Jan Kiker County Commission Election 2010

These answers are from:   Jan Kiker     7th district

1) Q. The proposed Jail:

          a)Are you in favor of building a new Jail, if so how do you propose to pay for it?

          b) Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?

           c) How do you see our county, Greene, benefiting from building this facility?

           d) If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

       A.  I am NOT in favor of building a new jail!

2) Q. The Hatch Act: Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to, if , “NO” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

      A.  I believe that if there is a Federal Law, such as the Hatch Act, that is does need to be enforced.

3) Q. Property Taxes: We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property. Do you think this is a tax increase?

      A.  I think the appraisal is a tax increase.  However, the appraisal is determined by the state, not by the county commission.

4) Q. Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?

     A. 1) By not taking on any more debt.  2) Having a county financial manager that does not allow spending more than we are taking in.  3) When we have extra revenue, apply it to the debt. 

5) Q. In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

     A.  Because of Maintenance of Effort it is hard to cut budgets. However, I think overtime in most departments is a place to start.

6) Q .What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board?

      A.  Not knowing what projects may come about in the future, it is hard to comment.  However, I believe our Road Department and Education Department have projects that need to be funded.

7) Q. Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization? Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the partnership?

       A.  I believe if we had the right person in charge, the Greene Co. Partnership would be a great asset.  I believe that the programs the Partnership sponsors, such as tourism and keep green beautiful, are beneficial to our community.

8) Q. What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

a)Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

b)County Financial Management System of 1981

c)Financial management under the General Law?

     A.  Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

9) Q. The Dept. of Education – School Budget:

           a) Do you think more money spent of education would improve our system of education?

            b) If you think more money would be beneficial, what areas would you spend it on?

      A.   a)Yes.   b) New buildings and updated technology

10) Q. What laws take precedent, county, state, federal?  

What kind of government did the Founding Fathers Give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our country?

         A.  I think all laws should be adhered to whether they are county, state or federal.  Our Founding Fathers set up a Federal system whereby there is one person, one vote and I believe we follow that as closely as possible today.  Extending the right to vote to everyone.

　

Margaret Greenway 2010 County Commission

These answers are from:   Margaret S. Greenway      6th District

1) Q. The proposed Jail:

a)Are you in favor of building a new Jail, if so how do you propose to pay for it?

 b) Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?

 c) How do you see our county, Greene, benefiting from building this facility?

 d) If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

      A.  NO

2) Q. The Hatch Act: Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to, if  “NO” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

       A. Yes, if the Hatch Act is a law, than we must abide by the law.  If the Hatch Act law isn’t a good law, do away with the Hatch Act Law.

3) Q. Property Taxes: We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property. Do you think this is a tax increase?

      A.  Yes

4) Q. Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?

       A.  There will have to be a cut back in the county government budget.

5) Q. In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

      A.   First there must be a study of every department of Greene County government, then we can move forward toward the future. (This applies to questions 4 and 5)

6) Q .What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board?

      A.  I will have to take a look at the projects that will be coming up in the next four years.

7) Q. Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization? Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the partnership?

      A.  This money comes from the hotel and motel taxes that are collected.

                    1/2 goes to tourism   1/2 goes to industrial development   The industrial part has been left behind.  Why?

8) Q. What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

        a)Fiscal Control Acts of 1957   

        b)County Financial Management System of 1981

         c)Financial management under the General Law?

     A. The 1957 Act

9) Q. The Dept. of Education – School Budget:

             a) Do you think more money spent of education would improve our system of education?

              b) If you think more money would be beneficial, what areas would you spend it on?

     A.  The County Commission cannot tell the department of education how to spend their funds.

10) Q. What laws take precedent, county, state, federal?

What kind of government did the Founding Fathers Give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our country?

      A.    The Hatch act was federal.  

                The Founding Fathers spent lots of time on their knees talking to their (our) God.  When the United States stopped seeking Gods advice, our country has been in bad trouble.  No, we do not have that same kind of government.

Remarks:  Thanks to the 912 Project.  I appreciate you thoughtfulness by giving me the project to complete.

10 Question Questionaire for Bill Moss 2010 County Commission

These answers are from:   Bill Moss     8th District

1)   Q. The proposed Jail:  a)Are you in favor of building a new Jail, if so how do you propose to pay for it?  b)  Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?  c) How do you see our county, Greene, benefitting from building this facility?  d) If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

    A.  No

2)   Q.  The Hatch Act:  Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to, if , “NO” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

     A.  Yes

3)   Q.  Property Taxes:  We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property. Do you think this is a tax increase?

     A.  NO.  Possibly for some, but offset by degrees for others.The law requires that overall property tax revenue, except for newly added properties, be the same as before reappraisal.

4)   Q.  Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?

        A.  From recurring revenues.

5)    Q.  In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

       A.  Over the past few years departmental budgets have been pretty much cut to the bone. Without cutting taxpayer services, I do not see much, if any, room for further cuts.

6)   Q.What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board?

      A.  I support increased funding for education and roads.  I also support courthouse updates, and a minimum cost of living increase for employees.  I oppose adding additional personnel.

7)    Q.  Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization?  Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the partnership?

         A.  Absolutely.  The partnership plays a vital role in retention of existing industry and business, and in efforts to attract new investment in the community.

8)   Q.  What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

              a)Fiscal Control Acts of 1957    b)County Financial Management System of 1981    c)Financial management under the General Law?

           A.  (b) County Financial Management system 1981

9)    Q. The Dept. of Education – School Budget:   a) Do you think more money spent of education would improve our system of education?     b)  If you think more money would be beneficial, what areas would you spend it on?

     A.  Yes.    Primarily teachers pay, secondarily, physical facility.  Additions as required to alleviate overcrowding.

10)   Q.  What laws take precedent, county, state, federal?

What kind of government did the Founding Fathers Give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our country?  

      A. Federal  Representative and we still have that kind of govt.

Questions for the Robin Quillen County Commmission Board 2010

 

These answers are from Robin Quillen       3rd District

1)  The proposed jail:

     Q.   a)Are you in  favor of building a new jail, if so how do you propose to pay for it?

           b) Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?

           c) How do you see our county, Greene, benefitting from building this facility?

          d) If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

       A.  a) No    b) Taxpayers pocket    c) I don’t see any benefit    d) I just know that we will house many more Federal criminals here. 

2)   Q. The Hatch Act:  Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to.  If, “No” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

   A. ABSOLUTELY, The law is the law and some people in this county think they are above the law.

3)  Q.  Property taxes:  We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the past few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property.  Do you think this is a tax increase?

      A.  YES

4)   Q. Greene county has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?

        A.  How can we?

5)   Q.  In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

       A.  I would look at departments that have more employees than they have work for them.

6)    Q.  What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board?

         A.  I will always support education and getting more jobs for our fellow Greene Countians.

7)     Q. Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization?  Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the Partnership?

            A.  The last man in charge there burned a blister for me.  Our company, South State Contractors, is working at the new Volkswagen in Chattanooga, my husband offered to get other auto oriented industries in our county signed up to get work there as well.  The Partnership guy was too lazy to do ANYTHING to help promote this.  My husband met with many people, several times, yet no one wanted to grab the bull by the horns and go for it.  The way I see it our county lost a lot of work due to the attitude and lack of interest of the man in charge at the GCP.  So my answer is No!

8)   Q.  What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

             a) Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

              b)  County Financial Management System of 1981

              c)  Financial Management under the General Law

     A.   THE GOOD OLE BOYS SYSTEM!!

9)   Q.  The Department of Education – School Budget:

              a)  Do you thing more money spent on education would improve our system of education?   

              b)  If you think more money would be beneficial , what areas would you spend it on?

     A.  Yes, I would make sure all kids had text books, and to the curriculum and make sure that other kids received as much as handicapped kids.

10)   Q. What laws take precedent,county, state, federal?

What kind of  government did the founding Fathers give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our county?

    A.  We are moving closer to a dictatorship. We do not have the freedom we had years ago.

Remarks:   I would love to get the opportunity to improve our county.

10 question questionnaire for David Moore County Commission 2010

These  answers are from:    David Moore       Running for the  4th district

1)   Q.  The proposed jail:   a) Are you in favor of building a new jail, if so, how do you propose to pay for it?   

        A.  NO

2)   Q.  The Hatch Act:

              Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to.  If, “No” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

       A.   Yes, absolutely.

3)    Q.   Property Taxes:  We haven’t had a property rate tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property.  Do you think this is a tax increase?

         A.   Yes.  No increase, we are taxed enough!!! Property needs to be reappraised due to the economy. Real estate has lost a lot of its value at present. A reappraisal is needed. 

4)     Q.   Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation, how would you propose to pay it off?  

          A.   Look at all county departments, and cut the fat, apply the savings to the debt, for instance #7 question, the money could be applied to the debt.

5)      Q.   In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the debt?

           A.   Any and all areas need to be evaluated and looked at carefully.  Some are bloated, look at all departments.

6)      Q.   What projects would you support or oppose during you term on the County Commission Board?  

           A. Depends on what they are.

7)       Q.   Taxpayer money goes to the Greene County  Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization? Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the Partnership?

           A.  NO   An excellent question!!

8)       Q.   What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

                     a)  Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

                    b)  County Financial Management System of 1981

                    c)  Financial Management under the General Law

             A.  Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

9)         Q. The Department of Education – School Budget:

                    a)  Do you think more money spent on education would improve our system of education?

                   b)  If you think more money would beneficial, what areas would you spend it on?

          A.  No.  Our schools are in need of other things, Books.

10)    Q.   What laws take precedent, county, state, federal?

            A.   federal, state, county

           Q.    What kind of government did the Founding Fathers Give us, and do we still have that kind of government in our country?

            A.  A Republic if we can keep it!

Remarks:  I believe our school children are being dumbed down due to the text books being used.  We need to go back to the three “R’s” and teach the constitution to them.  Each and every one of our presidents since Coolidge has moved us more to socialism and communism

9/12 Questionnaire Nathan Holt

The 912 project sent out a  10 question questionnaire to the candidates that are vying for a position on the County Commission Board.  Here are some of the views and answers that the 912 Project are in agreement with.  We urge you to read their answers and cast your vote for these noteworthy people.

These answers are from:   Nathan R. Holt    Running for the 6th district

1)  Q.The Proposed jail:  a) Are you in favor of building a new jail, if so, how do you propose to pay for it?

A. I am opposed to the construction of a new jail facility.  I am convinced that the construction of a new jail would require a tax increase on our county’s citizens that we cannot afford.  I was privileged to have a conversation with our county’s former budget director regarding this issue, and his conclusion regarding jail construction is that the additional revenue that would be generated from the project is nowhere near enough to cover the additional costs.  Housing inmates is not a profitable business.  If it were, the federal and state government would be doing it themselves instead of paying us to do it for them.  The costs that are not covered by revenue must be made up somewhere. That somewhere is in the form of additional taxes on you and me. No, I am not in favor of building a new jail.  Doing so would push our total debt to well over $100,000,000.  I f we assume that there are 65,000 citizens living in Greene County, $100,000,000 of debt would equate to a debt of over $1,500 per citizen.

b)  Where will the funds come from to maintain the new facility?

A.  Some of the funds would come from housing additional inmates; however, as I have already stated, the revenue from housing additional inmates would not be enough to cover all of the additional costs associated with this project.  Land acquisition and preparation costs, interest on the debt, depreciation costs associated with the new facility, insurance costs, utilities, maintenance costs and increased personnel costs are just a few of the costs that must be considered. There are also social costs we will incur that are not easily quantifiable.  However, these costs also affect our quality of life. Any costs that are not covered by increased revenue from housing inmates must be made up by the taxpayers in the form of higher taxes.  I don’t think any of us want to pay higher taxes, especially to support criminals.  That is why I am in opposition to constructing a new jail.

c)  How do you see our county, Greene, benefiting from building this facility?

A.  Supporters of constructing a new jail tout that it will bring more jobs to Greene County and that inmates will have a better environment.  Greene County definitely needs more jobs. However, more government jobs lead to higher taxes and a larger government.  These are not the conservative principles I adhere to.  More government is the last thing we need.  We need to focus on creating more private sector jobs in Greene County.  Catering to the “needs” of criminals is not on my list of priorities for making Greene County a place of prosperity.  I am not aware of any real benefits of building this facility.

d)  If built, do you think it will change the character of the community?

A.  Yes, the character and landscape of the community will definitely be changed.  A new jail will have a detrimental impact on the character of our community.  When people visit our county they will see that Greene County has misplaced its priorities and neglected to focus on economic prosperity and improving the quality of life for Greene Countians.  What will our county slogan be? “Our schools and roads aren’t that great, but we have one heck of a jail.”  The bottom line is that Greene County has a finite amount of resources and funds.  We need to consider the opportunity costs associated with our decisions.  An opportunity cost is  best described as something given up in order to obtain something else.  I feel that Greene County will miss out on a lot of great opportunities due to the massive commitment that must be made if it decides to construct a new jail.

2)  Q  The Hatch Act:  Do you think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to.  If, “No” please list your objections and do you think it should be expanded to include all that have a conflict?

A.  Yes, I think the Hatch Act should be strictly adhered to.  The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency that investigates and enforces the provisions of the Hatch Act.  I have learned from the research I have conducted on the Office of Special Counsel website that certain individuals are exempt from the Hatch Act even though a conflict may exist.  I feel that it would be in the best interest of the public if all individuals with conflicts were covered by this act. I am not sure though of the likelihood of amending th Hatch Act to include individuals who are now exempt.  For now, the best course of action we can take as citizens is to make sure that the voting public is well-informed in regards to the conflicts of interest that candidates for public office may have.  Well informed voters will know when these conflicts exist with candidates and vote accordingly.  I have always heard that sunshine is the best disinfectant, and I think disclosure of the facts is very important to this process.

3)  Q  Property Taxes:   We haven’t had a property tax increase in the last few years, but, we have had an appraised value increase in property.  Do you think this is a tax increase?

A.  Yes, this is a tax increase.  Tax revenue is a function of the tax rate and the tax base (Tax Revenue = Tax Rate x Tax Base).  Therefore, a tax increase can occur when the tax rate, tax base or some combination of the two is increased.  Hypothetically, if your assessment is $100,000 and the tax rate is 1% your taxes would be $1,000.  If the government wanted to raise your taxes to $2,000 they could either change the tax rate to 2% or increase you assessment to $200,000.  You can call it whatever you want, but either action leads to a tax increase of $1,000.  Due to the 2008 county-wide reappraisal, Greene Countians are currently paying taxes on value they do not possess.

4)  Q  Greene County has a $50 million debt obligation.  How would you propose to pay it off?

A.  The first step to getting out of debt is to not take on anymore debt.  Then, we must make sure that we are servicing our deb (making principal and interest payments) on time.  If we are able, then we should make every effort possible to make additional payments to reduce our debt.  The quicker we are out of debt the better off we are.  My favorite book has some good advice on this issue.  It says that the borrower is a slave to the lender.  Let’s get Greene County’s citizens out of financial slavery. 

5)  Q  In view of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in our economy now, what areas would you look at to cut the budget?

A. I think it is imperative that we re-evaluate the section of the budget entitled “Contributions to Other Agencies.”  I am a strong supporter of our volunteer fire departments, and I think we should do our best to support them.  However, I think there are some other agencies that  receive funding from our county that our citizens do not approve of.  Don’t get me wrong. These organizations provide tremendous services to our citizens.  I am involved in several charitable organizations in our county myself,  but I think that charity should be an individual choice that comes from the heart, not one that is legislated by our county commission.  It is important to remember that our elected officials should provide good stewardship of our funds. My opinion is that we should let our citizens decide whether or not they want to be charitable.  We should not force it upon them through an appropriation.  Our government needs to “stick to the basics.”

  Another area where we could realize savings in is in fuel, vehicle and travel expenses.  Government employees should drive government vehicles only when they are on government time performing government work.  Doing so would save taxpayer dollars.  I know that there are some instances where employees must drive vehicles home due to the type of work they perform, but I think this has been abused in many instances.  County officials should also make an effort to cut out travel expenses as much as possible. Our government employees have a fiduciary duty to be good stewards of our county’s tax dollars.

   I also think we need to step back and evaluate the services provided by our government. If something we are doing does not provide value to our citizens, we should eliminate it.  In addition, we should look to improve the services that are of value. I think there is always room for improvement by studying our processes and doing benchmark studies on other counties who are considered “the best” at providing particular services.  Efficiency studies would also prove worthwhile.  If there is evidence that we can reduce costs and maintain an acceptable level of service, then we should do so.  Greene Countians deserve our best.

6)  Q  What projects would you support or oppose during your term on the County Commission Board?

A.   As a county commissioner, I would graciously welcome input from my constituents regarding projects that are on the commission’s agenda.  I think it is important that we listen to the people since they are, collectively, our boss.  Their input is crucial to the legislative process.  We need to do a more thorough job to acclimatize our citizens to our local government and its day-to-day operations.  I strongly believe that a well-informed citizenry would make an enormous difference in the advancement of Greene County.

   If elected, I would support projects that provide benefit and value to our citizens, and I would oppose projects that did not contribute positively to the well-being of our county’s citizens.  To determine whether a project meets the required criteria for Greene County to pursue, I would consider both the advantages and disadvantages associated with the project and how the project would ultimately affect Greene County.  However, I think it is absolutely necessary that we always remember the scope of government in our decision-making process. We need to ensure that our government is not overstepping its boundaries.  We need to stick to providing and improving basic, fundamental services.  It was not intended for government to be a hindrance for people in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.  As a supporter of capitalism and free enterprise, I think less government is better government.

7)  Q  Tax payer money goes to the Greene County Partnership, why are we, the taxpayer, supporting this organization? Have we seen any benefit from our investment and should we continue to fund the Partnership?

A.  The organization’s website states,”The Greene County partnership’s mission is to promote, preserve and enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of all Greene Countians by providing collective leadership and serving as a facilitator, catalyst and unifying force to achieve common goals.” I think we would all agree that the partnership has a very noble mission.  However, I think the county commission needs to hold them accountable since we are providing funding to support their mission.  Are they enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of all Greene Countians? We need to see results.  We need to receive feedback in regards to significant accomplishments they are making if they are in fact being made.  If they are not making notable progress towards their mission, Greene County should cut funding of the Partnership.  Continued funding without positive results is no better than giving our money away.  Only with results should our financial support of the Partnership continue.

8) Q  What financial management system is Greene County functioning under?

     a) Fiscal Control Acts of 1957   b) County Financial Management System of 1981   c)Financial Management under the General Law?

A.  Greene County currently operates under the Fiscal Control Acts of 1957

9)  Q  The Department of Education – School Budget:  a) Do you think more money spent on education would improve our system of education?

A.  First, I am very proud to say that I am a product of our Greene County School System. I was blessed during my time as a student to have many wonderful educators make a positive impact on my life.  The ability to teach is a priceless gift, and we all should be thankful for the commitment and devotion of our teachers who educate our county’s youth.  I don’t think it is possible to quantify the returns we reap from a citizenry with a strong educational foundation.

   I realize  that it does take a sufficient amount of funding for any operation to be effective.  However, I am not a subscriber of the philosophy that says throwing more and more money at something makes it better.  Teacher pay is a controversial issue that we often hear about.  I think teachers, just like anyone else, deserve a fair wage for their labor.  I also believe that they too, need to be held accountable for the quality of their work.  We need to retain and reward only the educators who are proven to be effective.  The private sector is a good example of how this is done, where only the employees who are productive are retained, rewarded and often advanced.

   Instead of spending more money, I think we need to focus our attention more on the three-way relationship between students, parents and schools.  I am a firm believer that a strong, supportive family environment at home will do much more for a child academically than all of the money in the world.  I was very fortunate to have such a family environment.  I received  a honor’s diploma from West Greene High School, and I ranked 27 out of 866 students when I graduated from ETSU with a degree in accounting and finance.  I learned because my parents taught me the importance of a good education and how it would impact my life. This made me want to learn. Many children are not so fortunate to have parents that care.  They don’t have the motivation to learn. I have read studies that have shown that children raised in a dysfunctional home generally do not perform as well as other children. This is very sad, and I’m convinced that it is at the root of the problem for many children who are not doing well in school.  Spending more money will not help children who are facing this dilemma.  The problem here is a decline in the moral fabric that once saturated this country and held it together. The first step to improving education is getting our people re-acquainted with the basic family values and principles. Improving education is more dependent upon our morality than how much money we spend.  We need to focus on the family.

10)  Q  What laws take precedent, county, state, federal?  Whit kind of a government did the Founding Fathers give us, and do we still have that kind of a government in our country?

A.  Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states that the Constitution “Shall be the supreme Law of the Land.” Therefore, federal law takes precedence in any situation where a conflict exists with state law or any other law.  Amendment X to the Constitution,which is included in the “Bill of Rights,” states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, now prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” This amendment highlights the reserved powers and gives the state’s authority in areas where the Constitution is silent and not prohibitive.

   Our Founding Fathers gave us a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy. They were very wise in doing so. I think many people often get confused on this issue because of the fact that we follow “democratic” principles in things such as elections  The key difference is that a Constitutional Republic limits the powers of our government through a system of checks and balances through the three separate branches of government. Government works for us, not vice-versa. The Founding Fathers were very familiar with tyranny, and they were desperately trying to avoid it resurfacing when forming our government.

   Our leaders today have deviated from what our Founding Fathers envisioned when they gave us a Constitutional Republic. We are drifting further and further away from it as time passes. This has been manifested in the healthcare bill that was just passed.  Our leaders are going against the will of the people. Turn on the television and you will see examples right in front of you on issues such as amnesty for illegal immigrants and a failure to protect our borders. We are failing to enforce our laws. Politicians today are not upholding the Republic our Founding Fathers gave us.

Remarks:  I would like to thank the 912 Project for giving me the opportunity to express my opinions on the important issues that Greene County is facing. As I have expressed, I feel that our success is based not only on our fiscal responsibility, but also on our moral responsibility. I would greatly appreciate the support of the 912 Project in helping me advance Greene County in the right direction regarding these issues.  Thank you

Americans are Awakening to Our Awful Situation

America’s Founding Fathers were students of human nature and how influential people and governments have dealt with human nature throughout the history of this world. In nearly every case, the Founders discovered that powerful people have nearly always sought to gain mastery over others. Whether by force or by slow deceptive means, power-hungry individuals have sought to thrust themselves into positions where they can control the lives, liberty, and property of others. The distaste for this kind of control is what led Thomas Jefferson to proclaim, “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal vigilance against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” Generally, this kind of power, which tends to pander to the pretended needs of the masses and thereby invades the unalienable rights of individuals, is known as socialism.

The Many Faces of Socialism

The classical definition of socialism is: Government ownership or control of all the means of production and all the means of distribution in a society.

In order to achieve these objectives, socialists throughout history have used different strategies and tactics, depending on how much power they have and what they can get (or force) the people to accept, but their ultimate goal of total control remains the same. Here are the main kinds of socialism that have been used:

Communism is “International Revolutionary Socialism.” It uses the tactics of terrorism, violence, subversion and propaganda against other nations as though it were at war with them. Even while pretending to work for peace, it exerts all of its resources preparing for war.

Nazism is “National Socialism.” This system is designed to set up a Socialist military dictatorship in one country at a time. In Germany the word, “Nazi” was an abbreviation for “National Socialism.”

Fascism is the form of National Socialism which was set up in Italy under Benito Mussolini. He told the people they could keep their property, but the government would just tell them what to do with it.

Democratic Socialism seeks to achieve its goals by peaceful means. Its purpose is to acquire control of the means of production and distribution with the people’s consent. The Democratic Socialists found that they could only achieve this by appealing to individual economic groups. For example, farmers were told they would be bailed out if their crops failed, factory workers were told they would share the profits of the factory, and the businesses are told they would control certain industries so as to limit competition.

Fabian Socialism is closely related to democratic socialism. It is a deliberately deceptive method of getting Socialist control over the people and their property while pretending to be merely helping the unfortunate. Every crisis or emergency is used as an excuse to greatly increase taxes. It constantly emphasizes that people should look to government to solve the problems of the poor, the sick, the unemployed, the elderly, the young, the bankrupt, the under-educated, the under-privileged, etc. There is also a constant emphasis on the transfer of power   from the individual to the local government and then from the local government to the Federal Government. The process of nibbling away at the constitutional structure of freedom and property rights is called gradualism. The name Fabian comes from a Roman general named Fabius who became famous for his ability to win wars by whittling away the forces of his enemies a littl e at a time. The cynical sense of humor of the Fabian Socialists is demonstrated in their coat-of-arms which is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

It was almost exclusively the tactics of the Democratic and Fabian Socialists which were used to drastically change the political and economic structure of both England and the U.S.

The Founders considered Socialism a serious threat to freedom

The Founding Fathers recognized the principles of Socialism as a deadly threat to the inalienable rights of life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness.

Samuel Adams, pointed out why they had tried to make the principles of Socialism unconstitutional. He said:

“The Utopian schemes of leveling (re-distribution of the wealth) and a community of goods (central ownership of all the means of production and distribution), are as visionary and impracticable as those which vest all property in the crown.”

Then he went on to say that these ideas “are arbitrary, despotic, and in our government unconstitutional.”

Thomas Jefferson anticipated the day when the government would seek to excuse heavy taxation on the basis that it was necessary to help the poor. Said he:

“If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.”

Americans have fallen for the deceptive slogans of socialism

When the founder of NCCS, W. Cleon Skousen, was working closely with J. Edgar Hoover in the FBI, he was assigned to study the reports of congressional investigating committees concerning the attempts by socialists, including communists, to infiltrate the government and culture of the United States. He also became personally acquainted with and read many of the writings of former socialists who exposed the inner workings and philosophy of those trying to push America toward socialism of one kind or the other. Because of his in-depth knowledge, he was one of only a few allowed by Mr. Hoover to speak publicly for the FBI on this subject.

These congressional records are available for all Americans to study and to see for themselves the devastating inroads that have been made upon the liberties of our people. The serious student will furthermore see how many well-meaning citizens have become involved in pushing forward the Socialists’ programs without realizing it. These citizens have become converted to Socialist objectives because they accepted superficial Socialist slogans . Soon they were thinking precisely the way the Socialists wanted them to think.

Below are 45 goals of the Socialists which Dr. Skousen gleaned from their writings. Because Communism was the type of socialism which was the immediate threat during the time of his compiling this list, he referred to them as Communist goals. But when one form of socialism fails, the socialist merely changes the tactic, which is what they did when the Soviet Union fell. For this reason, we have taken the liberty to change the word Communism to Socialism in some of the items. One will quickly see, however, that no matter what kind of Socialism it is, the goals remain the same and will remain until they either achieve all their goals or are defeated by awakened Americans. One will also quickly realize that nearly all of these goals are well on the way to being totally achieved.

Welcome Message

Welcome to the new website for the 912 Project.  All are welcome to come to our meetings on the second and fourth Monday of the month.  We meet at the Food Bank Building on the corner of Cuttler and Church Streets. The time we meet is 7 PM.