2006 Raven Society Candidate
Position Questionnaire
1.
What is your occupation? (Please list primary and all secondary occupations.)
David G. Ballard,
Jr. Financial Applications Analyst/UT
2.
Please list all schools, colleges, and universities that you have attended and
all degrees you have earned.
Graduate -
Maryville High School, 1984; Graduate 1986 – Hiwassee Junior College
(Associates Degree); Served four years U.S. Army, 1986-1990; Graduate 1995 –
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (BA Political Science, minor Business
Administration)
3.
Why have you chosen to run for office?
(1)
(2)
Interest in the future of
(3)
4.
What makes you qualified to hold office?
Previous
experience in budgeting, capital planning, accounting, and information systems.
5.
What do you see as the three most critical issues facing
(1) Education
(2) Improving
current infrastructure
(3) Promoting
managed growth and development while addressing the needs and concerns above.
6.
How do you propose to address each of these three issues?
(1) Funding for education should remain a
priority
(2) Consideration of some type of adequate
facilities tax
(3) Use the Hunter Growth Study to build the guiding policies for future planning and development of the county
7.
Are you familiar with the Hunter Growth Strategy completed in 2005?
x Yes or c No
How
would you incorporate the results of the Hunter Growth Strategy into your
decision-making in your new or renewed position?
As presented, the Hunter Growth Strategy is a good
blueprint and tool for the county as well as the municipal areas to work from
in developing a plan for smart growth. I
agree with the concepts of designated land reserves, the clustered community
developments, incorporating sewer rather than septic into community
developments. I feel that initial
funding should be to improve existing roadways, intersections, and
connectors. There is more to be gained
there initially than adding additional roads and highways.
8. How would you assess the current
pace of development in
c Too slow
x
About right
c Too fast
9. Do you support the passage of an
Adequate Facilities Tax or other Development or Impact Fee?
x Yes or c No Why or why not?
Some variation of
this taxation method should be applied to the immediate need and use of the
county infrastructure and services provided.
10.
Are you familiar with the
Would
you support a measure to increase communication between our county
representatives to this body and our county legislative body? Why or why not?
I would support
any communication that would help facilitate the planning process.
11. Do you support the extension of the
Please
explain why you support or oppose the extension.
What are the
long-range plans currently in place for the county to address the impact of the
project if completed?
12.
Would you support or oppose the Proposed Interstate 140 By-Pass (Southern Loop)
around
This should be
considered as an option in any long-range planning. Support or opposition at this time would be
premature.
13.
What do you plan to do to prevent or encourage the completion of the
As recommended in
the Hunter Growth Strategy, it should be included as a viable option in the
long-range planning of the county growth strategy.
14.
How do you intend to address the development pressures these potential new
roads will bring, including impacts on Blount County's secondary roads,
schools, public services, air and water quality?
As stated above, if any such options are considered, all of these issues
need to be addressed. If any of these
issues cannot be adequately accounted for, other options should be considered.
14.
What is your opinion of the Cities and the County working together in land use
planning? (As the
Working together would allow for much better communication and planning.
15.
What do you see as the best way to protect the rural natural, and historic
qualities of
Through
collaborative long-range planning involving the county, other local municipal
governments, and the citizens of
16.
What is your vision for Blount County/Maryville in 5 years?
A county that:
1
Provides a strong educational system for its youth
2
Promotes diverse business opportunities for sustained growth
3
Enjoys an active and thriving senior community
4
Protects the natural beauty of the area that makes it unique place to
live
17.
What is your vision for Blount County/Maryville in 20 years?
Continuation of the five-year plan