Sconyers: Questions and answers

Web posted September 27, 1998

From Staff Reports

The Augusta Chronicle will ask each of the six mayoral candidates specific questions. Here are the questions and candidate Larry Sconyers' responses:

Q: It is four years from now, 2002. You've finished a four-year term as mayor. What's different as a result of your administration?

A: Augusta is on the move. The government is fine-tuned. The economic picture for Augusta is very bright. The attractions are all complete -- the Golf Hall of Fame, Springfield Village.

MAYORS RACE  THE MAYOR'S RACE Each week until the Nov. 4 election, The Augusta Chronicle will feature a candidate running for Augusta-Richmond County mayor. Check back each Sunday for a new profile. •Ed McIntyre •Larry Sconyers •Elmer Singley •Moses Todd •Kenneth Winters •Bob Young  Q&A The Chronicle asks each candidate specific questions about their abilities and goals. Here are their answers. •Ed McIntyre •Larry Sconyers •Elmer Singley •Moses Todd •Kenneth Winters •Bob Young  ASK THE CANDIDATES Do you have a question you'd like to ask the mayoral candidates? •Click here

The infrastructure is in great shape because the emphasis for the last four years has been put on building the infrastructure, for if not for the infrastructure we can't attract industry. If we can't attract industry, we can't attract jobs. So that was done to make sure that we secured the jobs for our people to make sure they don't move away from Augusta.

Q: What can you contribute to Augusta and its residents as mayor that the other candidates can't?

A: A strong business background, a strong governmental background, a unique style of leadership.

Q: What is the worst mistake you ever made outside of politics?

A: I guess when I opened my restaurant on Boy Scout Road in 1987. People expected the owner to be there, and I couldn't be in two places at one time.

Q: What decision in your life had consequences you never would have expected?

A: When I first offered for public service, I never expected to end up being mayor of Augusta, Georgia.

Q: What is the best book you ever read?

A: Gone With the Wind.

Q: What do you count as your greatest accomplishment in life, outside of your family?

A: Taking the business my father and mother left me and turning it into one of the best in the country. It's a credit to them.

Q: Explain what actions you would take in these areas of concern:

Recycling:

A: I think we've already done that. We put the recyclable bins at fire stations around the city to make it easier for all our citizens.

Libraries:

A: I guess we're going to, I guess, have a public-private partnership to help get more funds for the libraries. We want to give the library more, but without raising taxes now we can't do it. We're limited in what we can do. So we're going to have to get some public-private partnership to help fund the libraries better.

Streets and roads:

A: The 1 percent sales tax is the greatest asset that our city has. By being able to utilize the sales tax we've gotten roads paved we probably never would have gotten before. By the end of this year we estimate we will have spent $105.9 million on roads, bridges and drainage in the past three years. I hope we'll continue to have this 1 percent sales tax to continue this program throughout.

Water:

A: We have a very pro-active water department. Matter of fact, in the next five years, we have an aggressive program that will give us $32 million for extension and maintenance. We also have $14.6 million that is going to be repaid to the suburban district from the urban districts 1-cent sales tax for the combined sewer projects that will come back to us, which actually gives us $46.6 million to spend on our infrastructure, which will make it second to none.

Animal control:

A: I've already eliminated the gas chamber and instituted the lethal injections. I had the gas chamber removed so the animals can be put to sleep in the preferred method.