Candidates for mayor answer questions

Web posted November 1, 1998

 The questions
 McIntyre's answers
 Sconyers' answers
 Singley's answers
 Todd's answers
 Winters' answers
 Young's answers

From Staff

During the campaign period featuring a hard-fought battle in the race for mayor of Augusta, we asked readers to submit questions we could ask the candidates.

A special thanks goes to all those participating by mail or e-mail.

NEWS

•Candidate's finances •Pundits' analysis •Race deep on ballot •Readers' questions

PREVIOUS REPORTS

•District 118 •Dist. 3 School Board •Cheeks, Webster •Absentee ballots •Board hopefuls' plans

1. What will you do to make good on these consolidation promises: free garbage pickup, smaller government, lower taxes and fewer city-county employees?

2. Businesses continue to move from south Augusta. Do you see this as an area of concern? If so, what will you do to address it?

3. What will you do to improve Augusta's air quality, particularly in south Augusta?

4. Do you agree that more money should be allocated to sports-entertainment and cultural-educational activities?

5. What specifics can you offer to help south Augusta grow into a prosperous and stable part of the city?

6. What will you do to continue the revitalization of downtown Augusta?

7. What will you do about the homeless and the downtown library?

8. Will you fix the water system without raising rates? How?

9. What are your ideas for recruiting industry?

10. Can you come up with a better solution to the animal shelter problems?

11. How do you propose to provide adequate health care to Richmond County's indigent population?

12. What will you do to enforce litter control and tend to areas where grass and weeds have grown up alongside Augusta's roads and streets?

13. Can the mayor do anything to reduce Richmond County's unemployment rate?

14. What will you do to improve race relations in Augusta?

The candidates' answers

Their answers are numbered to correspond to the numbered questions previously listed.

ED MCINTYRE

1. I will make a serious evaluation of the present budget and cut out much of the fat. This along with shifting unnecessary funds from other line items should enable us to make good on the promises made by consolidation.

Augusta mayoral candidate Ed McIntyre.

2. A publicprivate partnership will become the hallmark of my administration. I will evaluate a dynamic mix of resources from the public sector as well as private sector, foundations, business and entrepreneurs' investments.

3. I will bring together experts from our colleges, state, federal agencies, and private air quality individuals from local plants to develop a strategy to improve Augusta's air quality.

4. I will lead the charge to put in place an annual Community Cultural Allied Arts Campaign operated somewhat like the United Way. This coupled with continued support from our government and foundations should take our programs to another level.

5. See the #2 answer.

6. We will focus on programming and marketing, 2. beautification and sanitation, 3. safety and security, 4. economic development. We would also establish a public/private partnership for the development of Phase II of Riverwalk.

7. I would meet with all agencies that presently deal with the homeless to develop a broader strategy of support for our homeless citizens.

8. I see no reason to raise taxes to improve our water system. We will take the monies generated from the water fund and use it to maintain and improve the system.

9. I will bring together all of the economic development groups in our city. The group will develop a recruitment strategy to bring and expand industry into our city.

10. There is always a better solution to any problem. I would invite advice from our state colleges and universities in dealing with our animal shelter problem.

11. I will establish a long-term partnership with the University Hospital, and I will find a way to provide adequate funding to support our city's indigent population.

12. We will aggressively enforce the law and provide the necessary personnel to do the job. I will clean up our city.

13. Yes, I will develop an economic strategy that will be conducive to attracting jobs, and back legislation to enhance our endeavors.

14. As you know, I organized Augusta Together ... I feel that when we give all people an opportunity to participate in planning and development of our community, race relations will improve.

LARRY SCONYERS

1. Garbage pick up was not promised for free, our government has been reduced by 53 persons not including the Sheriff's Department in courts. I do not believe in increasing taxes.

Augusta Mayor Larry Sconyers.

2. We will turn this negative into a positive with the mayor leading the charge to secure new businesses.

3. I will work with the EPA/EPD to reduce this.

4. No, this needs to come from the private sector.

5. Lead implementation of Greater Augusta Progress Plan.

6. Continue to work with Augusta Tomorrow and the Neighborhood and Community Director.

7. This will be resolved by the Coalition For the homeless, Catholic Social Services, etc. The library should be addressed in the sales tax.

8. Yes. We have 32 million plus 14 million to spend on the system over the next 5 years.

9. The mayor along with the Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Development Authority will seek out clean industry and high-tech, high-paying jobs.

10. We are going to build a new shelter that has been approved for the sales tax.

11. Through the Board of Health Clinic, University Hospital and Beulah Grove Baptist Church Clinic Outreach.

12. Continue to work closely with Metro Augusta Clean and Beautiful, the litter patrol and the sheriff to get crews out to continue to clean up our city.

13. Mayor will work with Georgia Department of Industry Trade, Tourism and industrial recruiters to continue highlighting what we as a city have to offer.

14. Mayor along with the EEO Officer will monitor all contracts being all are treated fairly also establish a youth advisory board for input as to how we can come together as one.

ELMER SINGLEY

1. Would use funds generated from franchise fees. Implement garbage service operated by RCCI. Smaller government through attrition.

Augusta mayorial candidate Elmer Singley.

2. Actively establish dialogue with the CEO to determine what efforts could be made by the city to prevent relocation of the business.

3. I would insure all industries are and will remain in compliance with EPA guidelines.

4. Yes. The funding for these activities should continue as a means of improving race relations, job creation and the growth of the city.

5. South Augusta must continue to establish land use plans. The completion of the Fall Line Highway will have a major impact on the growth and development. Serious negotiations must continue to expedite completion.

6. Utilize HUD monies to rehabilitate homes and buildings. Seek businesses that will attract citizens downtown. Clean up, make attractive and work with law enforcement for a safe environment.

7. The homeless personnel would not be prohibited from utilizing the facility but be required to comply with the policies and procedures. Insure funding and support the requesting of grant money from federal and state.

8. Proper supervision of the water system is necessary. Raising rates is not necessary but constant status update should be required. Funding for system update should be provided and a controlled inventory of material be established.

9. Improving the transit system. Provide incentive to relocate.

10. I am satisfied with the animal control procedure. I would recommend a free adoption period to alleviate destroying all the animals.

11. Insure budget is adequately funded; Establish liaison with surrounding counties to request assistance in pay for health care for their indigents. Meet with hospital director often to keep abreast of care.

12. Recommend that all constitutional law officers be allowed to enforce litter laws. Organize a community effort to clean up city.

13. Continue to support the efforts of all groups working to bring jobs to Augusta. Be the ambassador for the city by meeting CEOs worldwide to canvas for jobs.

14. Planning more cultural events/activities. Aggressively establish liaison and dialogue in the event of racial tension/unrest.

MOSES TODD

1. Sanitation pick-up will be done free of charge to all residents of Augusta. Also, our changing government will be streamlined so that it runs more efficiently. I will also phase-out the Urban Service District tax for old city residents.

Augusta mayoral candidate Moses Todd.

2. Yes, it is a concern. I will improve water and wastewater infrastructure and implement a growth management plan for south Augusta.

3. Ban outdoor burning, eliminate odor from city-owned waste water treatments plants.

4. We are now spending $10 million in that area. I think we could out-source some of it to gain greater effectiveness.

5. See answer number 2 as well as improve streets and lighting in high crime/high traffic areas.

6. We will utilize the money from the HUD fund for economic development from Laney-Walker Boulevard to Broad Street and East Boundary to 15th Street.

7. We will get the homeless out of the library and give them temporary shelter through non-profit organizations and the Mayor's discretionary fund.

8. Yes. With money from the $65 million revenue bond we floated in 1996.

9. Advertise on a national level and work with the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Authority to attract higher paying, high-tech jobs to Augusta.

10. Yes. We can clean and groom animals and spay and neuter them to make them more attractive to people seeking pets. Also, use public access TV and classified advertising.

11. We will find indigent care by giving the Hospital Authority funds for capital improvement out of 1 cent sales tax and using the money they save in that area to fund the care of our indigents.

12. Use the jail population as well as homeless that we shelter to clean up the streets and vacant property.

13. Yes. The mayor can actively recruit industry and business to accommodate our well-trained work force.

14. I will lead by example. I am color-blind.

KENNETH WINTERS

1. I will research the consolidation contract fully to see what promises were made at that time and start working hard to see that those promises are kept.

Augusta mayorial candidate Kenneth Winters.

2. Yes, I will work hard to develop tax incentives that will encourage new businesses to establish themselves in south Augusta.

3. I will enforce existing Environmental Protection Agency Laws, limit outdoor fires of all types, improve the transportation systems in Augusta to limit amount of automobile emissions into the air.

4. Yes, we need more activities for all ages of our citizens.

5. I can improve our educational system at all possible levels, improve the quality and quantity of available jobs to higher and better pay levels, work to beautify all areas ... and improve water resources.

6. I will work to improve transportation resources so all citizens can have ready access to get downtown on regularly scheduled hours that are dependable for public use.

7. The homeless need more help from our local churches and civic organizations. They need shelter, food and encouragement to improve their lifestyle.

8. Yes, by properly maintaining our current water system. We need to encourage all Augusta residents to strive hard to conserve our water use during the spring and summer months.

9. I will improve our education systems in Augusta to include job training. I will improve our transportation system ... I will provide tax and other incentives to attract industry.

10. Educate the public that it takes a long term commitment to care for any animal properly. Charge a fee for any unwanted animal dropped off at animal shelters.

11. Allocate funds to University Hospital to provide Richmond County's population with adequate health care. All community health care providers need to help provide medical care ... regardless of the individual's financial status.

12. Identify the person responsible for littering whenever possible and prosecute them according to existing laws. Augusta's roads and streets need installations of trees and shrubs that are drought tolerant and low maintenance.

13. Yes. I believe he can by striving to work with the commissioners and the education system to attract good industry.

14. I will stop making race an issue involved in all areas of everyday living. I will focus on the real issues that need solutions, such as high crime rates, unemployment and other real problems in our society.

BOB YOUNG

1. The management study will give direction for staffing. Let's revisit the report from the citizen's committee and put together a group, similar to the Grace Commission, to identify further economies.

Augusta mayorial candidate Bob Young.

2. I will work with the business leadership there to recruit new enterprises. And, I will lead an aggressive effort to find adaptive uses for our vacant retail space starting with developing a mixed-use plan for Regency Mall.

3. I must work with government regulators and local industry to eliminate this threat to our economic development. Plus, we must recruit new industry that does not add to the current problem.

4. Yes, I believe government has a role in community projects and programs that add to our quality of life. But, the government should do this in partnership with private enterprise.

5. The land use plan for Augusta does not address the current urban sprawl dilemma. I support the Greater Augusta Progress visioning process. We will stop thinking about ``south Augusta'' as a separate place.

6. I will be a pro-active partner with Augusta Tomorrow and work to accomplish the vision for our central business district. I want the city kept clean, neatly landscaped, and inviting for residents, as well as tourists.

7. Last spring, the Federal Register listed dozens of buildings at Fort Gordon that are available for homeless programs. I will work with the government and community service organizations to provide help for the homeless.

8. I will lead the effort to accomplish the upgrade and expansion plans already before the commission, and ensure the financial integrity of the system.

9. I want to bring together all the government and private groups under the umbrella of the Mayor's Council for Economic Development. I will be personally involved in selling this city in state, national and international circles.

10. We don't solve the problem of stray animals by changing the way we kill them. We must reduce the number of animals coming into their shelter. I will initiate a program to encourage pet owners to have their animals spayed.

11. My Mayor's Committee for Community Health Care will determine a minimum acceptable level of community health care, identify programs to deliver that care, determine the costs of that care, and locate funding.

12. I will launch an aggressive effort to clean up Augusta and make it priority to keep the city clean. We'll recruit businesses, churches, garden clubs, and civic groups in this process.

13. The mayor can reduce the unemployment rate by taking a pro-active role in job creation. We've got to do more to increase our private sector employment.

14. I reject those who try to divide this community along the lines of race, geography, special interests and politics. I will set the example as mayor for all of Augusta.