|
The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County, an Inter-League Organization, and constituent Local Leagues as available in communities holding elections on April 11, 2006 and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Development,
Public Safety,
City Election Schedule
Click on a name for other candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
|
1. How should the City of Lancaster maintain a balance between its unique environment and its need for development?
|
Answer from Ron Smith:
For information on the issues, please go to:
http://www.Vote4RonSmith.com
Answer from Janette (Gaudi) Crawford:
It is important that the city manage our growth and plan ahead to put in infrastructure - roads, street lights, sewers, water requirements, and services like post offices, fire stations, sheriffs, etc. in place to manage the citizens that will be calling Lancaster home. We have a beautiful valley and if we plan properly, we should be able to enjoy our desert environment and still grow and make the city an enjoyable place to live. With pleasing architecture and landscaping we can bring in retail shopping, new restaurants and entertainment venues that will enhance the beauty of our valley.
Answer from Nellie F. Tillman:
The City of Lancaster should maintain a balance between the Economic and physical growth of the city.The more the city grows the more dollars it should be generating. The physical growth should not exceed the economic growth.
Answer from Roger L. Price:
Let me began my answer with the following quotes, "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." John F. Kennedy
"Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal," Arthur Schopenhauer. "The only human institution that rejects progress is the cemetery," Prime Minister Harold Wilson. I don't thing we can have it both ways. To grow is to change. We only need to insure that as we meet the need for development we continue to move in the right direction. Maintaining a unique environment could mean different things to different people. The only thing we need to hold on to as we develop are principles of fairness, honesty, respect and other principles. Steven Covey wrote,"By centering our lives on correct principles, we create a soldi foundation for development...
|
2. How can the City of Lancaster best secure an acceptable standard of public safety?
|
Answer from Nellie F. Tillman:
By coming up with a system that erradicates the problems of housing fraud,gang violence,drugs. By making the citizens laisons between the communty and their city.By being more supported towards the law enforcements that are there in the city.
Answer from Roger L. Price:
Someone once said if it can be conceived it can be achieved. I embrace the "TEAM" Together Everyone Accomplishes More approach to problem solving, change and success. A few of the things we can do is:
Create partnerships between the community, law enforcement, community-serving organizations, faith-based organizations, churches, the courts and business owners. Set up sub-stations and establish neighborhood councils. President George W. Bush wrote, "President George W Bush wrote,
"The indispensable and transforming work of faith-based and other charitable service groups must be encouraged. Government cannot be replaced by charities, but it can and should welcome them as partners. He went on to say "...successful government programs work in fruitful partnership with community-serving and faith-based organizations. Finally he wrote, "Private and charitable groups, including religious ones, should have the fullest opportunities permitted by law to compete on a level playing field, so long as they achieve valid public purposes, like curbing crime, conquering addiction, strengthening families, and overcoming poverty." Finally, I think cameras in patrol cars should be seriously considered. Police Chiefs, Officers, Mayors, City Council Members, Community Organizations and Communities where they are used all find that cameras in police cars are a win/win situation for everyone except the person who is committing a crime. The use of cameras in police cars has been recommended by a Grand Jury, supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Mayors, Los Angeles Police Commission, praised as a valuable tool and another step toward building trust between police and the public. The Mayor of one city stated that video cameras in police cars will provide a credible, unbiased record of interactions between police and the community.
A study by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) looked at the impact of police in-car camera systems on state police and highway agencies. The study reported an increase in officer safety, a reduction in the number of citizen complaints lodged against officers, officers conducting themselves more professionally, and an increase in the number of convictions and guilty pleas prior to going to trial. Cameras in patrol with enhance any effort to secure an acceptable standard of public safety.
Answer from Ron Smith:
For information on the issues, please go to:
http://www.Vote4RonSmith.com
Answer from Janette (Gaudi) Crawford:
It is important that the city put into place a policy that stops the dumping of registered sex offenders and other criminals into our city. We need to make sure that this element understands that we do not want them here and we will do what ever it takes to encourage them to move on. The council needs to review it's budget and see if there are areas where we can recover some dollars and put them back into public safety programs. We need to look at other cities that are labeled the safest cities in the nation and see what they are doing right and implement similar programs.
|
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a city election in April of the even-numbered years? Do you favor continuing the practice?
|
Answer from Ron Smith:
For information on the issues, please go to:
http://www.Vote4RonSmith.com
Answer from Nellie F. Tillman:
The advantages of having a city election in April is that it's spring time every one is happy everyone is out. It's a time of renweal spring cleaning. The weather is not too cold not hot just right. I favor continuing the practice.
Answer from Roger L. Price:
I really don't think it matters very much one way or the other. If you are concerned about voter turn out then it would be better to have it in June and/or November.
Answer from Janette (Gaudi) Crawford:
I feel that the advantages (for some)of having a city election in April is that a smaller number of voters go to the polls. This is a disadvantage for others. Because I would like to see as many people as possible participate in our city government, I do not favor continuing this practice. It is costly to have an election and when we are already having an election in November, it seems silly to hold another one just a few months later.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidate answers are presented as submitted except that direct or indirect reference to opponents is not permitted.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
|
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
