2006 Raven Society Candidate Position Questionnaire

1. What is your occupation? (Please list primary and all secondary.)

Leffery Holden Lail.  I served thirty years in Blount county Schools as a Teacher, Coach, and Principal at Bungalow Elementary, Mentor Elementary, Union Elementary, Fairview Elementary, Porter Elementary, Walland Middle School, Rockford Elementary and William Blount High School.  Currently semi-retired and working as a Contract Consultant for the Tennessee State Department of Education serving Knox County High Schools as a School Improvement specialist.  Also, during my semi-retirement, I continue to serve Blount County Schools as a Surrogate Parent, Consultant, President of WBHS Tennis Boosters, Board of Directors for WBHS Golf Team/Scholarship Committee, and as a football/basketball “color commentator” for BCS-Channel 5TV.

 

2. Please list all schools, colleges, and universities that you have attended and all degrees you have earned.

Bachelor of Science, Univ. of Tennessee-Knoxville, 1969 (Secondary Education-Social Studies)

Master of Science, Univ. of Tennessee-Knoxville, 1974 (Education Administration and Supervision-Secondary and Elementary)

Master of Science + 45 Hrs. Univ. of Tennessee-Knoxville, 1988 (Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum)

Doctoral program (Educational Administration and Supervision – 1922-93, not completed) Univ. of Tennessee-Knoxville

 

3. Why have you chosen to run for office?

My goals if elected:

1.  Restore the People’s Voice to our county government by holding community nights for public input, listening to and being open to District 6 concerns, and, most importantly, VOTING the wishes of the constituency.

2.  Develop long range planning for all phases of the county government in order that spending is controlled and the county operates on a plan NOT determined by the latest emergency or current trend.

3.  Develop a plan for tax reform so that senior citizens or those on fixed incomes are not forced to face escalating costs which negatively impact their quality of life.

4.  Develop environmentally friendly policies that will help insure and protect the beauty with which Blount County is blessed.

5.  Maintain and enhance the existing infrastructure so that citizens can and will enjoy the benefits that they have already paid for and therefore, restore confidence in the county government.

6.  Develop and follow a Priority List of those services that are vital to accomplishing the goals necessary in maintaining Blount County in order to support each citizen’s quality of life.

 

4.  What makes you qualified to hold this office?

 

5. What do you see as the three most critical issues facing Blount County?

(1)

(2)

(3)

 

6. How do you propose to address each of these three issues?

(1)

 

(2)

 

(3)

 

7. Are you familiar with the Hunter Growth Strategy completed in 2005? 
c Yes or c No

How would you incorporate the results into your own decision-making in your new or renewed position?

 

 

8. How would you assess the current pace of development in Blount County?

c  Too slow

c  About right

c  Too fast

 

9.  Do you support the passage of an Adequate Facilities Tax or other Development or Impact Fee?   c Yes or c No

Why or why not?

 

 

10.  Are you familiar with the Knoxville Transportation Organization and its impact on road/highway planning in Blount County?  c Yes or c No

Would you support a measure to increase communication between our county representatives to this body and our county legislative body?  Why or why not?

 

 

11. Do you support the extension of the Pellissippi Parkway from Old Knoxville Highway (SR 33) to US 321?  c Yes or c No

Please explain why you support or oppose the extension.

 

 

12. Would you support or oppose the Proposed Interstate 140 By-Pass (Southern Loop) around Maryville and within the County? 
c Yes or c No

Why?

 

 

13. What do you plan to do to prevent or encourage the completion of the Southern Loop?

 

 

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?

 

 

15. What do you see as the best way to protect the rural, natural, and historic qualities of Blount County?

 

 

16. What is your vision for Blount County in 5 years?

Maintain and preserve the heritage and physical beauty of our county while providing for the needs of the citizens as a whole.

Work to enhance and expand the opportunities for our next generation to be able to enjoy the quality of life that can be obtained here in Blount County.

 

17. What is your vision for Blount County in 20 years?