2006 Raven Society
Candidate Position Questionnaire
1.
What is your occupation? (Please list primary and all secondary.)
Mike Lewis.
I am a Senior Vice President at American Fidelity Bank
2. Please list all schools, colleges, and universities that you
have attended and all degrees you have earned.
Bachelor of Science – 1979,
Diploma –
3.
Why have you chosen to run for office?
I have chosen to run for office because I
believe you should find a way to give back to this community that has provided
me and my family a wonderful place to live and call home. This is one way I can do that.
4. What makes you qualified to hold this office?
A vast knowledge and experience in finance
and budgeting. A strong will to vote the
opinions of the voters in my district and a strong belief that it is the
obligation of a Commissioner to collect these opinions. Previous work with budgets at various levels
and a strong belief to do what is the best and right thing for the citizens of
5.
What do you see as the three most critical issues facing
(1) Growth
(2) Revenue generation and expense control
(3) Air quality
6.
How do you propose to address each of these three issues?
(1) Bring a continued sense of cooperation to the Commission and a good financial background.
(2) Help look at other areas for revenue generation and expense control. Explore non property tax revenue areas for broader based income alternatives.
(3) Continue to
support efforts to solicit and attract low and non pollutant industry and
service companies to the area.
7.
Are you familiar with the Hunter Growth Strategy completed in 2005?
T Yes or c No
How
would you incorporate the results into your own decision-making in your new or
renewed position?
As I understand and read the Hunter Growth
strategy, they have, in essence, taken the five “Guiding Policies” that were
established in 1999 and have made recommendations basically for a second phase,
or furtherance in how to take these policies to the next level. This was a comprehensive plan in 1999 by the
consulting team, Blount County Officials, many community leaders and the public
at large. The Hunter Group basically
suggests some specific ways to go forward in these five policies. I would be in favor of moving to the next
phase with the plan of accomplishing these five most important guidelines. This 260 page report is full of great
information and I am afraid much too detailed to try to do it justice more than
I have here. I hope this addresses the
issue as you meant it to be.
8.
How would you assess the current pace of development in
c Too slow
T 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?
This is an issue
that I would want to gather additional information on. It has been argued that the end result of
such a fee as this is another tax to the end user of the facility, be it the
property owner or the consumer. I would
want to consider all alternatives to be sure we find the best way to generate
revenue while not discouraging planned growth.
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?
As I understand it, this is a federally
designated Metropolitan planning Organization (MPO) for the Knoxville Urban
Area, which includes the Counties of Knox, Blount, Sevier and Loudon. It was designed in 1977 for the purpose of
obtaining a cooperative planning process of transportation projects that support
the goals of these communities.
I would be willing to look at any measures
that would increase and promote cooperation between counties where decisions
that are made impact each other. In the
end, Counties must make and support decisions that are in the best interest of
their citizens.
11.
Do you support the extension of the
Please
explain why you support or oppose the extension.
I believe this will be decided at the State
level and not an issue that would require
12.
Would you support or oppose the Proposed Interstate 140 By-Pass (Southern Loop)
around
c Yes or c No
Why?
This project or additional alternatives make
sense in the fact that we have to find a way to alleviate the traffic pressure
on the traffic patterns of
13.
What do you plan to do to prevent or encourage the completion of the
I believe that our involvement as a county
will be in the form of cooperation and participation as members of the
Knoxville Regional Planning Organization.
Since this matter will be decided at the state level, this is the
vehicle that will carry our message to the State body for consideration. Our County representatives on this committee
as well as the Cities of Maryville and Alcoa and the surrounding county
representatives on this TPO will be responsible for making this recommendation.
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?
We must be good
planners and users of the available space.
The Hunter Growth Strategy and it’s
recommendations will help in this area.
The five “Guiding Policies” that were established by the 1999 Growth
Policy are re-enforced by The Hunter Growth Strategy and suggest some specific
ways to go forward in these five policies.
I would be in favor of moving to the next phase with the plan of
accomplishing these five most important guidelines. Doing this will address the areas of roads,
schools, public services, and air and water quality.
15. What do you see as the best way to protect the
rural, natural, and historic qualities of
Planned growth and facilities to support it
are paramount. Uncontrolled growth has
proven to be detrimental at all levels.
It creates pressure on resources and affects our way of life and the
very qualities that have attracted individuals and businesses to this area for
years. We must continue to be good
stewards of these resources and utilize them in the most efficient way possible
while maintaining the qualities that make our County what it is.
16.
What is your vision for
I envision a Blount County that is a
progressive, vibrant and attractive place to live; a Blount County that has
instituted a growth strategy that will ensure that we grow in the manner that
we choose and not what will occur “pot luck” a Blount County that has addressed
the infrastructure to ensure that mobility in and around this county remains
flowing as we continue to grow.
17.
What is your vision for
A