Candidate's Survey Response:
2009 Mayoral
/ City Council Survey
1. Do municipal governments have a serious
responsibility to implement public policies and facilitate community
action that furthers a consistent respect of all human life?
I suppose, deep down, every policy and
action city council does have a direct or indirect effect on
human life. Yet, the great majority of city business we deal
with – or should deal with – is budgetary and/or wide range
policy decisions. Looking at the explanation behind this
question leads me to think you are asking about more direct
services/policies. I have had the opportunity to help
increase/continue city support of human life in many ways – the
continuing support of the East County Family Center with
funding, grants, and especially the capital improvements;
support of The Treasure House; our library; Community Education
programs and other school district services; support for charity
and fundraising events with churches and community
organizations.
2. Will you as a city council person
appoint, recommend or request (depending on your level of authority)
only library board candidates who oppose the inclusion of
pornography in public libraries, whether by internet or as printed
materials?
Our city leases the building space for
the Washougal branch of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library
District. Their policies are created and regulated by a Board of
trustees appointed by the County Commissioners of three
respective counties. As far as our City Council’s connection to
this, we approve the lease agreement. Other than that, I could
make recommendations as a private citizen to FVL or County
Commissioners. When Council had these discussions the last time
the lease was up, I believe there were 2 or 3 people who
addressed us in opposition to the FVL policy on Internet use,
and a far greater number in support of it. As a city resident,
school teacher, member of a local church, and father of 5, I
firmly believe that there are enough safeguards in the library
to insure to me that pornography on the internet is not going to
be a problem. I would be far more concerned with computers that
are in homes, children’s rooms, and the “idiot box” we call
television than the FVL policy on internet usage. Thus, the
direct answer to the question, then, would be no – not as a City
Council member.
3. Will you diligently seek and maintain
zoning ordinances, licensing procedures, permit requirements and
operational regulations, which serve to minimize the adverse
secondary effects of Sexually Oriented Businesses?
In my 8 years in service on the
Council, there has never been a time that we have had to deal
with this issue. I will always support to continue the only
zoning that allows Sexually Orientated Businesses – a small area
down in the industrial zoning by the C/W Port lands. I honestly
believe that no business of this sort will ever desire to move
to our city.
4. Do you believe that life begins at
conception and that the State has a compelling interest in
protecting that life?
Yes, I do. As a Christian and a father
of 5 school age children – 3 natural and 2 adopted – I believe
in the importance of a family and children, and the policies,
both social, educational, and economic, which promote the
healthy growth of them. Also, in regards to the preceding
un-numbered question, no, I do not personally believe in
abortion. Though, looking at two points, there must be more to
the question than what it asks. First, as long as our nation and
state must allow abortion, I have sworn to my city and God to
uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States. Second,
other than zoning of physician offices and/or indirect city
support of social services, our Council would have no bearing on
the issue. I can imagine this is the dilemma of many elected
officials. Yet, even more than that, there is an even greater
issue to me. One can disagree with abortion rights till the cows
come home, but what do they do to give options? More
specifically, what about the tremendous number of
unwanted/neglected/abused/impoverished children that were not
aborted? That is one of the reasons I adopted two drug/alcohol
affected and unwanted children. I hope I saved them and give
them a better life and future. In my mind, this is a far greater
issue that we can immediately and legally take on.
5. Is taking the life of a pre-born child
through abortion ever permissible?
I believe to save a mothers life, and
in cases of rape and incest, it is a “necessary evil”. Abortion
should not be forced upon a woman in these cases. If she chooses
to have a baby from either these incidences, then that is her
right. Though, I could also attempt to understand how a woman
may not want to have the baby under these circumstances. Our God
is an understanding and forgiving God, and we should strive to
be also.
6. Do you support parental notification
and/or consent before a minor (under 18 years of age) could have an
abortion?
Yes, I do. Unless that child has been
legally emancipated, I feel it is necessary.
7. Should they be contracted with to make
community presentations, provide literature, birth control chemicals
or devises, and/or abortion services?
As a Washougal City Council member, I
have never come, nor would I rationally see the need for coming,
in contact with Planned Parenthood as a contracted service. If
it ever comes up in my time on Council, I would not support any
use of city funds/services for it.
8. What is your position on the building of
this casino?
I have never been a supporter of any
state-supported gaming, from the Lottery on down. I stand behind
those who are against it from the Federal level on down. It
serves no positive purpose as something the government should
support.
9. Are you an active member in a church,
synagogue, temple, mosque or other religious assembly?
Yes. I grew up in Tacoma and was active
in church their throughout my childhood – church, Sunday school,
Royal Rangers, youth groups. In the years I lived in Port
Townsend after college, I was a member and Sunday school teacher
at the Lutheran church there. Presently, I am a member of St.
John’s Presbyterian in Camas. I will be teaching vacation bible
school in a couple weeks, and am going to accept the Pastor’s
invitation to begin teaching Sunday school there in the near
future.
10. Does the collaboration of government
with faith-based charitable works lawfully ensure fair treatment of
religious organizations, and is it good for our communities?
It ensures fair treatment of all
organizations, religious included. As long as all are held to
the same standards as any other organization -- government,
private, or tax-exempt – it is part of the connections our
country needs of public, private, and religious groups. 11. I am
a 47 years old citizen, and have lived in Washougal for 12
years. I am married and, as previously mentioned, I have 5
children from 7 to 15 years of age.
11. Qualifications:
I have taught public school for 15
years, 12 in Washougal. I teach the program for Developmentally
Disabled students for both our middle schools. I have a BA.ed in
History, with a minor in Political Science, from Western
Washington University, and have taken almost 90 graduate level
credits from various universities in Special Education. I was
elected to the Washougal City Council in 2001, re-elected in
2005, and was the appointed Mayor-Pro-Tem for 3 of these years.
I have served on an assortment of committees for the city during
my 8 years of service. I was unsure of running again, but many
people in our community and government asked me to go for one
more term. There has been so much instability in the Council and
Department Heads that they wanted my experience and
level-headedness in budgetary and social issues. Thus, I look
forward to serving our citizens for 4 more years.
12. Yes, you may print the questionnaire in
its entirety. |