Foothills Sentry Candidate Questions

By Darren Wm Smith

Foothills Sentry Candidate Questions

1. What are your three strongest qualifications for a city council seat?

- Integrity
- Family Values
- Dedication

2. What do you consider to be the three most important issues facing the city?
- Today?

- Public Safety
- Community Growth
- Fiscal Responsibility

- In the foreseeable future?

- City Provided Services
- Public Safety
- Urban Sprawl

3. On a scale of from one to ten, with ten being the best, how do your rate:

-The performance of City Government in providing services?

I give them an 8.

-The performance of the City Council in addressing city issues?

I also give them an 8.

4. What areas do you identify the present city council is not paying enough attention to?

5. What is your position on the "Old Towne" restrictions?

I would like to review the "Old Towne" regulations with the current Old Towne Board, a group of residents, and Orange citizens to discuss what issues there are, and how to best resolve them.

6. It seems likely that the Fieldstone Company will seek approval for a residential development at the Sully Miller site. Are you inclined to support residential development at this site? What other uses, if any, should the revised plan include?

When you analyze the benefits of the Fieldstone project to the city and community, the answer is difficult. I would need to have further analysis on the methane and flooding issues to support the residential development at this site. If the site were developed, I would recommend a portion of land be allocated for a Steven F. Ambriz Memorial Library or Community Center.

7. How much reliance should loca1 government place upon current or future state financial support for local municipal services?

Cities can't rely on support from the state. Because of the states' own budget woes, aid to cities fell 9.2 percent on average last year. The city should always seek state and federal funds for projects and initiatives, when they are available.

8. Should the City of Orange adopt a policy similar to the City of Costa Mesa and Orange County allowing trained officers to identify and process illegal aliens accused of committing crimes in the city?

Federal legislation sponsored by Congressman Chris Cox opened the door for state and local law enforcement agencies to do something about serious or violent criminals who are in this country illegally. The proposal, which calls for a five-week training course for Orange County Sherriff's deputies, would have to be approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the U.S. Department of Justice, gives certain limited powers to enforce federal immigration laws. I learned that the Sheriff's proposal is in the form of a draft MOU which has been submitted to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their review and approval. I will work with Bill Campbell of the County Board of Supervisors, the Orange County Sheriff, and Orange Police department to help initiate this program in our city.

9. Do you support the city's current law restricting residents from parking recreational vehicles on their property?

Yes

10. How important is education to the community? Are there local education problems?

Education is extremely important to the citizens of Orange. Education provides people with the tools and knowledge they need to understand and participate in today's world. It helps to sustain the human values that contribute to individual and collective well-being. It is the basis for lifelong learning. It inspires confidence and provides the skills needed to participate in public debate. It makes people more self-reliant and aware of opportunities and rights.