Comments on: council elections: the issues

By: hburgnews.com » interview the candidates

hburgnews.com » interview the candidates — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:53:39 +0000

[...] This is a continuation of an earlier post, “council elections: the issues.” [...]

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By: kai

kai — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:38:27 +0000

When I announced my candidacy at Clementine, attendees discussed their thoughts, concerns, and ideas regarding Harrisonburg. They are posted here.

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By: charlie chenault

charlie chenault — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:53:10 +0000

I will try to start answering these in the morning. Brent indicated he was going to do web broadcasts with the candidates on selected issues which I certainly look forward to. One comment today – my sole purpose for pursuing moving the election to november was to increase voter turnout, not saving money on the may election, not trying to dilute single issue candidates, not try to guage the interest of the electorate, etc. In fact, I have suffered more from the criticism of some members of the Republican party on this issue than anything else (poor me). I firmly believe that trying to judge the quality and motive of the electorate is a very slippery slope. If that were the case, I might not be able to vote myself. Let’s just say I enjoy a good joke. If they qualify, register and want to vote, then make it as easy as possible. Sometimes I am not interested in going to work, but I do it.
See you soon – Charlie

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By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:33:59 +0000

Additional issue: So whatever happened with that high speed / IPv6 internet project? Is the city still hoping to pursue this?

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By: David Miller

David Miller — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:28:49 +0000

To answer Finn’s request for issues that I care about

1:) How do you plan to help Harrisonburg avoid its fate as the next Northern Virginia hell hole? (perhaps you could word that better:)

2:) How do you plan to pay city employees (specifically Police Officers and Teachers) a living wage that is above or at least competitive with surrounding communities? Are you willing to commit to this cause?

3:) What measures are you planning for Downtown that will move current policy of infrastructure rehabilitation towards retail rehabilitation once HDR has achieved its goal in the infrastructure area?

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By: JGFitzgerald

JGFitzgerald — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:09:30 +0000

Gx and others: The budget figure can be misleading. For instance, a large project like a new school has to go into a particular year. A more accurate guide is to compare individual categories or departments, separate capital and operating expenses, and try to ascertain if personnel increases are for salaries or benefits. Generally, the huge projects are discretionary, insurance costs aren’t.

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By: Gxeremio

Gxeremio — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:59:28 +0000

The city budget has more than doubled in the last five years. The current numbers for next year are something like $212 million. Even adjusted for inflation and population change, the average amount spent per city resident is growing every year. What are the causes of this huge increase and what can Council do about it?

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By: Bubby

Bubby — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:51:01 +0000

I want me some of them City sidewalks, and Bus service out here in the County! Throw in a bike trail to downtown and I’m in.

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By: finnegan

finnegan — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:05:53 +0000

In terms of county-city relations, the elephant in the room is the expiration of the annexation moratorium. It’s currently set to expire in two years. Either the city and county folks in General Assembly hammer out a deal next session, or the dike is down, leaving counties unprotected to cities that have “run out of room.”

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