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METRO LOUISVILLE CANDIDATES

Candidate’s Name:  James Peden

district23rd@aol.com

Running for:    District 23

1.         What would you like voters to know about your background?

            I have faithfully served my community as both a teacher and volunteer firefighter. My education includes a BA in History and MA in Teaching from the University of Louisville

2.         Why are you running for office?  What do you hope to accomplish if elected?

            I am running for office to be a representative voice for the area.  I do not want to see our resources drained for the benefit of others.  I do want to maintain the standard of living that all of us in Jefferson County have come to enjoy.

3.         What do you think is the proper and/or legitimate role of government in a ‘free’ society?

            The role of government is to protect and to serve with minimal intrusion into everyday life.  Like a referee in a ball game, everything is better when they are not noticed unless needed.

4.         Do you think our tax rates are about right, too high, or too low, and do you propose to keep them at the same level or to raise or lower them if you are elected?

            I believe taxes locally and statewide are too high.  I intend to maintain the current ax structure and try to eliminate or lower if possible.  

5.         Can you name any current tax that you would repeal?  Any fee?

            The most obvious fee we all paid was the VET which has all but been eliminated YEAH).

6.         Do you think the taxpayers should fund or be responsible for the debt on a new sports arena?

            Although some responsibility should remain with the taxpayer because we will receive benefits, the majority of the costs and debts should go to the group or tenant reaping the majority of the direct benefits.

7.         Do you think the taxpayers should fund or be responsible for the debt on other privately-owned projects, such as hotels and restaurants?  

            Every situation is different.  For instance The Galt House recently asked for city help.  It is paid for, has been a good corporate citizen for years, and desperately needs a face lift.  So I would probably approve some aid.  I do not support corporate extortion where companies say “pay us” or we won’t build.

8.         What do you think the government should do to help attract businesses to the area or to improve the local economy?

            First and foremost I think they should help small businesses, especially the ones we already have.  If we worked as hard to keep the jobs we have as we do to attract new ones we would be pretty self sufficient.  I think buying land and developing industrial sites, like the Riverport is a good start.  Reclaiming abandoned downtown sites and giving them away seems cheaper and easier than bribing new companies to settle here in new space.

9.         Do you think that operating any local business for profit is a privilege, for which a citizen should apply for a permit, paying a fee or tax?  If so, which businesses should be required to obtain permits and pay fees, and why?

            If all businesses don't pay fees then none should.  I think they should apply for permits but fees should be nominal.  I believe smaller businesses should exempt from taxes on their first few dollars of income in order to aid their growth.

 

10.       Do you support the proposed light rail plan for Louisville?  Have you compared the costs of light rail to other options, such as construction of additional highways, in terms of cost per passenger mile traveled?  If so, how does light rail compare?

            The cost of light rail is very high per passenger compared to other options.  Anyone who has traveled America knows Louisville's traffic problems are not to a level that will keep people out of their cars.  I believe carpool lanes are a better option.  I believe a second bridge in which to funnel truck traffic will ease I-65 problems.

11.       Do you think we should continue vehicle emissions testing (VET) in Louisville?

            No, with 94% of all cars passing it is a waste of time and money.  We could buy pollution credits cheaper than the VET was being applied.

12.       Do you support continued taxation to subsidize TARC?

            Yes, bus lines are needed and a good alternative to driving.  Auditing internal management is a better answer for more fiscal responsibility.

 

13.       Do you support deregulation of the taxicab industry to permit anyone who meets safety standards to compete in providing transportation services such as cabs and shuttle vans?

            Yes, an open free market is always the best for weeding out the bad companies not government regulation and restriction.

14.       Are there any services currently provided by the city or county that you would eliminate?  If so, what are they?

            Right now no because I have not been given enough information to judge someone else's job.  I will not hesitate to eliminate departments that are antiquated or just a budget line item.

15.       Are there any services not currently provided by the city or county that you would add?  If so, what are they and how would you pay for them?

            Rather than create more bureaucracy I would rather streamline what we have to make it more serviceable to the community.

16.       Are there any laws currently on the books that you would allow to sunset?  If so, what are they?

            Aside from old laws like "you can't lead your pig on a leash on the sidewalk" no, I want to address them all.  I will be voting some laws out but I would rather address them than let the sun set.

17.       Do you think there should be any laws restricting our ability to own guns for self-defense?  If so, what restrictions do you support?

            No, not as long as you are an adult.  Restrictions on children should remain.

18.       We continue to have killings and violence in our community relating to the war on drugs.  What would you do to improve this situation?

            The economics teacher in me tells me to legalize and that a free market would drive prices down and get the bad guys out of the business.  But morally I just can't do that.  Prisons just for drug offenses and harsh punishment for manufacturers and sellers seems OK.  I don't have a good answer for this problem.

19.       Do you believe that police training should include recognition of a disturbed mentally ill person and the technique for non-harmful handling of a mentally ill person?

            I believe the police should be trained in how to protest themselves.  Mentally ill or not, police should be able to protect themselves just like me.  Training is never a bad thing, so yes give them education, but don't restrict their ability to protect me or themselves.

20.       What, if any, restrictions do you think local government should place on a property owner’s right to use his own property?  If you think there should be restrictions, do you think the local government should compensate the property owner for any loss in property value caused by these restrictions?

            Zoning laws are important but if you have been on your land for 30 years and the new subdivision down the street is complaining about your business, the government should stay out or buy you out.  Yes, the government should compensate for loss of value caused by laws they pass. 

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