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METRO LOUISVILLE CANDIDATES

Candidate’s Name:  Letty “Diane” Newton

DianaNewtonSW14@aol.com

Running for:    District 14

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

            I am a wife and mother, a community activist, and self-employed with home based drapery business.

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

            I am most concerned for the future of southwest Jefferson County.  I would love to help to organize more of the neighborhood leadership, bring real enforcement of county ordinances, and bring more business and employment opportunities to our area.

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

            To promote the health and safty of all of its residents, to provide educational opportunities, to use our tax dollars in the most efficient way possible.

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?

            They are to high.  With better organization, coordination between government agency’s and real fines on ordinance and zoning code violations we can eliminate a lot of wasted time and wasted man power.

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

            The sneeky taxes like on insurance and hotel rooms.

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

            “Absolutly not”

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

            “Absolutly not”

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

            Enforce ordinances which would clean up areas and make a better impression on potential retailers.  Improve parks and librarys.  Do what we need to do to make us the place they want to locate to.

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?

            Yes, all business should have a permit.  But fees should be kept to a minimum.

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?

            I am in favor of light rail.  I know the cost is high, but the benefit to the community is in lower emission’s and wear and tear on roads.

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

            NO!

12.       Do you support continued taxation to subsidize TARC?

            Yes

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

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

            I am not aware of any at this time.  But I would not hesitate to eliminate any service which has outlived it’s intended purpose.

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?

            I would add more zoning code enforcement officers and also ordinance enforcement officers.  This could be somewhat funded by fine’s on violators.

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

            I am sure there are.  We as a new government can address the old outdated laws.

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.  I support responcible gun ownership.

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?

            We could first better enforce the current laws.  Maybe eve fire the people in charge now and try something else.

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 feel most of our criminals fall into some category of mental illiness.  The responcibility of the severly mentally ill people is on their family and friends.  Not the totally unsuspecting public or public servant.

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?

            We have building code regulations that need to be observed.  In most cases these regulations would increase the value of the property.  If the property was needed for easements or protected areas for wildlife then the property owner should receive a one time compensation.

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