Tuesday, February 08, 2005

CITY COUNCIL & MAYORIAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONAIRRE

1) Do you support the city manager form of government?

YES, I support the city manager form of government. The council should be the overseer of the newly elected city manager, whoever it might be. The council should be able to hire and fire the city manager. The mayor should be a cheerleader for our great city.

2) Do you see the need for changes in the charter ordinance, such as adding provisions for “at large” members of the council?

I need to understand more fully what “at large” means. I’ll be honest, I don’t know. As the next mayor, I’d be willing to visit with the lawyers and legislatures to find out what the political implications are. I really don’t have an opinion on that yet, mainly because I don’t know, but I’m willing to learn. I’m a networking kind of guy.

3) Consolidation of the city and county is an issue that the community has said should be studied and recommendations made to the electorate. What are your views regarding complete Topeka and Shawnee county consolidation and/or functional consolidation of certain department?

Complete consolidation? Don’t think so. We need to examine one agency at a time. I’m a bottom line kind of guy, especially when it comes to OUR tax money. For example, let’s start with the zoo. As the next mayor, I’d like all parties involved and “duke” it out in a PUBLIC forum. Use the Internet to do so. For those who are not Internet savvy, the phone system works too and the media should be involved. As the next cheerleading mayor, I’ll just listen to all sides and let the voters decide at the polls.

4) The growth of the economy and jobs in Topeka/Shawnee County is the highest priority of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. How can you as a city official impact the growth of jobs and capital investment in Topeka?

As a candidate for mayor, this is also my HIGHEST priority!

As a Topeka citizen since 1973 I am concerned about the job losses here in our great city. I have witnessed countless job drains. What can it be attributed to? Could it be our tax and spend CURRENT city council? Why is our city council spending OUR tax money like a bunch of drunken sailors? Sorry city council, you’re going to have to be replaced.

I just heard on the Jim Cates show that the city has a 200 + million dollar bond indebtedness. How did that happen? This taxpayer will find out!

I HAVE A DREAM!

I have a dream that the next mayor will be so busy cutting ribbons, he’ll need many paper made signs (with a moveable scissors) of him or her self. The new mayor will be out and about promoting our great city, visiting schools, businesses, etc.

The new mayor will be VERY accessible. Remember, the new mayor should have a slogan “As long as I’m here, it doesn’t matter where here is” .. as my mentor Rush Limbaugh likes to say. Use the Internet also.

How can I impact the growth of jobs and capital investment in Topeka?

My answer is very simple. Look at yourself. Do you lead a purpose driven life? Sal & I do. We have daily devotions to our GOD and have a MISSION STATEMENT as posted on our website.

Our mission statement is as follows:

Sal & I would like to share our FAITH with ALL on the web. We share the same faith as Billy Graham.

I look forward in sharing our website to one and all.

5) What are your views regarding the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO)? How do you see your role of the other city elected official, in JEDO?

Any economic development can only be done by attracting JOBS. How do jobs come to our great city? 1) By looking at the people who live in our great city.. 2) By looking at the “leaders” and their tax and spend habits. Currently our present form of local government seems to be in a tax and spend freight train to nowhere.. Please visit our myownfaith2.com web site and ask me for the id/pw in bravenet.com to learn more.

I’m a web geek and a blogger.

6) What can you and other city elected officials do to assist in driving down the crime rate in Topeka?

Like everyone else, I too would like to drive down crime. I like the neighborhood crime watch program. The police could be more responsive from what I’ve heard. I really don’t have a problem with our police department, but I’m not saying they don’t have problems. These inner-office problems within our police department should be worked out within the department and the public should NOT be involved. By hiring GOOD qualified police we can all be for the better. Being on the police force is a thankless job. I look forward as the next mayor to spend some time riding with the newly hired officer(s).

7) Can you provide us with your views regarding downtown re-development and the development of the Kansas River? What can the city do to assist in the economic growth of these areas?

I’m all for any economic development as long as the PRIVATE sector wants to get involved. Leave the city/local government out of the plan. If the city would like to give tax relief for any new developer, I’m all for that. I like the Target distribution plan. Why don’t the newly elected city officials work on a tax relief plan similar to Target?

8) What do you believe is the greatest opportunity for the City of Topeka during your term as a city council member or mayor? How will you be involved in furthering that opportunity?

Look at yourself folks … Visit our web site and read our mission statement.

GOD BLESS

Myron Holter

Topeka KS