City Council Candidate Questionnaire-- Sandra Anderson Groat, At Large

I have received a questionnaire response from incumbent Councilwoman-at-large Sandra Anderson Groat.  I appreciate her participation:

1.What, in your opinion, is the single most important activity in which municipal government engages? Spending taxpayers'' money.

2.  Do you favor taxpayer money being used to provide incentives for private real estate development? Yes.

3.  What actions do you believe are necessary to correct the wrongs our city government committed during late 2005 and thereafter with its response to the Police Department controversy?  It was my understanding that a lot of people would be satisfied if our former City Manager was removed.  We need to move forward; we can't redo the past.

 

4. Which pattern of development do you prefer for the city of Greensboro's future-- higher levels of density with infill, or a more suburban pattern?  High levels of density with infill along with some suburban patterns also..

5. Do you favor markedly expanding the usage of the White Street Landfill for residential trash to save taxpayers' money? No.  Our removal of trash will be a big issue with the incoming Council.  We need to consider all aspects of this.

6. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC? Yes, I will accept it.

7.Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations? Yes.

8.What would you do to attract more employers to the city of Greensboro?  We have to have more jobs.  We have to have a ready workforce.  If this question is about incentives, as long as other localities swaying companies, we will have to do so.  I want our quality of life to remain the same, and I believe that it can - and better.

9.Would you ever vote in favor of increasing taxes for Greensboro residents? Yes.

10.Would you ever vote in favor of increasing fees for Greensboro residents? Yes.

11.What measures would you favor to limit the cost of benefits provided for city employees?  The benefits to Greensboro City Employees are standard in most municipalities.  We do have no definite requirements for retirement.  I believe that we should look at when retirement begins.  I hear people talk about a succession plan.  I don't understand how we can have someone moving up if no one is moving out??

12.Do you support adding more police officers to the GPD? If so, how many?  Yes.  Yes.  Public Safety is our most important service to our citizens.  I don't know how many police officers we need right now.  I would discuss it with the Chief to determine that, but I do believe we spend money wisely when it comes to further our Police Department.

 

13. Do you support bringing the police chief under the control of the City Council? No.

14.Do you think our libraries' computers should be filtered to protect young people? Yes.

15. Do you favor expanding mass transportation services in the city of Greensboro? Yes.

16.What approaches do you think the police department should employ to decrease crime in our city? They are making many arrests and solving crimes.  They have adopted a more agressive attitude which helps in these areas.  The Gang Unit seems to be successful.  Neighborhood policing would help.  If there were consistent police officers in an area who developed trust with the residents, they would get more information.  This is true especially in our high crime areas. Known consequences of crime should be made widely available.  Our PD appears to be after those who break the law, and it should be publized.

 

17.Do you favor or oppose the city planning department merging with the county planning department? Favor.

18. What types of projects should be funded through bonds for economic development, and what types of projects should not be supported?  This should be decided on a case by case basis.

19. Do you favor proposing bonds to fund capital costs, or do you favor pay-as-you-go? Bonds for capital projects, if necessary.

20. Do you favor giving special, increased standing to Action Greensboro and/or the Greensboro Partnership in the formulation of policy decisions?  Favor. 

21. Do you support bringing the city attorney under the control of the City Council?  Yes.

22. Do you favor providing taxpayer money to Action Greensboro or the Greensboro Partnership? Yes.

Comments

[Bubba]

How does this woman keep getting re-elected?

Half of her answers are completely wrong-headed. The answers to the other half are simple minded, or make no sense whatsoever.

I don't care that she's a "nice lady." We need someone else more sentient in her place.

[brandonB]

"How does this woman keep getting re-elected?"

"6. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC? Yes, I will accept it.

7.Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations? Yes."

--This is why it is important to get out there and get folks interested in the issues. You know how many people I've heard say "oh, he's in a gang? That might be kind of cool." Riiiggghhhttt.

[Stephen]

I never really give her a second thought until recently - it's really strange, and perhaps a good sign that everytime I see her name, I think she's even more stupid than before.....

According to question #1, she lied on question #12.....According to her, public safety is not the government's most important service to the citizens, it's spending our money....enough said.....

[Stephen]

Good grief, the more I read this, the more my brain hurts....

Question 16 is great.....

I agree with her on one point, and that is having consistant patrols from the same officers could build trust in the community along those officers' "beat".

She's saying that to decrease crime in Greensboro, the police department should make arrests, solve crimes, and we should make it public knowledge that crime is illegal and also make it public knowledge that our police department is "out to get" criminals....

Well no {insert four letter word for feces}! I'm certainly glad she doesn't think the police chief should report directly to the council.......