City Council Candidate Questionnaire: Danny Thompson, At Large

I have received a questionnaire response from Danny Thompson, who is running At Large for the Greensboro City Council.  I appreciate his responses, which follow:

1. What, in your opinion, is the single most important activity in which municipal government engages?  Providing value back to the citizens for the investment they make through their hard-earned tax dollars.

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

I would decide on a case by case basis – if their were City regulations that benefit all of the community in which developers had to abide by, then incentives would be an appropriate way for economic development to occur.

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?  Allow the legal process to continue running its course.

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?  Some of both.

5. Do you favor markedly expanding the usage of the White Street Landfill for residential trash to save taxpayers' money?  No.

6. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of the Simkins PAC?  Seek, no; accept, yes.

7. Will you seek or accept the endorsement of TREBIC-affiliated organizations?  Was not aware they endorsed candidates. I did fill out their survey – like I’m doing yours.

8. What would you do to attract more employers to the city of Greensboro? What would you not do to attract more employers?  Support the Piedmont Aerotropolis plan and encourage more regional cooperation with other municipalities for growth.

9. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing taxes for Greensboro residents?  No – we already have one of the State’s highest tax rates. We need to be better stewards with the taxpayer’s money, not keep asking for more.

10. Would you ever vote in favor of increasing fees for Greensboro residents?  No, but I would favor increasing fees of non-residents who use City services and amenities.

11. What measures would you favor to limit the cost of benefits provided for city employees?  Zero based budgeting.

12. Do you support adding more police officers to the GPD? If so, how many?  I support looking at the GPD budget and manpower and seeing where we could get more boots on the streets, and less butts polishing seats.  

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?  Greater community involvement where crime historically happens.

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?  The ones that the majority of citizens vote in favor of, not the ones “back doored” against the voter’s wishes (read: swimming pool).

19. Do you favor proposing bonds to fund capital costs, or do you favor pay-as-you-go?  Pay as you go.

20. Do you favor giving special, increased standing to Action Greensboro and/or the Greensboro Partnership in the formulation of policy decisions?  Continue to use them as a professional source of support and expertise on City matters. Not sure what you mean by “special standing” They already are pretty special to Greensboro.

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

22. Do you favor providing taxpayer money to Action Greensboro or the Greensboro Partnership?  No.

Comments

[Cyndy Hayworth]

Danny Thompson is a level-headed, common sense candidate who has the citizens best interest at heart. He has a very successful business and is a devoted family man. Danny looks at issues through the lens of compassion and logical thinking. He makes decisions based on facts and logic, not by knee-jerk, agenda based thinking. He has no personal agenda except to serve the citizens of Greensboro, similar to the service he offers the senior citizens of our community. He absolutely has my vote!

[Tony Wilkins]

Agreed Cyndy. Danny Thompson would be quite an asset to the city of Greensboro.

[RecycleBill]

Isn't the Piedmont Aerotropolis plan simply another name for the Heart Of The Triad plan?

[Roch101]

I'd like some clarification on that too. Google comes up empty on such a plan, save a single reference to this post. What is the Piedmont Aerotropolis plan?

[triadwatch]

no the piedmont aerotropolis is a totally different aerotropolis from the joke of the triad.

This is just my observation in that the joke of the triad is dead in the water and the piedmont triad partnership has picked up the reins on this piedmont aerotropolis to try a different approach trying to sell the same goods to the citizens when anyone knows that a airport the size of greensboro will attract business with or without a aerotropolis.

Here is a post on triadwatch on just who is on the aerotropolis board

http://triadwatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/who-are-usual-suspects-on-aerotropolis.html

[Doug H]

Well, something's being built at the "joke of the triad." I drive by it on B40 every day.