2007 Candidate Survey Questionnaire

Response to The Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Indiana:

Dear Friend,

I received a 2007 Candidate Survey Questionnaire on August 14Th, from The Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Indiana. The Government Affairs Committee is surveying candidates running for municipal offices in Southwest Indiana. Their primary purpose is to educate business people in the region about my position on issues important to me. I want you to understand by me completing the survey and returning it no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5Th does not mean that I have their endorsement in the race. (Visit my blogger at http://votedavidjnixonformayor.blogspot.com/)

Here is my response on issues that are important to me for the citizens of Evansville/Mt. Vernon:

1) What are your top 3 priorities as a candidate for office?

Workforce Development:

• Creating new job training programs for veterans, non-union workers and homeless citizens.
• Improved senior citizens work programs.
• Reform to Society job opportunity for reentry citizens.

Health Care:

• 100 % percent access to health care for veterans and the disabled. (Men/Women)
• Adopt-A-Veteran New Initiative Program (Partial payment shared cost support for clients who need a wheelchair, and artificial limbs)
• Discount for medicine cost.

Education - Literacy Development:

• Computer Technology
• Medical Care Language Terms & Meanings
• Bilingual Language Development

2) As Mayor/Member of City Council, what are your plans to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Evansville/Mt. Vernon?

It is difficult to focus my attention on spending money on new buildings when people are hurting in our communities. If elected your next mayor, my plans to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Evansville/Mt. Vernon are as follow:

• Reduce property taxes from twice a year to once a year.
• Support better benefits for our police officers and their family.
• Create better housing programs for veterans, disabled and homeless individuals.

3) With the ongoing discussions of solving the property tax crisis in Indiana, how can municipalities ensure efficient and cost-effective measures at the local level?

• In order to ensure efficient and cost-effective measures at the local level, property taxes will become a citywide tax combining city, and county together for the citizens of Evansville/Mt. Vernon. This will lighten property tax assessment from twice a year to once a year. It will be equally dissolved under the authority of the city giving the mayor and the city council members equal support on how the city taxes will be defined.

To alleviate taxpayer burden and streamline leadership, would you be in favor of unifying local units of government?

• No, I am not in favor of unifying local units of governments. To ease taxpayer burden and streamline leadership, I would seek a resolution tax percentage break; meaning property owners would receive a tax relief based on creating a statutory city tax ordinance.

4) As economic development becomes increasingly competitive on the regional and state level, how best can our local leaders assist in the attraction of new business and retention and expansion of local companies?

• Link a coalition of supported businesses together.
• Conduct a survey on why local companies leave our city.
• Promote nationwide diversity and global marketing incentives for new businesses re-locating to Evansville/Mt. Vernon areas.
• Encourage local companies to offer new importing/exporting, communications, and medical technology business opportunities and services in our city.

5) As a municipal leader, how do you view your role in handling issues of regional importance to Southwest Indiana?

• As your next mayor, I seek a better association between our city and other cities and states.
• Establish improved management, and daily operations.
• Provide better community infrastructure, prevention and strategic planning.

Thank you.

David J. Nixon, Candidate for Mayor

Paid for by the Committee to Vote Nixon for Mayor