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

Response to Vanderburgh County Right to Life

2007 Candidate Survey

Dear Friend,

I received a 2007 Candidate Survey on July 25Th from Vanderburgh County Right to Life. Their primary purpose is to inform constituents of my beliefs on issues of concern regarding Right to Life. Although I missed the response deadline of August 3rd, I want to share my point of view with you on issues that are important.

Please understand by me sharing my opinions on the matter of Right to Life does not mean that I have their endorsement in the race. (Visit my blogger at http://votedavidjnixonformayor.blogspot.com/)

Here is my belief and response to some of the questions asked on the Right to Life Candidate Survey:

1) Do you support Indiana's informed consent law that requires that women considering abortion be given facts on the risks of abortion, information on alternatives to abortion, and information on fetal development, through in-person consultation performed at least 18 hours prior to an abortion?

• Although I cannot write the entire Senate Bill No. 172 due to its lengthy contents on my blog, I encourage all voters to visit Billwatch Indiana and click on SB172 to understand more about the issue like I did regarding informed consent law.

The Digest of Introduced Bill reads as follow: Citations Affected: IC 16-34-2-1.1 Synopsis: Information to a pregnant woman before an abortion. Provides that informed consent to an abortion includes the requirement that a physician inform a pregnant woman that a fetus might feel pain. Provides that notice must be given in writing at least 18 hours before an abortion concerning the availability of adoptions, concerning physical risks to the woman in having an abortion, and stating that human physical life begins when a human egg fertilizes a human ovum. (Word changed to "egg" was necessary due to Internet users being sensitive to words and meanings that may seem offensive on blogger)

• Yes, according to Senate Bill No. 172, I do support informing a pregnant woman be given the detailed facts on the risks of abortion, information on alternatives, fetal development and in-person consultation.

2) Do you support federal law that prohibits partial-birth abortion, the procedure that kills a living child during delivery?

• Yes, I do support federal law that prohibits partial birth abortion according to IC 16-32-2-1 that reads as follow:

IC 16-34-2-1 Required circumstances of legal abortion. Sec. 1 (b) A person may not knowingly or intentionally perform a partial birth abortion unless a physician reasonably believes that: (1) performing the partial birth abortion is necessary to save the mother's life; and (2) no other medical procedure is sufficient to save the mother's life.

As added by P.L. 2-1993, SEC. 17. Amended by P.L. 145-1997, SEC. 2.

3) Do you support Indiana law that requires the licenser and inspection of Indiana abortion clinics, and requirements that abortion clinics meet basic health and safety standards?

• The Digest of Introduced Senate Bill No. 221 reads as follow:

Citations Affected: IC 16-21-2-2.5 Synopsis: Rules of birthing centers and abortion clinics. Requires that state department of health to establish physical plant specifications for birthing centers and abortion clinics requires the state department to notify the administrative rules oversight committee if the state department cannot establish the physical plant specifications for abortion clinics before April 1, 2008. Requires abortion clinics to meet the state department of health physical plan specifications before July 1, 2011. Effective: Upon passage, KRUSE January 8, 2007 read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services.

• Yes, according to Senate Bill 221, I support the Indiana law that requires the state department of health physical plan specifications before July 1, 2011.

4) Do you support conscience clause legislation that would give pharmacists the right to refuse filling prescriptions to be used to cause chemical abortions?

• Yes, I would support a conscience clause legislation that would give pharmacists the right to refuse filling prescriptions to be used to cause chemical abortions. Health and safety are important to preserve the life of a pregnant woman.

5) Would you oppose any attempts to change the current Indiana standard of teaching abstinence-only education in public schools by replacing it with so-called "comprehensive" coitus education that includes among other things, teaching Indiana school children how to use safeguard and other birth control? (Word change was necessary due to Internet users being sensitive to words and meanings that may seem offensive on blogger)

• I believe in parent involvement in public schools. I would encourage parents, guardians and grandparents to participate along with the student during the teachings of comprehensive education learning in the classroom.

• I believe that the Indiana standards of teaching abstinence should always have an open door policy for amendments. We need to stay up to date as our youth continue to change their standards relating to issues of abstinence.

6) Do you support current Indiana law that bans assisted suicide?

• Yes, I do.

7) Do you support a ban on all efforts to clone human embryos?

• Yes, I do support a ban on all efforts to clone human embryos.

8) Do you support a ban on research using the stem cells from intentionally destroyed human embryos, instead encouraging stem cell research using non-destructive stem cell sources such as umbilical cord blood?

• Yes, I support a ban on all efforts of human embryo stem cell research.

• I am in agreement with IC 16-34-2-6 Experiments performed on aborted fetus prohibited. SEC. 6. No experiments except pathological examinations may be conducted on any fetus aborted under the chapter, nor may any fetus so aborted be transported out of Indiana for experimental purposes. A person who conducts such an experiment or so transport such a fetus commits a Class A misdemeanor.

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC. 17.

9) Do you support enforcing penalties as prescribed in Indiana law for abortion clinics, "family planning" clinics, or other entities who fail to report, as required by Indiana law, any child under the age of 14 who evidences child abuse? (Word change was necessary due to Internet users sensitive to words and meanings that may seem offensive to blogger)

• What Indiana law are you referring to enforcing penalties? I am looking at IC 16-34-2-4. I have no comment at this time.

10) Are you opposed to using taxpayer funding to pay for elective abortions?

• Yes.

11) Do you support legislation that clarifies that human life begins at fertilization, when a human ovum is fertilized by a human egg? (Word changed to "egg" was necessary due to Internet users sensitive to words and meanings that may seem offensive on blogger)

• I am in agreement with IC 16-16-34-1-1 Childbirth preferred. SEC. 1. Childbirth is preferred, encouraged, and supported over abortion. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC. 17.

12) Do you support legislation requiring that women considering abortion be informed that an unborn child may feel pain during an abortion?

• Yes, I support Senate Bill No. 172 that a physician informs a pregnant woman that a fetus might feel pain.

13) Would you refuse to personally campaign for, or support a candidate for public office who supports abortion on demand?

• Yes, I would refuse to personally campaign for, or support a candidate for public office who supports abortion on demand.
• I am in agreement with IC 16-34-1-2 Public funds; payment restricted. SEC. 2. Neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state may make a payment from any fund under its control for the performance of an abortion unless the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant woman. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC. 17.

14) Under what circumstances do you believe abortion should be legal?

____Abortion should never be legal

____To save the life of the mother only

____To save the life of the mother, rape and incest

____If the child is determined to have mental or physical disabilities

____Abortion should be legal in all cases

• I support IC 16-34-1-1 Childbirth preferred. SEC. 1 Childbirth is preferred, encouraged, and supported over abortion. As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC. 17.

Thank you.

David J. Nixon, Candidate for Mayor

Paid for by the Committee to Vote Nixon for Mayor

Response to Tri State Alliance

Candidate Survey 2007

Dear Friend,

I received a candidate survey from Tri State Alliance which is preparing a voters guide for the upcoming elections. It is to my understanding that the voters guide will be distributed to those interested in civil rights issues. I want you to understand that by me completing the survey does not mean I have Tri State Alliance endorsement in the race. Visit my blogger at http://votedavidjnixonformayor.blogspot.com/

Here is my response on issues regarding the GLBT orientation of Evansville. (Word change from "___ orientation" to "GLBT orientation" was necessary due to Internet users being sensitive to words and meanings that may seem offensive on blogger)

1) If elected will you make a non discrimination pledge that includes GLBT orientation in the areas of city employment and the provision of city services as a candidate for office?

• No, I would not make a personal non discrimination promise, however, if elected your next mayor, I will make every effort to make sure that the GLBT orientation who are city employed will have employment protection, improved promotion on the job, and have an equal opportunity for pay increase.

2) If proposed, would you support an ordinance or law that would add GLBT orientation to the categories on which city employees are not discriminated against?

• Yes, if elected your next mayor, I would support an ordinance or law according to the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA), that would protect city employees. Although "ENDA" does not include the GLBT orientation in its protected class of people, I will make every effort to support an ordinance to included city employees of the GLBT orientation as well.

3) Would you support a change in policy that would allow unmarried persons who are city employees to pay full price for city insurance coverage for their domestic partner?

• There is a current federal law in place called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which is controlling health insurance eligibility.
• If elected your next mayor, I would consider seeking improved domestic partnership benefits including Long Term Care Insurance, improved Medicaid policies, and Family Medical Leave Act for persons who are city employees as well as of the GLBT orientation and their domestic partner.

4) Will you support diversity cultural competency training for all city employees that would include GLBT orientation?

• Yes, if elected your next mayor, I would support a diversity cultural fitness alternative training program for all city employees including GLBT orientation. It is very important that city employees are comfortable. I would make the diversity cultural fitness programs an alternative choice, not enforcement.

5) Why should voters concerned about GLBT issues vote for you?

• Being an African American man in this city we have similar issues. I am discriminated against because of the color of my skin, and the GLBT orientation is discriminated against because of their life style choice.
• GLBT orientations are faced with emotional distress, harassment, defamation, and wrongful termination, just like I am faced with wrongful termination because the color of my skin is black. Finally, defamation (saying bad things about you that damage your reputation), I too, face the same issues on a daily basis.
• You are faced with housing discrimination, higher rent, and larger security deposit. I too, face the same issues.
• If elected your next mayor, I seek to improve the relations of diversity, including alternative life style choice acceptance in our city and communities, "Making Sure Evansville Is Not Left Out."

Thank you.

David J. Nixon, Candidate for Mayor

Paid for by the Committee to Vote Nixon for Mayor