Candidate Questionnaire
Fresno Mayoral candidates, 2008
Dear Candidate:
As part of its election coverage, The Fresno Bee is asking all the mayoral candidates to provide us with some basic information about who you are, why you're running for Fresno mayor, and where you stand on issues of import to the city. We plan to post this information on our Web site, www.fresnobee.com, and publish it as part of our coverage in The Fresno Bee. Please e-mail your responses no later than March 14 to Reporter Denny Boyles, at dboyles@fresnobee.com.
Also, we need a good photo of you. If you have one you prefer, please e-mail it to photo@fresnobee.com. Make sure you include your name and identify yourself as a candidate for Fresno mayor. If you don't have one, we will ask you to come to our office so we can shoot a photo in our studio. Thank you.
Please tell us something about yourself:
Name:
Age:
Occupation:
Political experience:
Education:
Family:
Public Web site or blog address:
Endorsements:
Brief statement on why you are running for mayor of Fresno - What is your vision for the city? What are the top three things the city needs to address, and how would you do it? (150 words or less):
Please tell us where you stand on these issues:
DOWNTOWN
Q. Mayor Autry has supported various ideas to rejuvenate downtown, from a downtown river to a fountain district tying Fulton Mall to the Chinatown. Do you support any of Autry's ideas? What else should the city do to make downtown Fresno and the Fulton Mall more than just an 8-5 government center?
Q. Should the city defray part of the costs for Forest City's downtown redevelopment plans? If so, how much should the city be willing to invest to make that happen?
GROWTH:
Q. What should the city do to rejuvenate some of its aging -- and ailing -- neighborhoods? Do you support large-scale "Running Horse"-style projects, smaller-scale efforts, or something else?
Q. How would you prevent sprawl?
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
Q. How would you generate more jobs?
PUBLIC SAFETY:
Q. Do you support the city's current approach to quash gangs? Do you favor changes to the city's current approach? What should be done, or done differently?
Q. Do you support or oppose an independent police auditor? Why?
PARKS:
Q. Should Fresno expand the amount of park and open space in the city? If so, how? Where? How should it pay for it?
CITY FINANCES:
Q. If city revenues decline, how should the city balance its budget? Would you cut services? If so, which ones? Would you raise taxes, fees or charges? If so, which ones?
PUBLIC UTILITIES:
Q. Autry's administration has proposed shifting the city's public utilities into a separate municipal utility district. Do you support or oppose the idea? Why?
FRESNO'S IMAGE:
Q. What would you do to improve Fresno's image?