Candidate Q&A: Rodney Foster

What makes you the best candidate for City Council?

I have years of experience working on civic organizations, committees and commissions for the city of Chesapeake. I am concerned about the city’s fiscal condition, as well as education, public safety, transportation, economic development and maintaining low taxes. For 42 years I have been a self-employed businessman. I understand the importance of watching the bottom line.

What should be the city's top priority now, and how can it be achieved?

Assuring a first-classeducation system, implementing a Public Safety step-pay plan, working with all commu-nities to achieve the improvements they need to make it more visible, improving transportation, and providing Economic Development the assistance it needs to bring more businesses to Chesapeake.

What do you think will be the city's most pressing issue in 10 years, and how can the city prepare for it?

Transportation and workforce housing/affordable housing are pressing issues. School construction, salaries for 4,000 city employees to be comparable to all area cities, and job opportunities for strong economic development base will also always be important goals. Maintaining high quality school system, and public info-structure needs.

How do you respond to complaints that city leaders put developers’ interests ahead of residents’ needs?

Council has adequate policies in place to determine the value of proposed development, such as Level of Service, comprehensive plan, etc. They should adhere to the policies. It should be determined whether the proposed development is timely, if the quality of the development would create a positive revenue flow to the City, and would it enhance the quality of life for, not only future residents , but for all of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Cite one vote by a majority of City Council that you disagreed with in the past year and why.

Transportation Authority approval. It’s unconstitutional and increases taxes on all of Chesapeake taxpayers unfairly. Regional transportation corridors should be funded by Federal and State Governments.

Should the city and state raise more money to pay for transportation projects? If yes, how?

Yes, the State should – It’s the General Assembly’s responsibility to deal with regional transportation projects. They can raise the gas tax by $.02, or develop other revenue streams, by putting tolls on new construction only.