Candidate Q&A: Steve Carroll

What makes you the best candidate for City Council?

The past 26 years at Newport News Shipbuilding have been in management – waterfront production foreman, and currently as a radiological control instructor. Duties include personnel supervision, planning, budgeting, training development and execution. Attending dozens of City Council meetings and duties with the Portsmouth Taxpayer Alliance and Wise Beach Civic League have been instructive in councilman duties .

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

High crime rate is a considerable hindrance to stability and renovation of our city. The highest crime rate in South Hampton Roads puts us at a disadvantage at attracting the vital balance of small and medium businesses that complements the family infrastructure. A competitive compensation package for public safety personnel and an aggressive campaign to drive crime from neighborhoods must be a priority.

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

The budget is spiraling out of control. Tax-financed projects such as a new Circuit Court House coupled with existing heavy debt service will severely hinder our ability to perform much needed infrastructure improvements, address neighborhood quality and public safety compensation . Our exceptionally high tax burden and resultant taxpayer flight exacerbates the problem.

Should Portsmouth lobby for a light rail crossing through the Midtown Tunnel? Why?

Yes, if the light rail can be proven to be efficient and self supporting. But financial support must be part of a “comprehensive” state managed transportation package, not a non-accountable authority.

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

Cities, no. Planning, financing and oversight of state projects have traditionally been the state’s jurisdiction . Delegating road taxing and construction power to localities or authorities is redundant, inefficient, wasteful and often unaccountable to public scrutiny or control. The great expense demands careful prioritization and statewide funding such as a flat fuel tax that all road users will pay.

What would you do to improve conditions in Portsmouth’s neighborhoods?

Stop sacking homeowners to subsidize redevelopment. We must redirect a larger part of our tax revenue to neighborhood quality, i.e.; street maintenance, drainage renovation and neighborhood law enforcement. Inflated real estate prices and tax rates are destabilizing once sound and prospering neighborhoods . The resultant tax flight, decay and crime are counterproductive to stable neighborhoods and public schools.