DULUTH GREENS - Voters Guide, 2007 - 3rd District (central) Candidates
| QUESTIONS | Sharla Gardner | Heather Rand |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainability / lessen fossil-fuel use? | GARDNER: Land use and transportation policies should encourage traditional neighborhoods that allow for walking, public transit, and shorter drives. The city should systematically pursue energy efficiency in public buildings. Incentives should be provided to homeowners and landlords to do the same. We should also encourage neighborhood businesses and developement so people don't have to drive to the mall whenever they need something. | RAND: (Ms. Rand *refused* to take the greens survey. She wrote: "I don't plan on returning the Duluth Green Party survey as the focus is misdirected." |
| Local food production? | GARDNER: Support initiatives such as the Duluth Community Garden Program and farmer's markets, and work on eliminating barriers that discourage residents from producing food on city lots. Public bodies should also be encouraged to purchase food locally whenever possible. People should be encouraged to support neighborhood businesses that buy locally. | RAND: |
| Strengthen Union movement? | GARDNER: As a lifelong participant and supporter of the labor movement, I favor policies (such as Project Labor Agreements and Labor Peace Agreements) that make it easier for ordinary workers to exercise their legal right to organize unions and bargain collectively. Labor history needs to be promoted & shared with the entire community as well. | RAND: |
| Call for U.S. Troops home from Iraq? | GARDNER: Yes. Our national leaders have let us down on this issue. Local leaders have a responsibility to take the lead and inform the federal government of the will of the people. | RAND: |
| Support I.C.R.B. for Duluth Police? | GARDNER: Yes. When implemented properly, cities across the country have found such boards to be a helpful tool in improving police-community relations. | RAND: |
| Instant Runoff Voting in Duluth? | GARDNER: Not at this time. While I support IRV in partisan races for state and national office, I believe that our current system of non-partisan municipal primaries fulfills much the same purpose. I am concerned that replacing our current system with IRV could have the unintended effect of benefiting well-funded candidates and incumbents. That effect seems to have happened in September in our local elections, so I'm still not convinced which is best at this point. | RAND: |