Q&A: Fred Schultz, Ward 6 Incumbent

Throughout this week we'll be running Q&A's with candidates in the Takoma Park City Council election. Any of the candidates that responded to our questions will be posted.

Ward 6 candidate Fred Schultz sat down with Patch to answer questions before the Nov. 8 election.

1. Where would you cut the budget? Can the city progress with programs or does it need to simply maintain it's current services because of budget issues?

The budget for FY12 has already been adopted. It is not possible at this time to judge whether we need to cut the budget for FY13 until next spring. It is impossible to make this judgment until the County Executive and the Maryland Comptroller offer their first round of estimates of actual FY12 revenues sometime around the begining of next year. Until and unless we find that shrinking revenues are going to force us to cut the budget, it would be safe to assume that the City Council will at least maintain current services.

2. Name three things you would propose as a council member to improve livability in Takoma Park.

Build sidewaks where they are needed and requested to protect children and keep pedestrians safe. Prohibit the use of styrofoam for all food use, whether sold or consumed, in the city.Restore the Takoma fire station's ladder truck to its proper location in the city. It is now situated outside the city.

3. With the County Council adopting the CR Zone what would you like to see happen to the Takoma Langley Crossroads? Where is the balance between development and livability?

We need to M-NCPPC Planning Board to adopt Urban Design Guidelines satisfactory to the City so that the County Council can proceed to formally adopt the Sector Plan.

4. How do you see the Takoma Junction developing? How would you quell the traffic issue?

I am withholding judgment until the Task Force completes it work. In general I would like to see the full economic and retail potential of the junction be realized.

5. With tax duplication being such a big issue with residents, how would you make city services worth the extra money residents currently pay? If the county is providing a better service do you think the city should drop that service?

The City Council has the responsibility to review periodically the efficiency of each City program and, in doing so, determine, among other things, whether it might be more cost effective to have a program run by the County. The same is true with regard to services provided by the County that the City might prefer to take over. For example, in 2010 we took a hard look at trash pick up, analyzed whether it made sense for the County to take over the service from the standpoint of quality and costs of service, and determined that it should remain with the City.

6. What issue is most important to you? Just speak your mind on this one and let the readers know why it is important for you to be sitting at the dais after the November election.

We need to increase the level of participation by residents in neighborhood and city activities and functions. Voter turn-out is low. The number of people who actually participate in city committees is low as a percentage of the population. Too many people do not understand how the city government functions and what the important issues are. At the neighborhood level, in Ward 6, which I represent, the number of activist citizens is much too low. Even volunteering for one small task can make a difference, build community and improve safety.