APN Candidate Q&A: Valerie Vie, HD 62
(APN) ATLANTA — In our continuing coverage of the upcoming May 24, 2016 Primary Election and Non-partisan General Election, this article presents the Atlanta Progressive News Candidate Questionnaire responses by Valerie Vie, candidate for House District 62.
Previously, APN ran the candidate responses by Rafer Johnson, who is also a candidate in this race.
http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2016/03/20/apn-candidate-qa-rafer-johnson-house-district-62/
Candidate Aaron Johnson [no relation to Rafer Johnson] has failed to respond to numerous voice messages. Reached at his job at Fulton County Government early in the campaign, Johnson had promised to return a call to APN to discuss campaign matters; however, he has failed to do so several weeks later. Johnson works for Fulton County Chairman John Eaves, although Eaves is supporting Rafer Johnson. Johnson has been said to have been absent at community events and forums.
APN spoke with candidate Joshua Butler IV and emailed his questionnaire on April 12; it is due April 26.
Candidate Larry Perkins Jr. did not have a phone number on his website or public qualifying information. APN sent a questionnaire to his email address, as listed in his qualifying information, on April 12, but received no reply to date. APN has also sent Perkins a Facebook message on April 20, but received no immediate reply.
In mid-March 2016, APN left a message for Boddie, which he returned, and provided an email address, wkboddie@gmail.com. APN emailed him a questionnaire on March 20, to which he did not reply. APN spoke with Boddie again by phone on March 29, and Boddie provided another email address, teamboddie62@gmail.com. An email sent to this address bounced. Boddie did not answer subsequent calls and his voicemail is full. He did not respond to several messages left at his law office.
Vie’s responses to the APN candidate questionnaire are posted below:
DO YOU BELIEVE ALL HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES SHOULD KEEP MINUTES, AND THOSE MINUTES SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?
Full Disclosure is an absolute must, if we are to deserve the confidence and trust of the public. All House and Senate meetings should be made public. The House and Senate Committees should be required to keep minutes and they should be made available to the public online within a time that would allow citizens to react appropriately when necessary.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON NUCLEAR POWER?
I support the use of nuclear power. However, though I support the use of Nuclear Power, I do have concerns regarding issues of radioactive waste storage and contamination. Therefore, we must continue our search for alternatives that are less harmful to the earth. I am confident there are efficient and cost effective choices that we can discover if we dedicate the resources to doing what is necessary. There are several legitimate alternatives that we must explore.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS, IF ANY, TO EXPAND WIND AND SOLAR IN GEORGIA?
Giving [sic] the rising costs of energy, the expansion of wind and solar opportunities must be a priority in the Georgia. I will support the expansion of innovations and practices to improve delivery of energy to Georgia. For many Georgians affordable energy is dependent on our use of wind and solar energies
WOULD YOU SUPPORT REDUCING PETITION REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT AND POLITICAL BODY (MINOR PARTY) CANDIDATES FROM THE CURRENT ONE PERCENT STATEWIDE, FIVE PERCENT NON-STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT?
Yes absolutely.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT ADDING A VOTER VERIFIABLE PAPER AUDIT TRAIL TO ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS IN GEORGIA?
Yes
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE REFERENDUM TO CREATE A STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TAKE OVER SO-CALLED FAILING SCHOOLS?
Adamantly Opposed. I have been and will continue to campaign against Opportunity School Districts.
DO YOU SUPPORT AN EXPANDED MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM (IN-STATE CULTIVATION, FULL PLANT MEDICINE, EXPANDED LIST OF CONDITIONS)? DO YOU SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION? DO YOU SUPPORT LEGALIZATION?
Yes, I support the expanded use of Medical Cannabis. Yes I support the decriminalization of Medical Cannabis. And Yes, I support the legalization of Medical Cannabis.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON CITYHOOD PROPOSAL FOR SOUTH FULTON, AND ATLANTA’S PROPOSAL FOR SOUTH FULTON ANNEXATION?
I am pleased that voters are going to have an opportunity to decide what they want. Whatever the decision of the voters, as the State Representative for District 62, regardless of the outcome for the November vote on this issue, I will work to ensure that we have all of the support and resources we need to thrive throughout District 62.
DO YOU SUPPORT GMO LABELING?
Yes.
DO YOU SUPPORT ANY OF THE RECENT PROPOSALS REDUCING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD, OR ALLOWING LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FLEXIBILITY TO REDUCE EARLY VOTING?
No. I will oppose any attempt to limit voter access.
(END/2016)