League of Women Voters election survey: Charles Redd, candidate for Dallas City Council, District 7

by Staff of League of Women Voters

Redd is running against seven other opponents - incumbent Carolyn R. Davis, John Jay Myers, Anthony "Tony" Rios, Donald P. Parish, Sr., Gary Wayne Springer, Marvin E. Crenshaw, and Ron Price.

The League of Women Voters of Dallas sent a questionnaire to every candidate running for public office in Dallas County. The election on May 9 features a number of city council races.

The responses of Charles "Chazz" Redd, who is running for the District 7 seat on the Dallas City Council, appear below. Redd is running against seven other opponents - incumbent Carolyn R. Davis, John Jay Myers, Anthony "Tony" Rios, Donald P. Parish, Sr., Gary Wayne Springer, Marvin E. Crenshaw, and Ron Price.

LWV: What are your qualifications for this office?

Redd: I'm a graduate of UNT., after I attended St. Mary's School of Law. I worked for one of the top brokerage firms on Wall St., involving municipal financing. I have worked for Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. Both positions instilled in me the importance of readiness at the local level.

LWV: The City of Dallas has a potential $100M shortfall in the next city budget. How would you close the gap? If you would cut services, which ones would you cut?

Redd: I will close the shortfall by eliminating waste within the budget. The goal of my agenda will be to attract new forms of business to the city. The "green economy" is coming and as a city we must do everything within our power to be a part of this new age. I will seek more residence as well as business ventures in the southern sector. This area is a huge unused valuable resource.

LWV: Are you in favor of a convention center hotel? If yes, do you support the current plan to finance its construction with revenue bonds and have the city own the hotel?

Redd: I'm in favor of the convention hotel. I think it is a forward leaning idea. Once this

economy has rebounded, Dallas will be in a great position to be one of the leading convention venue in the country. In regards to the financing of the hotel, I think the financing is structure such that it provides adequate protection for the taxpayers, while allowing the city to prosper from the positive financial impact.

LWV: What is your response to recent reports (e.g., Corps of Engineers, North Texas Tollway Authority) regarding the Trinity River tollroad/levee issues?

Redd: I think it is disheartening to hear of the recent set back that have been highlighted in the recent reports from the corps of engineers. However I think at this juncture we have gone too far to be stopped now. We as a city must re double our efforts and cure any setbacks or problems that may arise, so we may in our lifetime see this to completion.

LWV: Do you think the City of Dallas Ethics Code needs to be strengthened? If yes, in what way(s)?

Redd: At the current time I see no immediate need to strengthen the Ethics Code. Outstanding work has been done in the past on strengthening the city ethics code. However having said that there is always room for improvement, and all future potential improvements should be evaluated on a case by case basis.