Republican

Candidate name: Amber Gnemi

Place of residence: Silver Spring

Date of birth: Jan. 1, 1984

Place of birth: St. Louis Park, Minn.

Current occupation: Intelligence analyst⁄journalist-public affairs

Education: B.S. in broadcast journalism, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.

Family: declined to answer

Web site: http://www.ambergnemi.org/.

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

*Transportation — Transportation problems in and around Montgomery County are destroying the quality of life of the county’s citizens. Mass transit solutions need to be implemented and built. Road systems need to be improved to provide safe thoroughfares and decrease traffic congestion.

*Education — Montgomery County Schools need the newest technology to stay competitive in our technological world. Our schools need to keep up with the innovations of the 21st century.

*Homeland Security — Montgomery County needs to be prepared to respond to an act of terrorism, emergency crisis, or natural disaster.

First Responders should have interoperable systems to be able to integrate and operate seamlessly in a timely and efficient manner.

I have a love for my country and a respect for the men and women of the Armed Forces. My experience in the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves has given me an understanding of the community’s relationship with the local military centers, and the county’s reliance upon the Guard’s role in Homeland Security in the event of a disaster or crisis.

How would you rate the performance of the current council: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

I rate the performance of the current Montgomery County Council as fair. Success is subjective.

Although the current county council has done a good job maintaining a high standard of living in Montgomery County, I believe the County has many areas that need improvement. (i.e.) traffic congestion, mass transit, development, master planning, educational facilities, tax burdens, budget, flood-control, homeland security and many other areas.

The County Council has room to improve and enhance the quality of life for its constituents. A good and successful government is one that gives constituents a voice so that the rights of the governed will be retained.

‘‘If men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation.” — Samuel Adams, letter to Elbridge Gerry, November 27, 1780

Is the rate of growth in Montgomery County too fast, too slow or just right?

The rate of growth is just right, because our federal economy is thriving at the present time. The national economy has influenced Montgomery County’s growth rate.

Who should have more control over the planning process, the council or the executive and why?

The council should have more control over the planning process. The council is a greater representation of the constituents. The council is composed of individuals with many experiences, and backgrounds that bring diverse ideas into the planning process.

What should have been done to avoid the development problems that happened in Clarksburg?

The Clarksburg developers were overburdened by regulations and requirements and the county was overburdened by oversight.

The MPDU program is broken and needs to be re-evaluated. Instead, a strong master plan specifying categories of housing zones that would relieve the burdens on the developers and the county by easing oversight demands. With a detailed master zoning plan, the free market of supply and demand would shape the development of the county thereby eliminating many of the problems experienced in the Clarksburg development.

What’s your plan to provide more affordable housing in Montgomery County?

I believe strongly in master planning, creating zones of development, tax incentives for affordable housing growth, and then allowing free enterprise and the free market of supply and demand to dictate the extent of the growth.

The regulation of mandating Moderately Priced Dwelling Units is limiting free enterprise and creating development placement chaos. I would like to re-evaluate the MPDU program. I believe the county should designate high-end and affordable housing zones in their master planning throughout the county. Currently, under the MPDU program the developer decides affordable housing placement with County approval. With master planning zones, the county has a greater input into community development. The developer can build housing in whatever zone he chooses to build in, whether it be the high-end or the affordable housing zones.

I support a tax initiative for the affordable housing zones. I also would like to continue and promote interest fee loans through the Housing Initiative Fund to low-income families to purchase homes with a percentage of sale equity going back into county funds. I would propose a community service initiative to enable individuals to purchase affordable housing.

Do you think the county is doing enough to meet the needs of its growing diverse population? If not, what do you think the county needs to do?

Diverse law enforcement with an understanding of cultural differences needs to be hired.

Educational institutions should offer accelerated English programs that reach the entire family.

While Montgomery county needs to increase cultural cross training, our county need to have programs that teach the principles America was founded upon.

8. Do you support Montgomery County’s day laborer centers?

I do not support day laborer centers. Other resources are available for employment options.

What programs would you add to the budget, and how would you pay for them?

Many of the programs I propose would be self-supporting. I believe the county all ready offers sufficient programs. The county needs to review and where needed enhance existing programs.

I would propose a community services volunteer program which would offer tax incentives for volunteer time. I also propose community service of those who are the recipients of government programs and services such as social services, health care, and subsidized housing. Such a program would boost the self-esteem and confidence of those who want to contribute to society, but are at a point in their life where they are in temporary need of financial aide.

A government building maintenance program should be maximized using the minimum-security prison population.

A program that would provide the renewal of existing affordable housing would be to institute a historic building renovation program.

I suggest the County consider innovative processes to increase County revenue, such as increase county fees (for example, building permits⁄plan review⁄business permits, etc), multi-task government buildings (for example, rent out educational centers that sit empty during off-peak school season), etc.

Are there any programs, taxes or fees that should be cut? What would you do with the money from the savings?

The county budget should be evaluated carefully, cutting out unnecessary expenditures, and enhancing the programs that work well.

I would like to have an advisory committee of constituents to review programs and taxes. I would like to offer more tax incentives.

I believe fees for county services should be increased because expenses for county services have increased. The money from the savings will go back to the constituents. The money does not belong to the county to begin with; the money belongs to the governed.

Does council have too much, not enough or the right amount of oversight of the school system?

The County Council should have an advisory role in the affairs of the school system. The school system should be held accountable to the County for the funds that are received from the county budget. The school system should be governed on a local level.

Do you think the current system for renovating schools is adequate, or does it need changing?

The currenty system for renovating schools is insufficient. Children need a safe, healthy conducive environment in which to learn. The current physical facilities of many of the county’s schools are shameful and unacceptable.

As a county council member, I would propose the following: eliminate portables where building additions are practical, consolidate close neighboring schools, and replace schools that are beyond repair feasibility.

What is the No. 1 public safety concern for Montgomery County? What would you do about it?

Homeland Security is the number one public safety concern for Montgomery County based on the county’s sensitive geographic location.

Homeland Security encompasses traffic congestion and evacuation, security preparation, disaster readiness, First Responder training, triage, hospital mass-crisis preparation, interoperable communication, mass transit security, dam flood control, and warning systems.

Do you support an east-west Metro link, and where should it go?

As a daily rider of both ride-on and the metro train system, I feel very strongly about the expansion of the transit system. I support all proposed expansions, but I also propose a completion of the red line loop from Shady Grove to Glenmont. I support a tax incentive for those who choose transit.

Do you support the Montgomery Cares program, and are adequate audit controls in place for accountability?

I do not support the Montgomery Cares program. Instead I support a community services volunteer program in exchange for basic health care services for the low income, uninsured. However, For American Citizens, I believe a revised assistance program should be in instated to take care of only catastrophic medical needs. In the event of legal and illegal immigrants, I believe the county should bill the country of origin when health care is provided.

What should be the county’s role in mental health?

The county should provide a minimal role of awareness in mental health education and avenues to seek treatment.