LINDA GORTON SURVEY

from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

District/Office:
Lexington Mayor – Primary
Political party:
Nonpartisan

LINDA GORTON SURVEY

from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

District/Office:
Lexington Mayor – Primary
Political party:
Nonpartisan

LINDA GORTON SURVEY

from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

District/Office:
Lexington Mayor – Primary
Political party:
Nonpartisan

Question 1:

How would you propose making Lexington Public Transportation more effective and efficient?

As Vice Mayor I was a strong supporter of public transportation. During my time as a Councilmember, I supported the LexTran dedicated funding referendum to go on the ballot for a vote. Continue increasing number of routes to connect neighborhoods with main arteries. Continue using transportation grants to fund electric & natural gas fueled buses. Continue to seek innovative traffic engineering & control solutions.

Question 2:

What is your position on future growth and development issues as they affect Fayette County? What are your ideas about issues related to zoning, sprawl, urban service boundary expansion, historical districts in lower-income neighborhoods, increase in rent, and in-fill development?

As Vice Mayor & Council member, I was a strong proponent of Infill/Redevelopment initiatives, as well as a supporter of Fayette County’s agricultural businesses. It is very expensive for the government to provide infrastructure & services to new development, e.g. roads, sanitary sewers, storm water, fire stations, police facilities, etc, if outside the Urban Service Boundary (USB). I support filling in the vacant acres within the current USB. Fayette County has a long & strong history of planned growth with major input from neighborhoods & citizens. We need to work closely with developers, Housing Authority, neighborhoods & others to determine new initiatives for affordable housing.

Question 3:

What policies would you include to minimize Lexington’s carbon footprint? Do you support clean energy?

I support a variety of energy sources & recognize that we have only one earth & we need to take initiatives to make it as healthy for people as possible.

Question 4:

Where do you stand on city workers’ rights for collective bargaining? What policies do you support to improve their workplace conditions and standard of living?

My record on Council reflects my support for collective bargaining for police, fire & corrections. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) has many safety policies in place to protect workers & provide safe, healthy workplace conditions. I support the efforts to pay LFUCG employees fairly.

Question 5:

In 2015, nearly 800 students in Fayette County Public Schools were homeless. We also have a shortage of housing that is affordable. How do you plan to address homelessness and the lack of affordable housing in our community?

Affordable housing opportunities are critical to helping solve the homeless problem. City’s Div of Planning will be an important part of the process of finding ways to incent development of affordable housing. There are several programs already in place related to homelessness & I will review & support them. Linked to the homeless students is job training & retraining for their parents, allowing them to earn a living which will provide housing for the family.

Question 6:

What ideas do you have to create jobs and reduce unemployment in Lexington? What specifically would you do to promote a living wage, minority hiring and support for minority owned businesses?

Lexington-Fayette County currently has a very low unemployment rate, between 3 & 4%, lower than that of the US & lower than Kentucky. First, we need a Strategic Plan for Economic Development & Employment, crafted through collaborative efforts of economic development stakeholders to create a plan for full employment for now as well as the future. We must collaborate with our universities, businesses, & job training initiatives to be sure we can train & hire people in need of a job, anticipating what our community needs based on our strategic plan. I will continue to support the efforts of Minority Business Expo, training & other initiatives currently assisting minority owned businesses & those who want to start a business. We also must elevate community efforts to train or retrain people getting out of prison in order for them to become gainfully employed.

Question 7:

Do you believe Black Lives Matter? What work do you think we have to do in Lexington to address racial inequities inside and outside the halls of government?

It is the duty of all of government to treat all people with respect & to serve without discrimination. In the 1990’s I was appointed to the Fayette County Public Schools Equity County, where I served for several years. I understand that within government we must encourage & model mutual respect & outside government there must also be non-discrimination.

Question 8:

With the recent outpouring of stories from women of their experiences with sexual assault in the workplace, more organizations are making sexual harassment training mandatory for employment. What policies and procedures do you support to protect government workers in the workplace? What else would you do to expand the rights of women in Lexington?

Require LFUCG employees to complete annual sexual harassment training. Convene community-wide forum to address issues of women.

Question 9:

What specific types of legal protections do you believe transgender people should have, and what would you do to ensure those protections?

As a supporter of Lexington’s Fairness Ordinance in 1999, I have demonstrated a history of treating all people with respect. I would like to learn more about the issues & legal protections by talking with transgender people.

Question 10:

What are your plans to address necessary infrastructure repairs in Lexington (sewers, power lines, street repair)?

As Vice Mayor & Council member in Lexington, I have a documented history of leadership in tackling tough infrastructure repairs. I chaired the Stormwater Oversight Committee, as well as the Stormwater Management Fee Task Force, which resulted in compliance with the EPA Consent Decree funding mechanism to fix sewer problems. This was mandated by the EPA & I led this Task Force toward a solution which gained approval from the Council & was signed into law by Mayor Newberry. I will continue to place a high priority on infrastructure improvements in annual budgets.

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Question 1:

How would you propose making Lexington Public Transportation more effective and efficient?

As Vice Mayor I was a strong supporter of public transportation. During my time as a Councilmember, I supported the LexTran dedicated funding referendum to go on the ballot for a vote. Continue increasing number of routes to connect neighborhoods with main arteries. Continue using transportation grants to fund electric & natural gas fueled buses. Continue to seek innovative traffic engineering & control solutions.

Question 2:

What is your position on future growth and development issues as they affect Fayette County? What are your ideas about issues related to zoning, sprawl, urban service boundary expansion, historical districts in lower-income neighborhoods, increase in rent, and in-fill development?

As Vice Mayor & Council member, I was a strong proponent of Infill/Redevelopment initiatives, as well as a supporter of Fayette County’s agricultural businesses. It is very expensive for the government to provide infrastructure & services to new development, e.g. roads, sanitary sewers, storm water, fire stations, police facilities, etc, if outside the Urban Service Boundary (USB). I support filling in the vacant acres within the current USB. Fayette County has a long & strong history of planned growth with major input from neighborhoods & citizens. We need to work closely with developers, Housing Authority, neighborhoods & others to determine new initiatives for affordable housing.

Question 3:

What policies would you include to minimize Lexington’s carbon footprint? Do you support clean energy?

I support a variety of energy sources & recognize that we have only one earth & we need to take initiatives to make it as healthy for people as possible.

Question 4:

Where do you stand on city workers’ rights for collective bargaining? What policies do you support to improve their workplace conditions and standard of living?

My record on Council reflects my support for collective bargaining for police, fire & corrections. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) has many safety policies in place to protect workers & provide safe, healthy workplace conditions. I support the efforts to pay LFUCG employees fairly.

Question 5:

In 2015, nearly 800 students in Fayette County Public Schools were homeless. We also have a shortage of housing that is affordable. How do you plan to address homelessness and the lack of affordable housing in our community?

Affordable housing opportunities are critical to helping solve the homeless problem. City’s Div of Planning will be an important part of the process of finding ways to incent development of affordable housing. There are several programs already in place related to homelessness & I will review & support them. Linked to the homeless students is job training & retraining for their parents, allowing them to earn a living which will provide housing for the family.

Question 6:

What ideas do you have to create jobs and reduce unemployment in Lexington? What specifically would you do to promote a living wage, minority hiring and support for minority owned businesses?

Lexington-Fayette County currently has a very low unemployment rate, between 3 & 4%, lower than that of the US & lower than Kentucky. First, we need a Strategic Plan for Economic Development & Employment, crafted through collaborative efforts of economic development stakeholders to create a plan for full employment for now as well as the future. We must collaborate with our universities, businesses, & job training initiatives to be sure we can train & hire people in need of a job, anticipating what our community needs based on our strategic plan. I will continue to support the efforts of Minority Business Expo, training & other initiatives currently assisting minority owned businesses & those who want to start a business. We also must elevate community efforts to train or retrain people getting out of prison in order for them to become gainfully employed.

Question 7:

Do you believe Black Lives Matter? What work do you think we have to do in Lexington to address racial inequities inside and outside the halls of government?

It is the duty of all of government to treat all people with respect & to serve without discrimination. In the 1990’s I was appointed to the Fayette County Public Schools Equity County, where I served for several years. I understand that within government we must encourage & model mutual respect & outside government there must also be non-discrimination.

Question 8:

With the recent outpouring of stories from women of their experiences with sexual assault in the workplace, more organizations are making sexual harassment training mandatory for employment. What policies and procedures do you support to protect government workers in the workplace? What else would you do to expand the rights of women in Lexington?

Require LFUCG employees to complete annual sexual harassment training. Convene community-wide forum to address issues of women.

Question 9:

What specific types of legal protections do you believe transgender people should have, and what would you do to ensure those protections?

As a supporter of Lexington’s Fairness Ordinance in 1999, I have demonstrated a history of treating all people with respect. I would like to learn more about the issues & legal protections by talking with transgender people.

Question 10:

What are your plans to address necessary infrastructure repairs in Lexington (sewers, power lines, street repair)?

As Vice Mayor & Council member in Lexington, I have a documented history of leadership in tackling tough infrastructure repairs. I chaired the Stormwater Oversight Committee, as well as the Stormwater Management Fee Task Force, which resulted in compliance with the EPA Consent Decree funding mechanism to fix sewer problems. This was mandated by the EPA & I led this Task Force toward a solution which gained approval from the Council & was signed into law by Mayor Newberry. I will continue to place a high priority on infrastructure improvements in annual budgets.

Question 1:

How would you propose making Lexington Public Transportation more effective and efficient?

As Vice Mayor I was a strong supporter of public transportation. During my time as a Councilmember, I supported the LexTran dedicated funding referendum to go on the ballot for a vote. Continue increasing number of routes to connect neighborhoods with main arteries. Continue using transportation grants to fund electric & natural gas fueled buses. Continue to seek innovative traffic engineering & control solutions.

Question 2:

What is your position on future growth and development issues as they affect Fayette County? What are your ideas about issues related to zoning, sprawl, urban service boundary expansion, historical districts in lower-income neighborhoods, increase in rent, and in-fill development?

As Vice Mayor & Council member, I was a strong proponent of Infill/Redevelopment initiatives, as well as a supporter of Fayette County’s agricultural businesses. It is very expensive for the government to provide infrastructure & services to new development, e.g. roads, sanitary sewers, storm water, fire stations, police facilities, etc, if outside the Urban Service Boundary (USB). I support filling in the vacant acres within the current USB. Fayette County has a long & strong history of planned growth with major input from neighborhoods & citizens. We need to work closely with developers, Housing Authority, neighborhoods & others to determine new initiatives for affordable housing.

Question 3:

What policies would you include to minimize Lexington’s carbon footprint? Do you support clean energy?

I support a variety of energy sources & recognize that we have only one earth & we need to take initiatives to make it as healthy for people as possible.

Question 4:

Where do you stand on city workers’ rights for collective bargaining? What policies do you support to improve their workplace conditions and standard of living?

My record on Council reflects my support for collective bargaining for police, fire & corrections. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) has many safety policies in place to protect workers & provide safe, healthy workplace conditions. I support the efforts to pay LFUCG employees fairly.

Question 5:

In 2015, nearly 800 students in Fayette County Public Schools were homeless. We also have a shortage of housing that is affordable. How do you plan to address homelessness and the lack of affordable housing in our community?

Affordable housing opportunities are critical to helping solve the homeless problem. City’s Div of Planning will be an important part of the process of finding ways to incent development of affordable housing. There are several programs already in place related to homelessness & I will review & support them. Linked to the homeless students is job training & retraining for their parents, allowing them to earn a living which will provide housing for the family.

Question 6:

What ideas do you have to create jobs and reduce unemployment in Lexington? What specifically would you do to promote a living wage, minority hiring and support for minority owned businesses?

Lexington-Fayette County currently has a very low unemployment rate, between 3 & 4%, lower than that of the US & lower than Kentucky. First, we need a Strategic Plan for Economic Development & Employment, crafted through collaborative efforts of economic development stakeholders to create a plan for full employment for now as well as the future. We must collaborate with our universities, businesses, & job training initiatives to be sure we can train & hire people in need of a job, anticipating what our community needs based on our strategic plan. I will continue to support the efforts of Minority Business Expo, training & other initiatives currently assisting minority owned businesses & those who want to start a business. We also must elevate community efforts to train or retrain people getting out of prison in order for them to become gainfully employed.

Question 7:

Do you believe Black Lives Matter? What work do you think we have to do in Lexington to address racial inequities inside and outside the halls of government?

It is the duty of all of government to treat all people with respect & to serve without discrimination. In the 1990’s I was appointed to the Fayette County Public Schools Equity County, where I served for several years. I understand that within government we must encourage & model mutual respect & outside government there must also be non-discrimination.

Question 8:

With the recent outpouring of stories from women of their experiences with sexual assault in the workplace, more organizations are making sexual harassment training mandatory for employment. What policies and procedures do you support to protect government workers in the workplace? What else would you do to expand the rights of women in Lexington?

Require LFUCG employees to complete annual sexual harassment training. Convene community-wide forum to address issues of women.

Question 9:

What specific types of legal protections do you believe transgender people should have, and what would you do to ensure those protections?

As a supporter of Lexington’s Fairness Ordinance in 1999, I have demonstrated a history of treating all people with respect. I would like to learn more about the issues & legal protections by talking with transgender people.

Question 10:

What are your plans to address necessary infrastructure repairs in Lexington (sewers, power lines, street repair)?

As Vice Mayor & Council member in Lexington, I have a documented history of leadership in tackling tough infrastructure repairs. I chaired the Stormwater Oversight Committee, as well as the Stormwater Management Fee Task Force, which resulted in compliance with the EPA Consent Decree funding mechanism to fix sewer problems. This was mandated by the EPA & I led this Task Force toward a solution which gained approval from the Council & was signed into law by Mayor Newberry. I will continue to place a high priority on infrastructure improvements in annual budgets.