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elect John Gorena for
Lewisville City Council,
James Moreno, Treasurer

Questions and Answers

As a candidate, I am being asked questions from different newspapers and organizations.  As I answer them, I will post links to what I submit to them on this page.  Please feel free to ask me a question.  Most of the pages below will have a link at the bottom with the published answers from the newspapers so you can compare the candidate answers.

• The Greater Lewisville Association of Realtors, Inc. conducted Local Candidate Interviews on March 17, 2008.  They asked the candidates to submit answers to the following questions.  Click here for the questions and my submitted answers.
   

• The Dallas Morning News questions here:
   

• From the Star Community Newspapers:  (each Question 100 words Max)
  Answers will be posted after they are published

  • Week 1: Illegal immigration.

  • Week 2: Retail Revitalization.

  • Week 3:  Environment.  

  • Week 4:  TOD and transportation.  

  • Week 5:  Family Values / Religion

  • Week 6:  Education

  • Week 7:  City Budget

  • Week 8:  Crime
    
    

• FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

  • What do you see are the differences between you and your opponent?

    • I am running against Greg Tierney for place 1. As for my opponent, he is an acquaintance in the business community that I would like to consider closer to a friend, I think he is a good guy but we disagree on a few issues.  We actually do agree on many issues but we are different in several ways and you can read about these topics below and from my blog. Here are a few:

      • One of the main issues is that the Council voted to build a day labor site (link here). To me, the Council should have never even gone down this path. (The Day Labor site issue is stopped at this point and they reallocated the money for other City needs). Instead, I think that they should have tried to enforce the laws of this Country. As it is in their Oath of Office, "... protect and defend the Constitution and Laws of the United States and of this State and the Charter and Ordinances of this City..." AND, I aim to do just that.  I believe National Security begins at home. The problems that we face in our community are growing in our schools, hospitals, etc... Lewisville needs to do something. Over the next few years we need to fight for the Rule of Law and help enforce the laws of this Country instead of trying to appease the illegal aliens and make it easier for them to live in Lewisville. If we make it tougher for illegal aliens to live in Lewisville, they will move: out of our schools, hospital emergency rooms, off our streets (uninsured), etc...

      • Smoking Ban (link here): I hate smoking, however, I do not think that we should tell businesses that they cannot have a smoking area. It really should be a voluntary choice by the business. I personally choose to not patronize such an establishment if the smoking area can be smelled from where I sit.

      • Property Abatements (link here): I think abatements should not just be given away. On a vote in September 2007, the Council voted to give the abatements to a property that is estimated to be worth $20 million. I do think abatements can be a good thing to help with redevelopment and revitalizations efforts but not for the sake of a new building that may be another empty building in the city.

  • You seem to be really concerned about Illegal Aliens. Is this the most important topic to you? (This answer is from the Issues page).

    • All the issues are important and there are many other issues that I stand for, as I am sure that most candidates are, here are a few:

      • Addressing the problems caused by illegal immigration (this needs to be addressed).  I am not saying that SOMEBODY needs to do something...  I am saying that WE need to do something.  Law enforcement is mainly at the local level.

      • Providing the best police and fire protection (which is already top notch)

      • Maintaining or reducing our low property tax rate (Lewisville is just below the average for the area).

      • Neighborhood and retail revitalization (keeping areas from becoming dilapidated also)

      • Economic stability and growth (capitalism works best on a fair playing field)

    • There are more issues, but of these listed, I admit that the problems with illegal aliens has to be one of the most important because it affects so many aspects of our community: our hospitals, schools, neighborhoods, businesses trying to compete honestly and fairly, employee pay rates, identity theft, abuse of our welfare system, and much more. This has to be addressed at the local, county and state levels. The federal government is not feeling the problem like our hospitals, schools, and the welfare office. We are responsible for Lewisville which is our part of America.  The dedicated law enforcement for Lewisville is at the local level.  Please read more on this from The Star Community Newspaper week 1 questions concerning illegal immigration (link here).  Apparently the Star Community Newspaper felt it was important enough to be the first topic in the 8 week series.

  • What does PLACE 1 mean?

    • The Lewisville City Council is comprised of a mayor and 5 council members.  They are elected at large for three year terms.  Each year two members of the Council are up for election.  This year the two positions are Place 1 and Place3.