Not all of the issues by a long stretch
Due to the short amount of time before the elections, I wanted to get right to the point. The interview was done over Facebook Messenger. Lehigh County District 3 includes: Catasauqua / Part of Bethlehem / Part of Allentown / Fountain Hill / Hanover. Check the link from a Google Search result: Lehigh County District Map
Interview
Robert: Thank you for opportunity to teach your readers. I am a registered republican that has served on Allentown school board 14 years and counting, previously on Allentown city council and vice chair of Allentown Human relations commission. I have always been in the minority on school board but was still elected President 5 times.
1) If elected, in general, how would you convince the other commissioners to pass or go along with your ideas and plans? Especially if there was strong opposition from one or two.
Robert: I have always worked with members of all parties to get things done. When elected to county commission I will reach out to all board members to see our coming interests not what we disagree with but what we agree on to serve all the people of Lehigh county.
2) Lanta bus is essential to the Lehigh Valley. Especially workers / senior citizens / students. How do you plan to support public transportation. Including promoting it as a viable option?
Robert: County government can get pass through grants for transportation. We worked with lanta to help students who could not afford passes. I would do the same for senior citizens. I will help seniors with transportation issues and also increase meals on wheels to more seniors who live alone and and cannot cook.
3) Opioids are a serious problem. They are only part of a much bigger picture including: alcohol, meth, crack, etc. Do you have any ideas or plans to start addressing addiction in general? Treatment is essential. To truly begin solving the problem, it has to be addressed from the other side: causes.
Robert: We have serious opioid epidemic. We need to start with Dare programs in schools and treat the illness not punish people with prison. We spend more tax dollars on people in prison then educating our students. Alcohol and drugs lead to our high suicide rate in Lehigh valley. We need more treatment centers, we can use money seized from drug raids and property confiscated from the drug and gang lords.
4) What is the role of county government? Does it influence the city, town, borough governments?
Robert: County needs to lead the way in economic development, public safety, farm preservation, and help the needs of people suffering from mental illness. I have a record of lowering taxes or decreasing taxes for homeowners.
I am the most experienced candidate in race and will work with board on day 1.Please vote Robert E. Smith Jr. For county commissioner district 3 on November 7th.
Thank you very much for taking time for this interview.
1) If elected, in general, how would you convince the other commissioners to pass or go along with your ideas and plans? Especially if there was strong opposition from one or two.
Robert: I have always worked with members of all parties to get things done. When elected to county commission I will reach out to all board members to see our coming interests not what we disagree with but what we agree on to serve all the people of Lehigh county.
2) Lanta bus is essential to the Lehigh Valley. Especially workers / senior citizens / students. How do you plan to support public transportation. Including promoting it as a viable option?
Robert: County government can get pass through grants for transportation. We worked with lanta to help students who could not afford passes. I would do the same for senior citizens. I will help seniors with transportation issues and also increase meals on wheels to more seniors who live alone and and cannot cook.
3) Opioids are a serious problem. They are only part of a much bigger picture including: alcohol, meth, crack, etc. Do you have any ideas or plans to start addressing addiction in general? Treatment is essential. To truly begin solving the problem, it has to be addressed from the other side: causes.
Robert: We have serious opioid epidemic. We need to start with Dare programs in schools and treat the illness not punish people with prison. We spend more tax dollars on people in prison then educating our students. Alcohol and drugs lead to our high suicide rate in Lehigh valley. We need more treatment centers, we can use money seized from drug raids and property confiscated from the drug and gang lords.
4) What is the role of county government? Does it influence the city, town, borough governments?
Robert: County needs to lead the way in economic development, public safety, farm preservation, and help the needs of people suffering from mental illness. I have a record of lowering taxes or decreasing taxes for homeowners.
I am the most experienced candidate in race and will work with board on day 1.Please vote Robert E. Smith Jr. For county commissioner district 3 on November 7th.
Thank you very much for taking time for this interview.
