NARAL Pro-Choice Washington

NARAL

Mike for Spokane response to questions from Naral Pro-Choice Washington:

Questionnaire to City Candidates

Revised 2011

Name: Michael J. Noder Position Sought: Spokane City Mayor

Website: mikeforspokane.com

Email: mike@mikeforspokane

Campaign Contact:  Mike Noder

x    Challenger

PART ONE

1. Please summarize your previous involvement with reproductive choice issues and with NARAL Pro-Choice Washington in particular.   I have not been involved with reproductive choice issues, nor with NARAL Pro-Choice Washington

2. Have you ever cast a public vote relating to reproductive rights as an elected official or member of a political or other community organization?  If so, please provide pertinent details.   No.

3. Do you support a woman’s right to choose abortion in accordance with current Washington State law?      I do not believe it is my or my government’s right to even know if a woman is pregnant, let alone supervise individual decisions and responsibilities.  I have no reason or desire to support abortion, but have every desire to defend the rights and liberties of the individual.  I seek to adhere to state law at all times, except where such laws are found to impede on Constitutional protections established and guaranteed under our Republic.

4. Do you support age appropriate, comprehensive, medically accurate sex education in public schools? That is a matter to be decided by parents and their School Boards. I encourage both groups to be deeply engaged and aware of all parts of a school’s curriculum.

5. Do you support contraceptive equity (the requirement that health insurance plans that cover other prescription drugs also cover prescription birth control) for all city employees? I support the people of Spokane deciding such matters for themselves and this includes city employees.    Whether contraceptives are part of any healthcare plan depends primarily on cost and will of the employees.    Price, access and availability of contraceptives make it far easier for the individual to manage such matters as opposed to government, which can become oppressive with such influence and personal information.

The following issues may be unlikely to come before you as Mayor, however NARAL Pro-Choice Washington requires that all endorsed candidates be fully pro-choice, consistent with our position on the issue, and therefore requires your response to these questions in order to consider you for endorsement.

6.  Under present law, all medical patients must give their informed consent for medical procedures.  Current law requires accurate explanation of every patient’s medical alternatives.  Do you OPPOSE policies that single out abortion and create special “informed consent” or mandatory waiting period requirements for abortion care? I am not qualified to make decisions that I believe should be reserved for the individual and their physician or spiritual advisor.

7.  Do you SUPPORT continued state funding of abortion services for low-income women of any age?  No, I do not support mandatory tax payer supported charity, without the consent of the individual tax payer

8.  Do you SUPPORT continued state funding of family planning clinics and services for low-income women of any age?  No, charity is the decision of individuals and their communities.  I do not support government mandating such decisions, particularly those that may violate the personal faith of an individual.

9.  NARAL Pro-Choice Washington believes it is desirable for minors to involve their parents in their decision whether or not to have an abortion.  However, we recognize that sound family communication cannot be mandated by politicians.  Do you OPPOSE policies that require parental notification and/or consent for a minor to terminate her pregnancy?  Until the child reaches the age of consent, it is the parent’s duty to stay informed.  I am against any actions by the state that supersede this parent responsibility, absent the presence of criminal or mental defects.

10.  Congress and many state legislatures have passed bans on methods of abortion referred to by our opponents as “partial-birth abortion.”  While the Supreme Court has upheld the federal abortion ban, Washington State voters defeated a similar abortion ban initiative (Initiative 694) in 1998 with 57.2 percent of the vote. Do you OPPOSE abortion bans that do not allow for exceptions for the health of the woman?  I support the 10th Amendment that protects state & individual rights and powers.

11. . Anti-choice limited service pregnancy centers (also known as “crisis pregnancy centers”) target women who are facing unintended pregnancies by offering free pregnancy tests or sonograms. These centers are typically staffed by anti-choice volunteers who give women misinformation about abortion and refuse to provide referrals for contraception or abortion care. Do you OPPOSE public funding or tax credits for limited service pregnancy centers or other programs that do not provide accurate information about contraception and/or abortion?   I oppose deceiving the public under any circumstances.   I do not believe managing pregnancy centers is the proper function of city government.  We have churches, neighborhood councils, schools, libraries and a vast medical community which are likely far better than government as stewards of family and community concerns.   We do not want government imposing religious or moral standards on an individual, nor do we want to restrict those that choose to hold themselves to such standards.   It is not the place of our government to rule over individual matters of Liberty and responsibility.

12.   Will you SUPPORT policies that would require limited service pregnancy centers to: disclose that they do not provide abortion or birth control care or referrals, keep women’s medical information private, and provide written pregnancy test results immediately? I support the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution when it comes to matters of privacy. I am not qualified to comment on physician referrals and the delivery standards of medical services.

13.  A 2008 community-based survey of pharmacies found that nearly 10% do not stock emergency contraception. Would you SUPPORT a policy that requires pharmacies to stock emergency contraception? No, I am against government dictating the practices of private business organizations, unless specifically found to impede individual rights or Liberties expressly protected by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

PART TWO

1. Please provide a list of endorsements being used by your campaign.  I am not accepting money from any person or organization. I am not asking for the endorsement of any group or organization.  I only seek to defend Constitutional Protections and to ensure good tax and rate-payer value for City of Spokane Services.

2. Would you welcome an endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice Washington?  YES

3. What do you know about your opponent(s) position(s) on choice?  I know a great deal about my opponents’ opinions and positions, but believe I should speak only for myself.  I do not represent the views or opinions of any other Candidate for Spokane City Mayor.

4. Has your campaign consistently complied with all PDC regulations and deadlines?  I think so, although they don’t seem to have one of the forms I filed three weeks ago.  As I am not accepting money from others, most PDC requirements do not apply to me.

5.  Total cash raised: NA

6.  Expected campaign budget:  NA

7.  Cash on hand your campaign currently has: NA

8.  Number of households personally visited to date NA

9.  Number of households contacted using volunteers: NA.  I do have offers from several volunteers to campaign on my behalf, and may also help organize a few public events in association with Mike for Spokane.

 

Candidate’s Signature  Michael J. Noder    Date July 30, 2010

Please Return to Alison Mondi at alisonmondi@prochoicewashington.org; NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, 811 1st Ave, Suite 456, Seattle, WA 98104; or fax to 206-624-4505.

 

 

Set a True Course Spokane

13starflag

I defend the U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights and seek to defend the citizens of Spokane against excessive intrusions by government from all levels.

I plan to reduce the size, cost and scope of city government and demand State and Federal government fund their own mandates.

The dynamic power of Spokane to lead the world on a host of levels does not lie within massively subsidized government.  The same spirit found in Expo ’74, Bloomsday and Hoopfest is what will inspire our local economy, once freed from government’s excessive directions, fees, assessments and taxes.

Mike Noder

Candidate for Spokane Mayor

 

Spokane Labor Council, AFL-CIO

MFS AFLCIO

MFS AFLCIO

 

Spokane Labor Council Questions

Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Committee on Political Education

Candidate Questionnaire 2011


Submitted by Michael J. Noder

Candidate for:  City of Spokane Mayor


E-Mail address:  mike@mikeforspokane.com

Website:  mikeforspokane.com

Your Occupation:  Self Employed

Years of resident in Washington State  Estimated 40+

Years of resident in Spokane County  Estimate 40+

Are you registered to vote in the district for the position you are seeking? Yes

Do you vote in any/all elections?  No, but most them.

Political Background (offices held, currently hold, other candidacies, political party offices, etc.)

I am not affiliated with any political party, and have not previously held elected office.

Your union affiliation, if any, past or present:  Bought a union company once.

Will your campaign use local bona fide union labels on all campaign literature, signs, and other imprinted items? NA

Do you require the use of local bona fide union labels on other printing needs throughout the year? No
1.  Why are you seeking this office?

Answer: I want to reduce the size, cost and scope of city government.

2.What are the three most important issues for this position?

Answer:

#1. Proper role of government

#2. Value in the delivery of government services.

#3. Economic and intellectual growth of my community.

3. What in your background qualifies you for this position? 

Answer: Honesty, strong understanding of economics and risk.

4. Why is the endorsement of the Spokane Regional Labor Council important to you?  

Answer: I am not seeking the endorsement of any person or group.  I am not accepting money from any person or organization.  I make no promises, other that I seek to defend individual constitutional protections and ensure good tax payer value in city services.

5. Have you been involved with and/or actively supported organized labor?  If so, how, and when?

Answer: Not really, I had some union involvement when I was much younger.  My experiences are more from the perspective of a business owner.  I value individual responsibility and compensation, over collective standards for uneven performance.

6a. What process or system would you use to guarantee that labor is given an opportunity for input on issues affecting working people? 

Answer: The same guarantees that all citizens have, which shall not be impeded due to separate associations unrelated to the individual protections set forth under this constitutional republic of representative government.

6b. Please give examples, if any, of previous actions you have taken to insure workers were given an opportunity for meaningful input. 

Answer: As a business owner I defended and supported my employees, which were a primary reason for twenty years of solid performance in public works contracting.

7. What is your position on privatization and/or contracting out of public services?  Explain. 

Answer: I seek the best value for the rate paying citizen and expect each department to be competitive on a host of levels. I seek to enhance competition wherever possible.  Departments that benefit from union representation should be highly motivated to use this advantage to increase citizen value.

8. In a budget shortfall, what would be your priorities in spending? 

Answer: Core city services

9. A Do you consider health care to be an essential benefit for working families? 

Answer: No

9.B Should employers provide family medical benefits? 

Answer: Sometimes

9.C If not, how should health care be delivered to the most number of people for the greatest possible public benefit?

Answer: You should direct this question to the medical profession, which has the ability and power to deliver health care, “to the most number of people for the greatest possible benefit.”  I do not believe you should elect a mayor seeking to dictate conditions to a complex and highly conflicted industry.

10. What do you consider to be a living wage in Spokane County?  State as an   hourly wage based on a 40 hour work week.  

Answer: Varies from person to person.  I can live on $1,000 a month and typically live comfortably on about $2,000 per month.  A person with a large family and large legacy debt will need considerably more.

11. The labor movement believes that the right to organize, bargain, and strike are central to free and democratic workplaces in our community.  Do you agree? 

Answer: I generally agree; however, there are existing government restrictions in place that I do not necessarily agree with, but will adhere to.  On the matter of collective bargaining, I do not view this as a right, but rather as a power.  I personally believe individual rights of union members should not be subverted to a collective, but this is a matter that should be decided by union members themselves and generally should not be subject to the opinions of politicians.

If yes, please describe with specific examples how you have supported workers’ rights in the past.  

Answer: I support the rights and liberties of all citizens and seek to do so without exclusion of any class or group.

12. What is your position on sustainability for resources, energy consumption, energy conservation, and job development?   

Answer: You have mixed individual and sometimes conflicting topics into a single question.  There are many individual science and economic factors affecting an amalgamated answer.  Jobs follow economic growth which follows individual liberty.  Energy consumption and conservation are relative to specific circumstances.  I do not believe a person is necessarily derelict or immoral because they consume water or energy.  Sustainabilty, without regard to economic reality or even simple accounting standards, has often led to green washing and ecco-fraud.

13. The Spokane Regional Labor Council welcomes and encourages economic growth and development, so long as new businesses adopt standards that are friendly to the community and working families.  As an elected official you will deal quite often with businesses seeking to develop or expand in our community.  What standards or conditions do you believe are appropriate for local government to impose on business in areas of public health, environment, workers’ rights, and civil rights?   

Answer: I support the standards and conditions found under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, which protects the rights of all citizensPublic Health standards are those set forth by our public health district and by extension state & federal agencies.

14. Do you feel public entities should use taxpayers’ dollars to hire outside labor relations consultants for negotiation with unions?  

Answer: I do not seek to limit the decisions of future elected officials.  As mayor, I do not expect to require much in the way of outside council; however, do not infer that I lack the capacity to aggressively negotiate on behalf of the citizens and long-term interests of Spokane.  I am seeking increased value for the tax paying public; if this is also a primary objective of City of Spokane employees, we will move this city forward.

15. A  Contractors for public construction projects are required to pay their employees the prevailing wage.  Do you favor a strong monitoring and compliance system at the local level?  

Answer: No, I believe the state and federal government should enforce their own mandates.  The city should uniformly enforce all conditions of its contracts, including prevailing wage conditions.  This can be done through responsible and attentive contract administration.

15.B The term “responsible bidder” is used in Public Works documents.   Due to several construction project failures, state law was modified to define the minimum criteria for a “responsible bidder”.  Local governments have discretion to enhance these criteria   Recently, the Spokane City Council exercised this option and adopted additional “responsible bidder” standards (see attached).  Do you support this ordinance?   

Answer: No.  Poorly administered city contracts, selective enforcement of contract conditions and manipulation of bidding conditions is clearly evident in the City of Spokane history of the past 20-30 years.  The proper administration and enforcement of contract conditions will resolve the majority of problems associated with unqualified contractors, particularly when contracts contain surety provision.

I am against giving more power to city administrators whom have appeared derelict in the conduct of city affairs.  I view this as a management problem; however, if I find individual union members improperly influencing the award and enforcement of city contract conditions, expect me to pursue full legal recourse.

15. C Apprenticeship programs have an established record of providing construction workers family wage careers.  Would you be willing to support minimum apprenticeship participation in public works project. 

Answer: Probably not.   Perhaps when skilled workers are evidenced to be non-existent or in short supply.   However, our educational system is responsible for providing a sufficient flow of qualified job candidates.  The city of Spokane should not be dictating area educational standards through the award of individual city contracts.

16.  a. In order to encourage new jobs in our community, do you favor providing tax incentives to industries or businesses that might move in?

Answer: No, I am against the selective favoritism of any individual, business or group.  I believe Spokane should be known for having a uniform and fair business and governmental environment.

16 b. What requirements, if any, should be attached to any such tax incentives?

Explain:  NA

17.  a. Would you support a requirement that industries or businesses receiving tax incentives and subsidies be required to pay a living wage to all employees?    

Answer: No.  I do not believe this is the proper purview of Spokane City Government.  These are state and federal issues and such standards should be established by those respective legislative bodies.  The city must compete in regional, national and global markets. We must clearly understand existing market conditions and meet competitive forces as they are, not as we may wish they be.

17. B How should accountability and compliance be monitored and enforced?

18. Would you support a requirement that industries or businesses receiving tax incentives and subsidies be required to agree to remain neutral during an organizing drive?   

Answer: I don’t believe industries or businesses should be receiving incentives or subsidies from the tax paying public.  I will seek to curtail such selective favoritism when possible. I am loath to restrain Free Speech under any conditions, but in conflicted situations I will consider it; however, I am likely to favor rather than restrict any aspect of the Bill of Rights, which I personally believe applies to all citizens regardless of whether they have an interest in a business or union.

Spokane History

Spokane Falls

Spokane Falls1

Spokane River in the Washington Territory, probably mid to late 1800s.

Spogarry

Chief Garry of the Spokane Indian Tribe, believed to have lived from 1811 to 1892


Robert W Forrest first Spokane Mayor1

 

Robert W. Forrest ~ first elected Mayor of Spokane Falls in 1882.

 

Great Spokane Fire

Great Spokane Fire ~ 1889

Spokane Fire insurance adjusters

Insurance Adjusters after the Great Spokane Fire of 1889.

Spokane Falls 1905

Spokane Water Pump“The big Pump,” original water pump for the City of Spokane ~ early 1900s

 

“Got A Strong Mayor?”

MFS Graphic V12 Strong Crpd400

 

A strong mayor protects the citizens from excessive government monopolies and taxation.  Increasing government at the expense of the poor, while using weak moral and scientific justifications is not representative of strong leadership. That’s a sign of weak or highly conflicted leadership.

 

New Spokane water rates before adding a 20% city utility tax:

The Spokane City Council approved a new conservation-based water rate structure that will charge large water users more per unit of water. Taking steps now to reduce water use can help you avoid a bigger bill this year.

2011 Residential Rate Structure

Step Usage In Units Inside City Rate* Outside City Rate*
1 First 3,000 gal. 1-4 units $0.20 $0.30
2 Next 4,500 gal. 5-10 units $0.45 $0.68
3 Next 6,000 gal. 11-18 units $0.85 $1.28
4 Next 20,000 gal. 19-45 units $1.35 $2.03
5 Use Over 33,600 gal. Over 45 units $1.85 $2.78

2011 Base Water Fees and Charges

 

Source:  http://www.spokanewater.org/?page_id=273

North Indian Trail Neighborhood

 

MFS Graphic V11 Size Crpd4001

After visiting with the North Indian Trail Neighborhood on June 14th, I have the impression this community is struggling to resolve three primary issues:

1. A private development that that has been rejected by the city, but now is heading to court.

2. Impact fees

3. The after tax cost of city utilities.

The neighborhood also has a few general public safety matters to keep an eye on, as all neighborhoods do:

http://spotcrime.com/wa/spokane/north+indian+trail

For the record:

I believe that impact fees are an excuse for poor management of city resources. The cost of government should be distributed fairly and evenly among all residences and businesses.  City services should be delivered on 50 or 100 year budget cycles, making the cost fairly uniform and predictable.  Technological and managerial efficiencies should be steadily incorporated to keep the long-term cost trend in a stable or downward direction.   The City should not penalize an individual or business for moving into Spokane and helping us support our most basic services.

My goal for the city of Spokane is a cost of city utilities averaging in the bottom 25% of the nation.

The dispute involving the private development is not a matter that I have sufficient information to comment on.  I generally support private property rights, but recognize the restraints the city imposes on some construction and expansion to keep peace among neighborhoods.  The community does not automatically bear all additional impacts of private or commercial expansion. ~ Mike Noder

Government, friend or foe?

js1024 3 Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration 1986 w logo

 

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” ~ George Washington

 

“Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.” ~ Lord Acton

 

“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.”  ~Thomas Paine

 

 

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” ~ Harry S Truman

 

 

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” ~ James Madison

 

 

“The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors. They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation – enlightened as it is – if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men.” ~ Samuel Adams

 

 

“…a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

 

 


Please send comments or questions to:  mike@mikeforspokane.com