In the first article in a Q&A series with candidates for the Bellaire City Council, the question comes from Robert, who has lived in Bellaire for two years. In this series, candidates receive questions twice per week and have 24 hours to respond with an answer that is less than 300 words long. The answers publish with no editing.
Do you have a question for candidates about Bellaire issues? Please email it to agrant [at] instantnewsbellaire [dot] com.
Robert asks:
I do have one question I would like to ask of all candidates: Who did they vote for president in 2008 and why? I think the question is great because it addresses political philosophy which goes directly to policy choices and style of governance.
Below are the answers from candidates for Place 3 on the Bellaire City Council.
Corbett Parker

Corbett Parker did not respond to this question by the deadline. Earlier he said he wanted questions to be “related to Bellaire issues,” and he would participate in a “nonpartisan discussion of issues.”
Roseann Rogers

In 2008, as in every election, I participated fully and voted my conscience.
My federal vote, while important to me, is not reflective of how I will represent Bellaire municipal issues as Councilperson for our city.
Many people know me as a television personality, but I am also a wife, mother and proven business leader. It is this combination of skills and perspectives that qualifies me to represent my neighbor’s best interest.
I believe it is important to LISTEN and understand the issues. I must and will be accessible to my fellow neighbors. By being accessible, I can act as an advocate for informed decision-making. The role of city council is as much helping people understand the issues as it is being their voice at Council on matters of importance to Bellaire.
Marie Anstead

Please thank Robert for asking the question and yourself with Bellaire instant news for allowing candidates to express their opinions. I voted for John McCain for President. I admire his character for what he went through in the Vietnam War – I think that type of character says volumes about a person. I admire his long standing position in the Senate. I also would have preferred him in the office due to the challenges being faced in the middle East and the fact that he intimately understands how to work with our armed forces being that he has served in that roll. I also preferred his position for smaller government – I am more fiscally conservative although I do tend to lean toward more liberal views socially such as my environmental platform.
Not withstanding this, since Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, I support our President. I may not necessarily agree with all of his policy initiatives but that is what makes the USA great – that we can have frank, candid discussions, not necessarily be in agreement with each other, and yet still sit down and have dinner together at the end of the day. I also admire the fact that the USA has elected the first African-American President. It is a milestone in our history and one that we can be proud.
Richard Franke

Richard Franke did not respond to this question by the deadline.
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