Greensboro Primary '07: Joe Venable

The following is City Council At-Large candidate Joe Venable's complete response to our survey. Click here for the list of questions.

Joe Venable
• Date of birth: Sept. 18, 1938
• Professional background: Retired technical illustrator, 31 years, Lucent Technologies Federal Systems Division; presently, senior pastor, Community Christian Fellowship Church, and president, Community Bible Institute
• Previous political experience: City council at-large candidate, 1989; Two terms, Greensboro Human Relations Commission; Chairman, Committee of 100
• Highest level of education: Doctorate in pastoral administration, American College of Metaphysical Theology, Minneapolis, 1998

1. No, I don’t think the city is doing enough. Trees are nature’s air filters. If we keep allowing developers to bulldoze acres of trees in the name of progress, one day we’ll find breathing will be even more difficult than it is now. (44)
2. My first priority would be increased bus service, followed by light rail, and bicycle facilities. By doing things in this order, we could decrease auto emissions and better maintain existing roads. (32)
3. I believe that our economy is helped more by small businesses that have been operating in the city for years. I would support these businesses and also assist small entrepreneurs get[ting] started by helping them with business plans and start-up funds if necessary. (44)
4. No, I do not support economic incentives for Fortune 500 companies. This amounts to corporate welfare. I think most of these companies would locate in Greensboro anyway because of the infrastructure that is already in place. I still remember how everybody was trying to give Dell the barn to get the cow. When considering an incentive request, we should have a contract with the company being considered containing some positive guarantees. (72)
5. We can support local businesses by awarding them contracts instead of giving business to out-of-town companies. (17)
6. Yes. I believe that everyone who is willing to work should be able to earn a livable wage. If businesses have jobs which need to be done, they should be willing to pay decent wages. (36)
7. I believe that all development should be based on need instead of the desire to build on every available tract of empty space. Unbridled development helps to destroy the ecology. (31)
8. No. Simply because the voices of the people affected are ignored. (12)
9. I think the whole process was too secretive. The citizens of Greensboro had the right to know what the situation was at every stage of the investigation. (28)
10. Yes, I would. I served two terms on the Greensboro Human Relations Commission and found that without subpoena power, the complaint resolutions committee was about as effective as a toothless tiger. (32)