Name as it appears on the ballot: Fred Foster, Jr.

Age: 71

Party affiliation: Democrat

Campaign website: www.electfredfoster.com

Occupation & employer: Retired

Years lived in North Carolina: 71

1) In your view, what are the most important issues currently facing Durham County?

Public Safety, Education, and Economic Development

If elected, what would be your top three priorities?

Public Safety, Education, and Economic Development

2) What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates your ability to be effective on the Board of Commissioners? Please be specific.

As chair in my first year as a commissioner I was able to get a mental health pod in the jail and to establish a sports commission. As a part of the Duke Regional Board I was able to help get expenses down and services up.

3) One of Durham County government’s primary responsibilities is school funding. A 2018 report from ProPublica found a wide gap between black and white DPS students in terms of discipline, achievement, and opportunity; it also rated DPS high in segregation. Is there anything the county can or should be doing to combat these issues?

I am very concerned about these issues, but this falls on the school board. I would be willing to meet and discuss with them what they need from me if money wasn’t the answer. I would also meet with the community to ask for their suggestions.

4) In your view, what effects have charter schools had on education in Durham?

Some good and some bad.

Do you believe they have increased segregation, as critics contend?

Yes 

Or have they offered opportunities to those who would otherwise be trapped in poor-performing schools, as supporters say?

Charter schools have helped some minority kids that would not have made it otherwise, but each case has to weighed and not used to criticize the existence of the charter school. The overall goal is for the child to be successful no matter where he/she attends.                                  

5) The City-County Planning Committee is reviewing and considering revisions to the Comprehensive Plan and Uniform Development Code. What sort of changes would you like to see emerge from this review?

Less gentrification in the black community.

What is your vision for growth and development throughout Durham?

Mass transit from Wake to Orange County and development of northern durham to accomodate this transit

6) City voters passed a $95 million bond to fund affordable housing efforts last year. What more should county government be doing to further housing affordability?

Cut taxes on property so realtors can rent cheap to renters. 

In light of the ongoing crisis at McDougald Terrace, what steps can the county take to assist those living in substandard public housing?

Use Social Services and American Red Cross to provide services.                 

7) With the light-rail plan having collapsed, what do you envision as the future of mass transit in Durham?

I believe with the right leadership the light rail can be revived. 

What initiatives would you like to support?

Free buses for low income and students

What do you believe to be a viable next step?

Sit down with Duke and major stakeholders to get commuter rail as an alternative.

8) Do you believe the county’s current property tax rate is too high, about right, or too low?

Too high

If you believe it is too high, what programs would you be willing to cut to bring down taxes?

Don’t cut just maintain and invest in corporate taxes.  

9) Property tax hikes can hit lower-income homeowners the hardest, especially those who own homes in gentrifying areas and are already seeing their land valuations rise as well. Is there anything the county can do to make the property-tax system more equitable?

Not by themselves, they need the help of the legislature to give them the authority to use a sliding scale to help those at the lower income bracket.

10) Since the 2018 election, the county’s new district attorney and sheriff have adopted reforms aimed at making the criminal justice system more equitable. Sheriff Birkhead has declined to honor ICE detainers, for example, while District Attorney Deberry has mostly ended cash bail. Do you believe these reforms are working for Durham residents?

Yes

11) Last year, Durham saw a spike in homicides over 2018. What can the county do to address violent crime in the community?

Provide the Sheriff with more resources to hire deputies.

Are there preventative steps the county can or should take with regard to mental health?

Sheriff function that would be addressed with resources. 

Are there any innovative programs in place elsewhere in the country that you would like to see implemented here?

I helped to provide this when I was on the board by putting a mental health pod in the jail.

12) Economic inequality rose significantly in Durham County over the past decade (though it declined somewhat from 2017–18). How can county commissioners address this problem and ensure that the county’s prosperity is more equitable going forward?

By pushing for businesses to pay at least $15 per hr when doing business with the county and by giving our employees a livable salary to match the city.

13) Are there any issues not included in this questionnaire that you would like to address?

Yes, what happens to the one cent tax for transit if we never get light rail and we can’t use the money for anything else? How do we keep asking tax payers for more money for affordable housing and education and leave hundreds of millions in this account without accountability? Please help your readers to understand why this is important to know before casting their vote.