Municipal Candidate Surveys: Claude Tate for Riverdale City Council Ward 3

Municipal Candidate Surveys: Claude Tate for Riverdale City Council Ward 3

  • Name:
    • Claude D. Tate
  • Running for:
    • Riverdale City Council Ward 3
  • Employer or profession:
    • Retired Software Engineer
  • Previous political experience (Have you ever run for office or staffed for an officeholder? Have you ever been an active member of another party or worked on any campaigns?) If “Yes”, please list and describe your prior political campaign experiences, including candidate/issue, date, location, role and impact.
    • I previously ran for City Council in the city of Riverdale in 2013. I ran vs. Wonda Wallace. The issues have not changed much, Transparency in government communication, Cleanliness of the city, repairing roads in our neighborhoods and subdivisions, better community police patrolling the neighborhoods and not so much time being spent sitting on the highways looking for traffic infractions.
  • Previous civic experience outside of politics?
    • I was a volunteer coach for the Riverdale Blackhawks Football Program for 10 years, I’ve also volunteered with the Clayton County School system as mentor for middle school aged children. I’ve served as Governor of AAU Tackle and Flag football for the state of Georgia.
  • Campaign Facebook Link:
  • List three reasons why Democrats in Clayton County should vote for you.
    • Because I’m committed to making Riverdale a better place to live and raise a family. I’ve lived in Riverdale 27 years and I’ve seen this city go backwards or remaining stagnate in it’s growth and services to its citizens. I will propose changes in theses area and garner support to get changes implemented.
    • I have a relationships with members of the School Board and County government that I can leverage to further get things done. So I come knowledge people who I can partner up with to get things done more clearly quickly.
    • My background in Consulting will allow me to understand the details in planed projects allowing me to better communicate what’s happening to the constituents of Riverdale.
  • What do you aim to achieve by running for office?
    • I aim to make Riverdale a better place to grow up, raise a family and live a lifestyle worthy of the being proud of.
  • Is there any area of government that you would vote to expand in any way? If so, please list and describe.
    • I would have to research the budget and make a better decision.
  • Would you support expanding nondiscrimination protections for your city’s residents in public employment, private employment, public accommodations and housing to include sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, domestic relationship status, parental status, familial status, veteran status and hair style or texture?
    • Yes
  • Do you support ending single-family zoning to allow for more diverse housing options? *
    • No
  • What incentives would you offer businesses to come to your city?
    • That we have a community of educated people who are eager to be better served. Were in a good place with taxes due to the increase of home values so if a tax incentive was reasonable that may be considered.
  • What solutions would you bring to your intended position to 1) mitigate contributions to climate change in housing and transportation 2) increase flexibility and security in response to climate change and 3) diversity transportation options for your residents?
    • 2 & 3
    • I’m not versed on EPA standards and means. To answer that I would listen to the experts and work along with them to devises a solution that would meet the new requirements and could fit within the city budget.
  • As someone elected to your position in city government, you will be able to appoint or influence appointments of persons to various city boards. How will you ensure that you’re selecting the right individual?
    • Interviews, references and a sound background check
  • What is your position with regard to zoning changes within your city or district/post (with regard to logistic centers, retail development, housing, or other commercial develop)?
    • I’m pro on growth, business and commercial development
  • What is your stance on minimum parking requirements? Would you work to eliminate such requirements to reduce stress on climate, space use and property cost?
    • I think in order to keep parking should be controlled therefore . i would not relax parking requirements.
  • What is your stance on decriminalizing jaywalking and removing or reducing police from low-level traffic enforcement, given that a growing body of research has called for removing police from traffic enforcement due to the high level of unnecessarily adverse interactions between civilians and police? If not, why?
    • I don’t think police should be removed from those areas. I feel through better training and posturing of the police relationships will get better.
  • Current Georgia law requires that all bicycles must come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights. Would you support this law being changed in order to allow cities like yours to adopt the “Idaho stop”, in which bicycles are allowed to treat stop signs as yield signals, as is currently allowed in 9 states? If not, why?
    • No I will not support that.
  • What is your stance on raising the minimum wage to $15 or more?
    • I support that
  • Do you support decriminalizing cannabis possession within city limits? 
    • I support that
  • What solutions would you introduce or support to increase housing supply and reduce cost of living in your city?
    • Not sure
  • How will you promote restorative justice and address abusive and racist practices by the police force?
    • I’d remove the officer from the force
  • Any Other Issues/Topics You Wish To Discuss?
    • Not at this time
  • Please submit a short biography
    • EDUCATION
      • Akron University, Akron Ohio 1982; Electrical Engineering
      • Roxbury College, Roxbury Massachusetts 1987; Computer Aided Design, Software Engineering
    • PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
      • Digital Equipment Corp.: Circuit board Designer, Software Developer, Sr. Technical Sales
      • International Business Machine (IBM): Senior I/T Specialist
      • Deloitte Interactive, Boulder, CO.: Development Lead
      • Delta Technology: CONFIGURATION MANAGMENT CZAR
    • POLITICAL PLATFORM
      • Continuously keeping the residents informed on what’s happening throughout the city
      • Recruit better business to serve or residence Increase police patrolling in our neighborhoods and subdivisions
      • Road repair and Maintenance in our neighborhoods and subdivisions
      • Provide more services for our teenage children
  • Please fill out a campaign statement (less than 200 words)
    • Realize Riverdale for what it can be. Think it, dream it, believe it and implement it! Realize Riverdale