Name: Curtis R. Milteer Sr.

Age: 73

Profession: Retired.

Why are you seeking this office?

To provide strong leadership and to help solve problems for the citizens of Suffolk.

Why should a citizen vote for you?

My experience and dedication in helping others improve their quality of life.

The City Council has asked City Manager R. Steven Herbert to study ways to fund a 3 cent tax cut in his proposed $277 million budget for 2004-2005 fiscal year. That equates to approximately $1.4 million. Is this tax reduction feasible right now and if so, where do believe the cuts should be made?

Yes, I believe the reduction in the tax rate is feasible. The city should reduce its overall spending by 1 percent. The new tax assessment will generate over $5 million.

What is the most important action the City Council has taken over the past four years?

The adoption of the village plans and the revitalization of the city’s older communities.

Suffolk is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States today, with more than 1,000 new homes being built in the city last year. Is the city adequately equipped to handle this much growth at one time?

What can the city do to better manage it?

The city is making preparations for growth by improving schools, roads and extending water and sewer to new areas.

The city’s is embarking on a five-year review of 2018 Comprehensive Plan, the city’s road map for managed growth. Do changes need to be made to this document?

We need to make the plan more user-friendly.

What are the most pressing issues facing the borough for which you are seeking office? How would you address them?

Closing of ditches in older communities, installing storm drainage; improving street lighting in various communities; installing a sewer package plant for the village of Whaleyville; and providing affordable housing for the residents throughout the borough.

— Compiled by Allison T. Williams