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advocating for animals
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PVA 2001 Election/Candidate Information ~ Lafayette
This page contains candidate respnses to PVA's candidate questionnaire for a municipal election.

Please note that responses are given exactly as they were written. Spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors were not corrected.

Candidate questionnaire scores
1a. Did you grow up with animals? Yes/No
1b. If so, what kind?

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes/Dog, fish, cat
At-Large Ben Watts Yes/Dogs, cats


2a. Does your family have animals? Yes/No
2b. If so, what kind?

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes/Dog, cat
At-Large Ben Watts Yes/Dogs, cats


3a. Do you feel that animal control issues are within the purview of the City Council? Yes/No/Undecided
3b. Would you be likely to support related humane legislation at the municipal level? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Undecided/Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Undecided/Undecided


4a. Do you feel that animal protection issues are within the purview of the City Council? Yes/No/Undecided
4b. Would you be likely to support related humane legislation at the municipal level? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes/Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Undecided/Undecided


5. Were you aware that animal abuse is often a precursor of child abuse? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts No


6. Would you be willing to meet from time to time with representatives of one or more animal-protection groups to discuss their concerns? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Yes


7a. Were you aware that almost all baby chickens and ducks purchased as Easter "gifts" die within a year? (PVA mistake - no answer choices were given for this question)
7b. Would you be likely to support legislation prohibiting the sale and purchase of baby animals as Easter "gifts"? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes/Yes
At-Large Ben Watts No/Undecided


8a. Which statement is closest to your position on the use of animals in entertainment (racing, circuses, etc.)? Please select one:
(a) Animals should not be used in entertainment.
(b) It's OK to use animals in entertainment but they should be protected from cruel treatment, regardless of the money that might be brought into the state by such an event.
(c) I think the status quo is all right.
(d) Wild animals, such as elephants and tigers, should not be used in entertainment but it's OK to use domestic animals, such as horses and dogs. The animals should be protected from cruel treatment, regardless of the money that might be brought into the state by such an event.

8b. Would you be likely to support a city or county ban on acts, such as circuses, that use wild animals? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor (a)/Undecided
At-Large Ben Watts (b)/Undecided


9. Would you be likely to support a city ordinance to require dog and cat owners, except licensed breeders, to spay and neuter their cats and dogs? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor No - "I'm not a breeder, but I wish I'd had a pup from my dog, before he was fixed."
At-Large Ben Watts No - "Kids should experience birth of pups & kittens like I did when I was a kid."


10. Would you be likely to support a city ordinance specifying a maximum amount of time animals are to be tied or chained per day? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Undecided - "I could use some education on the issue."
At-Large Ben Watts Yes


11. Would you be likely to support a city ordinance requiring cat licensing? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Undecided
At-Large Ben Watts Yes


12. Many people object to cats' running loose off their owners' property, because of (1) the dangers to the cats themselves from vehicles, other animals, and human beings and (2) the fact that cats often kill birds on other people's property, defecate in other people's yards and flower beds, and defecate in children's sandboxes. Some other cities have enacted ordinances requiring that cats, when loose outdoors, be kept on the property of the person responsible for them. Would you be likely to support such an ordinance here? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Undecided
At-Large Ben Watts Yes


13. It is well known that being in a parked, unventilated vehicle can lead to brain damage and to fatal heat stroke in animals. Several cities have passed legislation protecting animals from this abuse. Would you support such an ordinance here? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Yes


14. Do you think more public education should be provided about dog and cat over-population in our area? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Undecided


15. Would you be likely to support legislation prohibiting the sale, purchase, and keeping (other than in a rescue context) of traditionally "wild" animals (e.g., rabbits, ducks, chickens, pot-bellied pigs) as pets? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Undecided - "probably"
At-Large Ben Watts Yes


16. Would you be likely to support a city, county, or state ban on greyhound racing? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Undecided


17. Would you be likely to take animal-protection issues to county and state officials? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Undecided


18. Are you in favor of making cruelty to animals a felony, as opposed to a misdemeanor? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes - "absolutely"
At-Large Ben Watts No


19. Would you be likely to support a city, county, or state ban on dogs' riding in open beds of trucks? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts No


20. Would you be willing to consider factual documentation supporting PVA's position on a specific issue? Yes/No/Undecided

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Yes
At-Large Ben Watts Yes


Please add any other comments ...

At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor "I'd also support promotion of "animal friendly" products & other research regimens that utilize methods other than animals."
At-Large Ben Watts None given
Candidate questionnaire scores
At-Large Becki Beckham Did not respond
At-Large Kerry Bensman Did not respond
At-Large Chris Berry Did not respond
At-Large Dan Cartin Did not respond
At-Large Dianne G. Johnson Did not respond
At-Large Paul G. LaFavor Did not respond
At-Large Tanya Patzer Did not respond
At-Large Andy Proctor Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 65%
At-Large Ben Watts Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 36%

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