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PVA 2001 Election/Candidate Information ~ Westminster
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 Chris Dittman Yes/labrador retriever and a cat.
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes/Cats, Dogs, cows, horses - I lived on a farm
At-Large Machel Essig Yes/Dogs mostly, Wiemerimer, Samoyed, mixed breeds & some cats
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes/Cats, dogs
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes/Dogs, cats
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman Yes/dogs, cats, turtles, guinea pigs
At-Large Samantha Dixion No/Just had to have my cat who was 17 yrs old put to sleep
At-Large Machel Essig No/Currently, we are between, we lost to old age a collie & a black lab
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes/3 pugs
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes/Dog.
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Yes/Yes - "I believe in animal rights"
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes/Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes/Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes/Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes/Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Yes/Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes/Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes/Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes/Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes/Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes - "also a sign of mental problems in many cases"
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes - "always"
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig No/No
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes/No - "Educating parents is better."
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Undecided
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman (b)/No
At-Large Samantha Dixion (b)/Undecided - "I'm not sure - animals trained with kindness seem to do well."
At-Large Machel Essig (b)/No - "I would need more specifics to consider"
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally (b)/No - "It would matter to me that the business takes great care of animals."
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell (b)/No
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally No - "Educating people is best."
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Undecided
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Undecided
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Undecided
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Undecided
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Undecided
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman Undecided - "This would be very difficult to enforce since cats aren't that easy to catch."
At-Large Samantha Dixion Undecided - "I don't know what difference it would make - I think cats in cities should be on leashes or in large (huge) cages without bottoms"
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally No
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell No
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Undecided - "see #11"
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Undecided
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Undecided
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman No
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes - "I'm not sure about rabbits."
At-Large Machel Essig No
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Undecided
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Undecided
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman No
At-Large Samantha Dixion Undecided - "I think yes?"
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Undecided
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell No
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Undecided
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell No
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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 Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


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

At-Large Chris Dittman Yes
At-Large Samantha Dixion Yes
At-Large Machel Essig Yes
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Yes
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Yes
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; see below
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond


Please add any other comments ...

At-Large Chris Dittman None given
At-Large Samantha Dixion None given
At-Large Machel Essig None given
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally None given
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell None given
At-Large Steven Shelton "I abhor and detest cruelty to animals. I support spay and neuter programs. I support any reasonable legislation to alternately discourage and encourage these practices. I believe that animal control is a reasonable city function. I believe that wild animals should live in the wild and domesticated animals should live with, or under the care of, people. I don't eat veal."

"Having said this, let me add, I abhor politically correct anthropomorphism, which seeks to mold and alter naturally occurring traits within domestic species to a perverted and unnatural paternalism that spoils and pollutes the age old relationship between humans and their domesticated counterparts. I believe that convoluted and often unenforceable legislation to this end is harmful not only to the basic freedom enjoyed by Americans, but is cruel to animals as well since it is enacted in denial of their God-given function and nature."
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond
Candidate questionnaire scores
At-Large Chris Dittman Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 66%
At-Large Samantha Dixion Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 81%
At-Large Machel Essig Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 76%
At-Large Butch Elmer Hicks Did not respond
At-Large Tim Kauffman Did not respond
At-Large Nancy McNally Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 56%
At-Large Brian F. Miller Did not respond
At-Large Craig Russell Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 46%
At-Large Steven Shelton Sent statement only; no score given
At-Large Hal Shroyer Did not respond
At-Large Bob Watters Did not respond
At-Large Bruce Vezina Did not respond

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