Scott Freitag for Layton City Council

S

cott Freitag first campaigned for the Layton City Council in 2005. While his bid was unsuccessful, it wasn't for a lack of his good ideas for improved governance.

Freitag is back again this year, having survived Layton's primary elections. And his campaign quiver continues to hold interesting views. That's why the Standard-Examiner's editorial board is recommending that Layton voters cast their ballots for Freitag.

Employed by the Salt Lake City Fire Department for more than a decade, Freitag supervises the SLCFD's dispatchers and serves as its public information officer.

That expertise has also led him to serve on the hiring boards for Layton's fire and police officials, and not surprisingly has made him a strong advocate for public safety and community policing.

Unlike some in government -- in Layton and elsewhere -- Freitag isn't afraid of a process open to the public. He said he was especially dismayed when a vacancy on the Layton City Council was filled two years ago by council members who conducted their deliberations behind closed doors, claiming they could do it because it was a "personnel matter." Hiding behind that loophole in the law was, in his estimation, "not good."

We agree wholeheartedly. If Freitag is elected, we believe he would urge his colleagues on the council to be more open in their dealings. That's good for government at every level.

Freitag's campaign also has been bold on the subject of creating council districts in Layton. Currently, all council seats are at-large, and while recent mayors have tended to come from the city's west side, council members have lived very near each other on Layton's east side. Freitag says he thinks a serious discussion of the matter should be undertaken, and that a mixture of at-large and council districts might better serve all of Layton's residents.

The candidate also supports the possibility of an enclosed performing arts center in Layton, but only if private capital is used to build and run it. Likewise, he opposes the use of tax incentives to lure businesses to Layton.

While we agree with him in general on the tax incentive issue, we'd feel better about his position if he were a bit more flexible. The looming East Gate development near Hill Air Force Base may not require tax incentives, but council members should approach the subject with an open mind.

Otherwise, we liked what we heard from Freitag regarding development. He embraces mixed-use growth and redevelopment, with, as he says, "not a lot of asphalt."

He'd like to see the city move even more toward fostering walkable neighborhoods.

For these reasons, we think Freitag deserves serious consideration by Layton voters.

Watch video of interview with Scott Freitag

Watch video of interview with Joyce Forbes Brown

Watch video of interview with Barry Flitton

Watch video of interview with Don Wilhelm

Watch video of interview with Renny Knowlton

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