1) List three or four initiatives for Ogden that you want to spearhead during your term?
ANSWER:
1. Constraint management initiative to reduce waste in city government processes (There should be continual action to determine where constraints exist in city government processes and eliminate them. This should not be an initiative--it should be a never-ending effort)
2. "Weed & Seed"-style initiatives to help strengthen and grow the attractiveness of neighborhoods ("Weed & Seed" is taking out the bad things--criminals, poorly kept properties, infrastructure problems and helping grow or plant the desirable things, so the neighborhood can grow)
3. Create an equitable water rate schedule for Ogden water-users
4. Working with schools, community groups, and churches to help kids want to stay in school
2) The splits in the Ogden City Council and its relationship to retiring mayor, Matthew Godfrey, have been well reported. What will you do to promote consensus and compromise within the council and with the new mayor?
ANSWER: Politics is the Art of Compromise. The best answer between two extreme positions is usually somewhere in the middle. The Council and Administration need to clearly state each side's position and see where common ground may exist. However, successful efforts in Ogden take active involvement by both the administration and council. The big things that transform *always* come through some degree of risk, extraordinary effort, aggressive politics, and work. I believe much of the division reported in the past has been fueled by a few moribund councilmembers, unable, or unwilling to keep up with the huge needs of the city and the administration's extremely active agenda. These few Councilmembers would rather be doing things that involve intangible or insignificant outcomes in order to avoid the hard work and extraordinary effort that is usually required for things that actually make a long-term difference.
3) Do you think a streetcar system can work financially, and if it cannot, what would be your preferred alternative?
ANSWER: I'm not sure what "...can work financially" means. The streetcar system will require:
Large, new taxation of Ogden residents to build the system
Increased congestion from the streetcar using existing travel lanes
On-going, new taxation of Ogden residents to run the system
The studies say the streetcar transit times will be longer than automobiles. We should stop spending taxpayer's money on streetcar studies. The role of our city government should not be to build a Public Transportation system just for the sake of having one. Instead, the role of government should be to promote effective transportation systems in Ogden--whatever that turns out to be. For now, I would prefer that UTA continue providing bus service for the public transit needs in the city.
4) Are you satisfied with security measures in Ogden, including the planned-for blimp and the Ogden Good Landlord program?
ANSWER: I do not believe that Ogden is viewed by most city residents as being secure enough. The blimp and Good Landlord Program are needed. The Anti-Gang ordinance is another successful program that helps make the city more secure. However, we need to do more "Weed and Seed"-styled efforts to make our city secure. We need to help our young people to choose education and good citizenship. We need to offer help to offenders who choose rehabilitation. But, we need to weed out those that do not promote security.
5) Name some ideas you have to increase the standard of living in Ogden's midtown area?
ANSWER: I believe the "Standard of Living" we need is not just based on income. Education, general health, strength of families, and strong values all together are critical components that establish a desirable Standard of Living. Poverty in the United States is driven mainly by family breakdown and lack of education. Any effort that ignores those two root causes is short-term, or is only a partial answer. Ogden's leaders, churches, community groups, and schools must put all of their efforts to encourage and enable kids to stay in school and to help families. The city government can work with the schools and other groups to promote these things, but admittedly, it is difficult for government to "fix" these things on its own, as shown by the failure at a national level (i.e. Great Society Program) despite the trillions of dollars spent. Something the city can do is help to rebuild homes in Central Ogden that will attract higher income residents. This also helps the confidence and supports the rebuilding efforts of the people who already live in Central Ogden. There are a few programs out there that are helping all of this to happen and I am a part of this effort through the Ogden Community Foundation.
6) Provide some ideas on bringing new businesses or recreation to Ogden?
ANSWER: Businesses come (and stay) in places where they can make money. Improving the income levels of Ogden residents and surrounding areas will bring in more Retail Business. The city can help to create spaces where desirable businesses can be established. The city can also reduce the difficulty to start a business. Reducing tax burden helps to entice businesses to come. The city has made effective use of the RDA to expand the tax base of Ogden. Continuing the use of the RDA, to some degree, will benefit Ogden. Encouraging non-government groups that promote Ogden must continue. These groups are underrated in their effectiveness to bring new tax base and people to Ogden.
7) Do you support a means, such as a website, to improve openness and transparency in government for residents? If not, why?
ANSWER: The Ogden City Council and Ogden City have websites and a television channel. It also will e-mail agendas and other information regarding the activity of city government to anyone who requests it. Furthermore, the city government follows the open-meeting laws of the State. All of this provides a good deal of openness and transparency in government for anyone who is interested. Unfortunately, voter interest--or the lack thereof is a much bigger problem than government transparency.
8) Do you feel that Ogden's economy needs to be strengthened? If so, what do you think can be done to help the economy?
ANSWER: The best long-term way to improve the economy is to improve the education level and family stability in our community. Neither of these is easy, but are the best proven long term solutions for economic development. Improving our neighborhoods and education levels will infuse cash into our city's economy and will draw in new businesses. I believe that Ogden is fortunate to already have a rather diverse economic/employment base of manufacturing, government, retail, education, etc... We must continue to support what we have through rational taxes and local ordinances and promoting new entities to come here by emphasizing our natural and economic advantages. Ogden is perfectly located as a central location for companies seeking to serve Denver, Phoenix and the West Coast from one hub. The railroads figured that out a long time ago. Again, it helps to have all members of the City Council (and Mayor) understand the importance of a strong tax base.
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