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Name: Barry Flitton
1. Name some of the qualifications you possess that makes you the best choice to represent your city?
I am a retired executive with 30 plus years of extensive experience in management, budgeting, and interpersonal relations. I believe there are direct correlations between running a successful business and managing a city, setting financial budgets and managing to them; developing goals and executing and measuring them; and building and leveraging relationships to interact with citizens and representing them.
I have noticed in attending many city council and related meetings that not all city council members are able, or willing to attend important meetings. Given that I am retired, I am willing to dedicate significant time to Layton City and its citizens, and I have the needed experience to work with projects, problems and people. Even now as a citizen and not a city representative, I consistently attend city related meetings to further my experience in and knowledge of community affairs.
2. What political ideals and philosophies guide your decision making process?
I believe that the people as a whole - of the community, of the state, and of the nation are those who should decide what needs to be accomplished in and through the government. Elected officials are public servants who are obligated to listen to the voice of the people and act accordingly to represent their interests while guided by the law. I think, "Public Servants" is a term which is overlooked by the people and ignored by politicians far too often. This is a representative government, and I believe a city councilor is just one representative of the people - one who has a responsibility to become educated on the issues, understand the mind of the people, and represent them in reconciling the two.
3. What is the most important issue facing your city?
Currently, the lack of coordinated economic development is an important issue in our community. In this economic downturn, not only is it important that we investigate the opportunities to encourage businesses to open their doors in our city, but we should make a concerted effort to understand the needs and challenges of existing businesses and determine if there are ways to assist them to navigate this economic challenge. Many business ventures have closed their doors in the past several months and the buildings remain empty. We need to take a proactive approach to fill those vacant buildings as quickly as possible, not to mention understand local business needs and if the city would be able to assist them in any way.
4. Name some qualities that you possess that make you a good team worker and able to bring consensus among city leaders?
As an executive of a large multi-state financial company where business growth, public relations and budgeting issues were paramount, experience taught me how to get the best results out of the best people. I believe that a problem well stated is a problem half solved, and that communications skills are essential to solving problems. I believe that you should select qualified people to do a job, provide the necessary tools, processes and directions, and then get out of their way.
5. What do you think will be some major issues your city will face a generation from now?
Major issues our city faces in the next generation;
1) Safety and welfare of the citizens in a dynamic environment,
2) Proper planning for residential and commercial development within our fast growing community, and
3) Proactively planning for the future infrastructure, and maintaining current infrastructure of the city.
Because we are the largest city in Davis County, and because of the geographic size of Layton and the inevitable development of real estate, it is likely that growth will continue to be of great concern. With growth comes the need to proactively concentrate on the safety and welfare of the people. Planning for that growth and what that growth brings will require attention to new infrastructure, development, and the safety and welfare of the people.
