What Would You Do As Mayor?

What would you do as mayor?  What would be your focus?  Why should I vote for you?  These are the questions I have been asked many times.

While driving to Northern Utah recently, I saw a billboard that said, "A good friend listens closely.  A good business does too."  To me government is a business and as a good business, we need to listen.

To further this analogy of the City as a business:  the Mayor is the Chairman of the Board of this corporation and the council are the board members.  They appoint the CEO or City Administrator and other officers of the company.  These officers in turn appoint the other employees that allow the company to serve its customers or the citizens of the community.  These citizens are also the shareholders/ investors of the corporation.  The shareholders invest in the corporation through taxes, fees and payments for service.

I have been a shareholder of La Verkin for 9 years.  Moving here was a choice we made after looking for 6 months for a place to call home.  We have not been disappointed by our decision.  We love the community and the people that are here.  I have enjoyed my time working with individuals at the school, through church, community volunteer committees and most recently serving as an alternate on the Planning Commission.

While here we have seen good decisions by public officials and decisions that may not have proven to be so wise.  There have been things we have agreed with and others that we have strongly disagreed with.  But what has always shown through is the character of this community to work together, to sacrifice when needed and to support one another.

As mayor, I want to continue to build on the good things in this community.  Our city is growing and that growth will bring challenges as we work to allow growth, but maintain the character of the community that has brought us here and the lifestyle that we enjoy.  I strongly believe that there will be tough decisions that will need to be made over the next four years and some of those decisions may prove to be painful.

Recently the city council had to approve an increase in the sewer fees.  As was explained at that meeting, this fee increase was necessary to cover the cost of maintaining an ever growing and aging system.  These are not easy decisions to make, but going back to my analogy of government as a corporation, the council will be accountable to its shareholders.

I have always believed that communication is the key to understanding.  I do not believe in dumb questions.  If you do not understand something, you have the right to ask for an explanation and receive an answer.  I plan on being very open to the citizens of the community I serve.  As a member of the planning commission, I have given permission for my number to be given out.  The City has many ways to communicate with its citizens: the City website laverkincity.org, Facebook, Twitter, utility bills, newsletters, email and public notice boards to name a few.  I want to improve communication and more effectively utilize these tools.  I was disappointed to learn that after having served on the Planning Commission for a year, my contact information is still not listed on the City's web page.  In fact of the six commissioners listed, only three are currently serving members of the commission.

I have great faith in the staff at the City office.  In addition to service on the planning commission, I have regularly been attending council meetings for the  last year.  I have observed how the staff has analyzed the issues and provided the best information to the council to assist them in making decisions. I have watched staff members step up time and again to serve the people of this community.  These individuals are the front lines.  They are the men and women in the trenches who have to deal with the unexpected and the sometimes difficult situations that arise in the daily operations of such a complex organization.  As such I feel that they deserve our respect and support.  They need to be provided with the things necessary to do their job.  But I also feel that change is necessary at times and there may be situations where personal feelings need to be set aside and hard choices may need to be made to move forward and improve service.

Most important to me are the citizens of this community.  I owe them a debt that I will never be able to repay completely as they have stood beside and supported our family through tough times.  I will never forget the day our house burned down and returning from being treated for smoke inhalation to find my mother-in-law's home filled with clothing, food, toiletries, bedding, etc.  The good, kind, wonderful people of this community had found where we were and had taken care of us.  We were so taken care of that within one short week we were able to move in to a home of our own again.  We all still have and use those things that were provided to us.

I want to be mayor to help repay that debt to this wonderful community.  I know I will be able to do a good job for the citizens of La Verkin.  I was weaned on public service by my father who served in many positions in the community where I was raised.  I watched and learned as he filled roles as planning commissioner, mayor and state legislator.  I have worked in public service for most of my adult life, whether as a volunteer heading the Family Support Group for the Supply & Transportation Troop while my husband served in the Army's 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment or as an employee of the cities of Ogden and Hurricane.  I understand the law and how it works.  And just as important, I have compassion for the people of my community.  I know that the decisions made by the mayor and council will have a significant impact on the day to day lives of these individuals.  So these decisions are not to be entered into casually, but need to be studied, pondered and options weighed.

I hope I will be given this opportunity to serve.  If not as Mayor, I will continue to serve where I can.