Candidate Questions Answer for the office being sought Why are you seeking to become a City Council Member/Mayor? I am not a career politician with a self- serving agenda. I will make decisions and commitments based on Tahlequah’s future, not for my political gain. I care deeply about our community and want to serve the people of Tahlequah by creating a positive environment that works for the peoples benefit, not the other way around. I will assist city council with clear and concise proposals that will allow equitable treatment to all businesses and citizens. We need change to correct four years of stagnated revenues that have not kept up with increased spending. I intend to use compassion and common sense to reverse the poor morale and out of control power struggles that have infected our city departments. What are your community ties and involvement? Small business owner Kiwanis Club of Tahlequah; One year as a board member Ambassador and member of Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Club of Tahlequah member Red Fern Festival Volunteer Leadership Tahlequah Graduate Class 17 Former Tahlequah Main Street Association Board Member What do you see as the Council/Mayor’s role and responsibilities? Tahlequah has grown to a point where we should not rely on a part time mayor as the chief city administrator. The position demands the expertise of an individual trained and experienced in city management. The mayor’s position should be that of a city council person at large representing all the people of Tahlequah. In accordance with our city charter, the council shall have executive authority over all affairs of the city, except those specifically delegated to the Utility Board. The council should appoint a chief city administrator based on qualifications for that job with performance based retention. I will assemble a committee to recommend updating and clarifying our city charter. This direction is necessary to have a long term city plan that will not change direction every four years. As mayor I want to represent all the people of our city, communicating the wants and needs of the city to prospective leaders and department heads. As coordinator of those issues, the council and I will ensure those departments work in a cooperative effort to meet those needs. Developing procedures that result in meeting those needs and utilizing years of experience of our department heads. What are the current challenges and coming challenges you see the community facing? Some of the most difficult challenges we have to face will deal with the citys expansion. If the city does not expand it will absorb many cost associated with a high population of county residence using the citys infrastructure. Tahlequah needs a specific plan in place to combat the current deficit trend. We must have a suitable plan in place to prepare for bond payments that in a few years will exceed one hundred thousand dollars monthly. What do you like, not like, and want to see changed in the city and with the City Council/Mayors office? Over the years, changes to the city charter have left remnants of vague intentions that are subject to conflicting interpretations. This is the source of current power struggles crippling morale in many city departments. I intend to assemble a committee to recommend actions to update and clarify operations to create a clear path to our future. What sets you apart from your opponent(s)? I have a diverse background that gives me a unique perspective to view various situations from multiple vantages. My experiences include military, auto sales, jet engine mechanic, truck driving and ultimately realizing the dream of small business owner. I know what it’s like to live payday to payday, I also know what it’s like to live in comfort. My history allows me to relate to most everyone I meet and the ability to respect the view of others. I am not a career politician, my only goal is a secure future for Tahlequah. With the city being the center of business affecting the whole county what do you think the city can or should do to involve rural and tribal collaborations? We must take actions to insure we remain the center of business. Tahlequah’s purely reactionary procedures are leaving us vulnerable to outside influences. We must create an environment where business needs Tahlequah as much as we need business. We must prove the city is here to assist people and businesses, and we are not just here to police and control them. Given recent issues with City offices, Departments, and associated institutions do you have any concerns regarding transparency and accountability within the city government? Up to date clear guidelines and procedures are the keys to consistency and security. One of the biggest dangers we face is a habit of doing business as usual, to do things the way they have always been done just because that’s how they have always been done. This does not mean try new things and see what happens. We must have a clear plan of the citys future as a guide for decision making. Tahlequah needs the stability of having clear goals that can be applied to ordinances and actions to help us consistently improve our city. Many have raised questions regarding inequitable application of city ordinances. Do you see this as an issue and if so what do you see as a solution? Poorly written ordinances are subject to interpretation. An ordinance that clearly describes its intention must be accompanied by a realistic timeline for compliance. These key factors are essential to fair and equitable application. The city itself should be the first to comply with new ordinances. The recent failures of the city to comply its own laws are evidence that not enough thought and constructive discussion went into the process. City offices can be demanding and require a lot of attention. Do you have the time to serve with proper diligence if you are elected? My bail bonds business allows me to be very flexible so I have a great deal of time and enthusiasm I want to dedicate to serving the people of Tahlequah. Do you think you can balance real oversight with productive relationships with city employees, office holders, and associated institutions such as Tahlequah Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce? I have a definite plan to end the current power struggles within our city government. Through the fundamental process of voting, the people of Tahlequah have selected certain department heads. The mayor’s responsibility should be to represent and communicate the wants and needs of the city. To see that the respective departments meet those needs. How those departments meet those needs should be the responsibility of that department head. The difference between leadership and supervision is fundamental in this process. For one elected official to attempt to remove power from another elected official is a slap in the face of democracy. The Main Street Association, Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Council have similar and sometimes overlapping goals. The goals of the Chamber and Tourism may have migrated towards the strong and successful leadership of the Main Street director. The Tourism scope and goals in particular should be clearly defined and measured due to the citys responsibility of distributing tax monies to that entity. Furthermore any such institution or its representatives that commit felony crimes against the city should be reported to all proper authorities immediately. The judicial process is still ongoing to determine who and to what extent individuals are responsible for the Chamber’s losses. It has become clear that some individuals could have and should have revealed this situation much sooner. If these parties would have acted responsibly, the damages would have been minimal. It is reprehensible that a felony check fraud to the city went unreported for almost a year while the mayor was a Chamber of Commerce Board member. What ideas or plans do you have regarding growth of the city of Tahlequah? Tahlequah will continue to grow rapidly with the unique shared resources of Cherokee Nation and NSU. Our focus should be on the people who live in Tahlequah and small business owners ensuring that our boundaries expand proportionally with population. Having a master plan would insure we grow in a controlled and organized manner. Without a master plan we risk losing the small town charm that makes Tahlequah a great place to live, work and play. What is your view on the relationship of the city of Tahlequah with NSU and Cherokee Nation? Due to Tahlequahs location industrial growth is difficult to say the least. With a location similar to a cul-de-sac, we are off the beaten path. This places an unusual emphasis on small business and tourism. Cherokee Nation Capitol, Northeastern State University and Northeastern Health System play a huge role in our citys growth. The Cherokee Nation and NSU are the source of Tahlequahs rich history, and combined with Northeastern Health System they are a primary source of this citys bright future. Due to this unique combination of resources, we have no need for high risk ventures to make the city grow. We are in a rare situation that demands we manage Tahlequahs rapid grown responsibly and rationally. Our focus should be on embracing our impending growth, managing infrastructure and most of all reinforcing small businesses to survive the imminent influx of large corporations. Have you ever been in a position of trust? If so, how did you approach the responsibility? As a military enlisted officer I was given responsibilities with unmeasurable liabilities. Performance reports always reflected the highest grades of conduct above reproach. In twelve years of service I never received any disciplinary action. As a bondsman I am currently an officer of Cherokee County District Court with liabilities in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am backed by a surety company that has never had to pay a default on my behalf. Thirty one years of marriage to the same woman! Received only occasional and minor disciplinary actions.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 02:58:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015