1. why are you running, for council or mayor? I am running because I care about Herriman and have been involved with this community from before its incorporation. I worked to develop my own property and grew frustrated by what I saw as inability of the city to keep up with its growth.  I tried to propose tying my property to the trail system in place. I also grew frustrated that the roads connecting our homes to the school, which remain to this day dirt roads, with no safe walking path. Rather than simply complain about this lack of planning and vision I decided that my leadership and perspective could actually contribute to the type of community I want to live in. As a longtime Herriman resident, I’m a passionate member of our community. I moved here to start and raise my family. I’ve watched them be a part of the Bingham, Riverton, and now Herriman School boundaries. Throughout this time we have always been a part of Herriman. I’ve planted hundreds of trees to watch them die from the deer, the heat, and the wind. I’ve buried my roots and have developed my land here. I’ve built my own home, and I’ve built homes for others. I chose to do these things – not only as a neighbor but as a friend. I hope to live here the rest of my life watching my children and grandchildren grow because Herriman is my family’s home.  I have worked as a developer and a resident to solve these issues, and although I’ve made a difference, there’s still more to be done. I’m ready to provide the kind of leadership, developing and maintaining an excellent Herriman community requires. With the right vision and hard work, together, we can provide responsible growth to our community needs, while keeping Herriman a great city to live, work, and raise a family.

 

 

2) what about the city do you most want to change?  I don’t want to change the city, but I do want to provide leadership into what is possible as a city of the future. I want to preserve the elements that first attracted families to Herriman, and I want to see government that provides transportation and infrastructure that promotes commercial and business that pays for our communities growth. We cannot continue to rely on one time money from building permits to pay for our growth.

 

2. What has Herriman as a city done well? Few cities have had a change to plan as well for growth, and I think the wide streets in Rosecrest, the development of Butterfield Park, and other open spaces as well as the rodeo and Herriman Days, have given us a sense of community and open  space as well as recreation opportunities we all can feel proud of.

 

 

3. What qualifications do you feel makes you a good choice?  First of all I am a 30 year resident, so I represent both the most traditional parts of Herriman.  I know what it is like to be both an outsider in the political process and I can represent the common person.  Also as a business leader, I am connected to business and can provide a vision for the future. I am an entrepreneur that knows what it takes to  handle high growth situations, and I know how to communicate and build teams and teamwork.  Politically, I have represented by community as a 4 time precinct chair for the Republican Party, and multiple time State Delegate. Mostly, I am passionate about people and our constitutional form of government and I have a willingness to serve.

 

5) Where has the city failed its residents or could do better at? I think it is behind the curve in dealing with the growth that has overwhelmed the city. I think it needs more transparency, and it needs to be more diligent in working for transportation that is east/west oriented and not just North/South.

 

6)what political figure in our history most inspires you? My all time favorite is George Washington as he set the bar for what it is to be a politician. He had integrity, humility, leadership that I draw inspiration from. The other is Joseph Smith Jr. He is looked to as more a religious figure, yet he was a Mayor and a Presidential Candidate, and his willingness to run as a religious minority is something that inspires me.

 

7)would you support a pledge that says that you will not vote to zone new property as high density, with the understanding that what has been decided already cannot be changed,  but would only apply to property the city hasn’t zoned for that purpose? Before we were annexed into Herriman I pushed for the country to keep zoning that had ½ acre lots against the Hi-County subdivision.  I am sensitive to property rights, and think it is our role to limit the government from encroaching on the rights of others and as such will not make a blanket pledge about zoning. That said, I, like many long term residents am concerned about quality of life and high density issue development  and think we have to balance out property rights with zoning that reflects preserving the value of property and life that is already here. I am committed to responsible plans that reflect opens spaces and good use of planning.

 

8) What do you feel the city should do to address zoning, in particular high density moving forward? I think high density reflects the needs of the market, and it should be restricted to be near transpiration corridors, and I think we need to address commercial zoning that attracts business development.

 

9) What can the city do to attract business? I think transportation and proper infrastructure. Cities that have a good business base have transportation access to main corridors. We have a few opportunities with the little space left in the city, and it is important that we get it right. I also, think as an entrepreneur there is a lot I can do in negotiating and working with the right anchors and small businesses, including more restaurants and light manufacturing. When I served on the economic development committee the biggest hindrance was our low day time population. There are some areas of the city where we can encourage light manufacturing and businesses that can grown this important demographic for businesses.

 

10) is your wild card question, ask yourself anything. What can be done about transparency? 61% of our meetings were closed door meetings. Transparency is important to keeping our government accountable. As Mayor I would push for transparency, listening to complaints rather than silencing them, and having integrity in our policy making process.