August 31, 2007 by carl.

Will you be a councilman who will promote an Orem School District?

I support putting this matter to a vote and I have confidence that the people of the City of Orem will make the correct decision on this matter. I will use my knowledge, training, experience and skills to provide the citizens the best information necessary to make that decision.

What is your opinion on Utopia?

I believe that the development of telecommunications systems is best left to the private sector. If, however, the market fails to meet the needs of the citizens for what they deem to be necessary services, then local governments may choose to provide the service if it is cost-efficient.

What is your opinion on commercial creep?

I believe that future planning is one of the most critical services a city can provide. Good land use planning carefully considers where compatible uses can exist and where development may take place. Citizen input is critical to the planning and development process. I believe that appropriate buffer zones should be placed between residential and commercial uses.

Are you in favor of RDA’s? What would your opinion on them? Do you see any time that RDA’s might be used?

Redevelopment has been used as a tool to turn blighted, hazardous and eyesore properties into beneficial uses. That is the type of redevelopment which I believe is beneficial to cities.

What do believe the proper role of city government?

Every year I have the privilege of teaching outstanding graduate students who are preparing to begin careers in the corporate, not-for profit and public sectors of society. My goal is to help them understand that the sole purpose of government is to promote life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for our citizens. It a nutshell, that is what I believe to be the job of our government.

Should city government compete with private business?

I do not believe that government should compete with the private sector – that is not the role of government. Government should collaborate with the private sector to create a strong economy, but, should not be in the business of trying to run the economy.

What are your goals with the Utah Lake Commission? What do you hope to accomplish?

I believe Orem should be an active participant in any discussions and decisions regarding the restoration of Utah Lake. I believe that master planning of the area adjacent to the lake is critical and that is what I would hope to accomplish.

What do you think can be done to strengthen emergency management between the City of Orem and the LDS Church? Does Orem have a comprehensive management plan that involves the churches in Orem?

I believe that the City has tried to strengthen emergency response between the City and the LDS Church. In my area, we have block captains and specialists designated to serve in the event of an emergency. I know who my block captain is, and we have flags which we can use to notify emergency response teams of our circumstances. This came about through a coordinated effort by our LDS Ward and the City of Orem. Coordinating a comprehensive management plan would be something that would raise the bar for emergency management and I would support this effort.

What is your stance on illegal immigration? What is your opinion on a guest worker program?

I believe that we should do all that is possible to adhere to the rule of law in this country. I believe that we should do all that we can to secure our borders and to enforce against security threats to our nation. I do not support or condone illegal immigration, and I believe that we should hold our federal officials accountable for adopting and enforcing immigration laws. I believe that our economy could benefit from a guest-worker program where our labor force is lacking. Such a program could help our business community tap into the work force necessary to grow our economy, to allow us to know who these workers are for security purposes and to allow us to encourage those who are here as guest workers to understand their responsibilities to make meaningful contributions to our society and to obey the laws of the land.

Do you believe the City of Orem has any role in deterring illegal immigration, or do you believe city government should leave the issue to state and federal government?

I am a professor and practitioner of the U.S. Constitution. Through my study of the Constitution, it is clear to me that any state or local (city, county, etc.) legislation which attempts to regulate penalties for illegal immigration will be struck down by the courts through what is called the “preemption” doctrine. Immigration is a federal matter, and I believe it is an unwise practice (policy wise as well as legally and fiscally) to adopt legislation or policies which would not be defensible in a court of law.

What do you think can be done by the City of Orem to further deter gangs and illegal drug use in Orem?

I believe that we need to take a zero-tolerance approach to drug- and gang-related crimes. I would lobby the legislature for enhanced penalties for these types of crimes. I believe that we need to provide our public safety officers with the very best training possible to track and eliminate drug and gang activity. I believe that my background as a prosecutor and as a city attorney make me especially qualified to work with this matter.

What is your vision for Orem? During your term what do you hope to accomplish? This is what I hope to accomplish as a council member:

1. Family City USA. I will carefully consider how legislation, policies or positions adopted by the City impact the family. As provided in the City’s General Plan, I will encourage the formation of a “Family City USA Commission.”

2. Economic Development. I will encourage a “smart community” dialogue between our education and business communities about how we can best leverage resources to grow and sustain a vibrant local economy.

3. Transportation. I will encourage developing a new comprehensive Master Transportation Plan to enhance traffic movement city-wide and work to ensure that Orem City plays an effective role in regional transportation planning.

4. Public Safety. I will ensure that city employees receive the recognition they deserve, and the future training necessary to continue to help make Orem the safest place to live in the state.

5. Senior Citizens. I will ensure that service needs for seniors are met and that future land use development policies meet senior-housing needs.

6. Community Development. I will support private development and neighborhood preservation plans which make sense, and encourage a healthy balance between preserving private property rights and maintaining a strong sense of community.

7. City Beautification. I will encourage the beautification of gateways to the City from freeway exits as well as development of the State and Center Streetscape improvement concepts contained in the City’s General Plan.

8. Cultural Development. I will encourage collaboration between the cultural arts and business communities to promote the best opportunities for continued and sustainable support of the arts for the citizens of Orem while establishing Orem as a cultural arts destination.

9. Parks, Recreation and Open Space. I will encourage developing a Master Plan for pedestrian and bicycle paths, as stated in the City’s General Plan, which connect our excellent community resources.

10. Utah Valley University. I will encourage the City of Orem’s support of Utah Valley University’s newly-adopted “Communities of Engaged Learners” initiative, as well as the coordinated development of a UVU Master plan which specifically plans for future growth and greater community accessibility.

Posted in Frequently Asked Questions | No Comments »

August 2, 2007 by carl.

The General Election for the Orem City Council Race will be held on November 6, 2007.  Voting is a privilege, and I hope you will exercise your full expression by voting for who you feel are the three best candidates to represent you on the City Council.

Posted in Vote November 6 | 1 Comment »