Fiscal Responsibility

Elected officials must be open and honest with our citizens. The budget process must be simple and transparent. Information about our stance on the budget and the outlook of current happenings should be readily available and understandable. Taxpayers must believe that we have used their money wisely and even if perhaps they disagree or do not necessarily benefit from every program, they understand our reasoning in making such a decision. To do this I believe we should do the following;

•   Initiate a comprehensive financial and management review of every city department.
•   Eliminate duplication.
•   Protect city employee’s wages and benefits so we can retain the quality of the city staff.
•   Training employees’ will cost us more than retaining the ones we currently have.
•   Look for opportunities to save money by looking at purchasing. Raising taxes is not the answer.
•   Establish performance measures and stretch goals for every municipal department.
•   Use data to drive decision-making and improvement across the board.
•   Keep our talented and energetic department heads whom embrace change and show a tireless commitment to excellence.

Once we look at every way to cut costs we must focus on the cities revenue options. West Jordan residents have been fortunate that their tax burden has remained low due to revenue from business, which has resulted from the cities growth. We must remain the city that leads other cities. To do this I believe we should do the following;

•  Identify all opportunities for federal and state grants.
•  Expand our commercial and economic base in places like Jordan Landing and Commercial Centers.
•  Work with businesses and residents directly and encourage shop West Jordan.
•  Be proactive in recruiting business to West Jordan by having an economic summit to promote West Jordan as a prospective place to locate your business.
• We must create positive image of West Jordan.
• Promoting Economic Development and Affordable Housing

 Public Safety

Protecting our citizens is one of the most essential services city government can provide. Residents of West Jordan are entitled to feel safe and secure in their home and in their neighborhood. Children should feel safe on their way to school and remain so while in the building. To do this I believe we should do the following;

• Maintain the long-standing quality of our police and fire departments.
• Explore techniques, equipment, and policies used by other municipalities and public agencies that promote public safety.
• Ensure that our fire trucks and stations are adequately maintained.
• Ensure that police and fire response times are up to national standards.
• Develop a well-honed emergency response plan.
• Having the state of the art police and fire departments will save us money and keep the reputation that our city is safe.

Promoting Transportation, Development, and Housing

 The City of West Jordan is a community that thrives on careful and harmonious balance. Throughout the next four years, I will bring thoughtful planning leadership to manage and increase the development of the city that has attracted so many families and individuals to the West Jordan community in the first place. We must have development if we are to continue to thrive. To do this I believe we should do the following;

• Set firm guidelines for development that follows smart growth principles and preserve the character of our city. While addressing all traffic, parking, and congestion issues that might arise.
• Continue to focus on east to west traffic concerns on 6200 south, 7800 south, 7000 south and 9000 south.
• Work on 5600 west and have construction from north to south to take off congestion of the west to east roads.
• Continue to lobby legislature to build and finish Mountain View Corridor.
• Strong infrastructure not only contributes to economic growth, it is also cost effective. Maintenance is much less expensive than re-construction.
• Prioritize immediate maintenance needs based on safety and functionality.
• Prioritize a maintenance fund.
• Tap all potential state and federal resources available to address infrastructure needs.
• Promote affordable housing that allows seniors to stay in the neighborhoods they have helped to build while encouraging young people to bring continued vitality to our city.
• To continue to grow we need a place for our children to purchase their first home and retirement home. 
  

Protecting Our Environment and Conserving Energy

Protecting our environment is both a moral responsibility to future generations and a health and quality-of-life issue for us today. We have the ability to make a real difference. To do this I believe we should do the following;

• Make government operations as "green as possible" by diversifying our energy sources including the use of more renewable energy  and moving to make the city's fleet of vehicles and buildings energy efficient as soon as is feasible.
• Expand recycling by providing equipment and incentives to residents and businesses.
• Encourage recycling in public places by replacing garbage cans with recycling bins.
• Green our building codes, providing both requirements and potential incentives for sustainable design and construction and green living.
• Apply for federal grants for the greening of our public buildings.
• Encourage use of the Midline Trax, soon to be complete in 2010.
• Increase bike utilization by providing bike lanes in all new construction.