Here are American Fork City Council candidate Christina Ballard‘s answers to most of the questions I sent to all the candidates. Her answers are presented here unedited and without comment.
Continue readingAuthor: David Rodeback (Page 3 of 12)
Here are American Fork City Council candidate Elizabeth Gray‘s answers to the questions I sent to all the candidates. Her answers are presented here unedited and without comment.
Note that not all candidates choose — or have time — to answer all ten questions. If any of them send more answers later, I’ll add them..
Continue readingHere are American Fork City Council candidate Austin Duke‘s answers to the questions I sent to all the candidates. His answers are presented here unedited, except for two surnames added for clarity, and without comment.
Continue readingTim Holley is one of nine American Fork City Council candidates currently competing for six slots on the general election ballot and then for three available seats on the council. He sent me answers to most of the questions I sent, including the crucial first three. If he has time to answer any of the others later, I’ll update this post.
Meanwhile, here are my questions and his answers, the latter unedited and without comment.
Continue readingHere are incumbent American Fork City Councilman Clark Taylor‘s responses to the ten questions I sent to all the candidates. His responses are unedited and presented without comment.
Continue readingMy primary ballot for the 2023 American Fork municipal election arrived yesterday, and I’m far behind the curve. I only know about half of the American Fork City Council candidates at all, let alone well enough to choose confidently among them when I mark my ballot. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
Ordinarily, I’d have been working at this for the last several weeks and posting much of what I learned here. But I’ve been busy with other things. Good things, enjoyable things — but now the slightly-delayed primary election is upon us.
I finally sent some questions to the candidates this evening — the same questions for all of them (see below), but weeks later than I usually do that. Whatever answers they send (within reason) I will post, and given the timing, I won’t wait to hear from most or all of the candidates before doing so.
Meanwhile, here are some other opportunities to learn about candidates.
Continue readingThree of five seats on the American Fork City Council are up for election this year. The term is four years, and the other two seats and the mayor will be up for election in 2025.
Ten candidates filed during the June 1-7 filing period, but one has since withdrawn. Of the nine remaining, only one, Clark Taylor, is an incumbent. Another, Jeff Shorter, served on the council previously. He was first elected in 2013.
The primary election will narrow the field to six (two per seat). However, candidates don’t run for specific seats or from specific districts. The winners will simply be the six (in the primary), then the three (in the general election) who get the most votes. The winners’ will be sworn in just after New Year’s Day.
Here’s an important note, of which more below: municipal primary and general elections have been postponed statewide. They’ll be a few weeks later than usual.
Continue readingI mostly kept my own views out of the several previous posts in which I reported my one-on-one interviews with all five members of the American Fork City Council. But perhaps you’ll indulge some personal thoughts as we conclude.
I’ve observed and worked in politics and government at the local, state, and national levels since childhood, and I studied government in an academic setting for years. Whether or not I was inherently so at the beginning, I became cynical and skeptical. At the same time, I remain idealistic enough to hope for better than we often see in some contexts, and, yes, to be misled by the occasional politician, at least for a while.
A Jeffersonian Virtue
That said, these interviews increased my existing sense that there is a sort of Jeffersonian virtue about American Fork’s city government these days. I know people have grievances and disagreements; I know things things are imperfect and in some cases outright flawed. There is ample room for improvement.
But I just spent about five hours with good, capable people who I believe are doing their best to serve the city and its residents — and who I believe have done well, especially as a group.
Continue readingIn my one-on-one interviews I asked members of the American Fork City Council what concerns they hear from residents. Interviews take different directions, but I also asked most of them, “If your term ended tomorrow, what have you done or accomplished of which you’re proudest?” In some cases, they disclaimed any personal credit and described things around the city which particularly please them — and that’s good too.
Just for fun, I asked most of them their favorite old and new restaurants in American Fork.
Continue readingI asked members of the American Fork City Council what they look for in city council candidates. I thought their view from the inside might be instructive. I also asked them about the work load, because conscientious prospective candidates want to know what it will take to do the job right.
Three of five city council seats are up for election in 2023, but only one incumbent, Clark Taylor, told me he’s running. The other two, Rob Shelton and Kevin Barnes, have publicly announced their intention not to run — Councilman Shelton after three terms in office and Councilman Barnes after two terms.
(Of course, until June 1, there are no candidates, and we’ll only know for sure who’s in and who’s out after June 7, the end of the filing period.)
What to Look for in a Candidate
All five city council members sounded common themes. Where their own votes in a city council election are concerned, they’re looking for:
- men and women who work well with others, and who can disagree without being disagreeable;
- people who already have a resume of civic engagement — not necessarily at the City, but if it is at the City, service on at least one committee or coaching in the recreation programs, working in the arts, etc.;
- candidates who know about City government and don’t just assume that all the stereotypes and talking points from national and state government apply;
- overlapping with the last two, candidates who are energized by more than a single issue, who won’t check out once they’ve accomplished — or failed to accomplish — the thing that motivated them; and
- the words good and honest came up almost as often as work.
Thanks for your excellent election coverage!
David thanks for another excellent post. This is very articulate, clear, and easy to understand. Too bad this isn't required…
The author's name is displayed just under the title. Usually, as in this case, it's David Rodeback. Thanks for the…
Who is the author of these blog posts? This one is excellent.
I listened to this interview of the council candidates. I wish that all my neighbors would take the time to…
I had an almost word for word conversation with a candidate for city council from your example. He wasn't having…
The chamber did post a video! I'm glad they did. Here's the link to the debate: https://youtu.be/o4aI9MRoI_c?si=9j5JGKI1TVyL1ab2
This is fantastic news! Way to go Rob! I’ve missed regular AF news so much since the Citizen paper went…
As David alluded, this won't be hypothetical for long. Bountiful City experienced just about everything mentioned in this article a…
Love your posts—the insight, commentary, and subtle(?) humor. You are spot on, as always.
Dear Elizabeth Gray, Both me and my husband voted for you. We feel that your background in mental health issues…
Such an excellent point! Thank you for the article and educating our young citizens about the importance of community involvement.
Hi, when you are going to finish the 200w road next Shelly Elementary school ? It is the bigger elementary…
Bryce this was very well written, in my opinion. It was very concise and to the point. I totally agree…
Thank you, David, for looking into this and for responding to my question.