Tim 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.

Qualifications, Platform, and Workload

Q: Please summarize your preparation and qualifications to serve on the American Fork City Council.

A: I’m a small business owner who has worked with city/state governments and managed it through a pandemic, Marine with 15 years of experience both tactical and operational, regularly attend city council meetings and work sessions, have talked to city council members and staff, volunteering in the community (schools and church), lots of conversations with residents.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish, if elected? Are there programs and other measures you would promote? Are there others you would oppose or dismantle? Why?

A: I want to make sure we grow in a smart way (infrastructure matching development), building a strong sense of community including the new growth south of I-15 and next to 500 E, revitalizing the downtown area for businesses and community events, and ensure the budget is managed in such a way as to prioritize basic infrastructure and public safety.

Q: Are you able and committed to spend the time necessary from week to week to do well as a member of the city council? (Experienced city councilors have placed this in a range of 10-20 hours for a typical week.)

A: Yes. I’ve worked for 90+ hours before (when deployed to Afghanistan) and am already spending that amount of time as I campaign. I’m more than willing to commit the necessary time to get the job done and keep myself well-informed.

Current Topics

Q: What can the City do to promote civic engagement in the newer neighborhoods of the city, where most of the dwellings are multifamily and the turnover is relatively high?

A: Holding events in those areas would be very helpful. Ensuring lots of green space or event centers in those areas for community events. Have service projects focused on needs in those locations (create ownership). Have city council members and staff hold town halls/cottage meetings in those spaces to get to know people and specific concerns.

Q: Should a city’s budgeting and finances operate differently from a family’s? How and why (or why not)?

A: In a way yes: spend less than you earn, prioritize what’s most important i.e. needs over wants. In a way no: grants from the state and federal government provide additional income, working with neighboring municipalities to share costs, much longer timeline (20 years plus) with certain projects, master plans, continued growth, etc.

Other Questions

Q: Does the proper role of local government differ in any substantial way from the proper role of the federal government? Please explain.

A: Yes and the Constitution (with its supremacy clause) is a good place to start. Sure both are concerned with planning for growth and building the necessary infrastructure and levying taxes to fund these projects. However, there are significant differences with things like currency creation, central banks, the military, treaties, etc.

Thanks, Mr. Holley!

Thanks to everyone for reading. If you’re a voter, you have until Tuesday, September 5, to mail or drop off your ballot. Please Learn BEFORE You Vote.

To that end, see answers by Councilman Clark Taylor, Austin Duke, Elizabeth Gray, Christina Ballard, and Ken Sumsion. And don’t miss John Mulholland’s report of his interviews with most of the candidates.

Watch for answers from other candidates and more information and opinion coming soon.

If you’re one of the candidates who hadn’t responded, the invitation is still open.