Tag: Daniel Copper

2019 American Fork City Council Candidates

07/05/2019 / David Rodeback

There are six American Fork City Council candidates in the 2019 election, running for three seats. Terms are four years.

Since there’s no need for a primary election to narrow the field to two candidates per available seat, we’ll have only the general election on Tuesday, November 5. So even though the filing period closed four weeks ago, we haven’t seen much election activity. Things will probably heat up around Labor Day, unless a certain new issue gets more traction with candidates before then.

American Fork Election Results (updated)

08/18/2017 / David Rodeback

Here’s an updated report of primary election results, based on updated counts released this afternoon. There will be further updates — by state law, on Tuesdays and Fridays — before the official canvass on Tuesday, August 29, but the votes added in subsequent updates will likely be far fewer.

The big news for American Fork voters is that the outcome of the city council race changed. Incumbent city councilor Jeff Shorter moved into fourth place ahead of Ernie John by 27 votes, pushing the latter out of the general election, if the result holds. This isn’t a big surprise; in Tuesday’s results the margin was a mere nine votes.

American Fork Election Results (Tentative)

08/17/2017 / David Rodeback

I’ve been waiting to post local election results, hoping for numbers more recent than 10:09 p.m. on election night — given that most of the ballots were mailed, and a lot of them presumably didn’t arrive in time to be counted on Tuesday evening.

I finally called the county clerk’s office, where I learned that state law requires them to publish updated numbers on Fridays and Tuesdays, until the final canvass two weeks after election day. They said they might publish an update sooner, but so far they haven’t.

So without waiting further, let’s see what we know. Continue reading

American Fork Candidates Q&A – Part 5 – Debt, Decisions, and More

08/12/2017 / David Rodeback

As before, I sent all the candidates the same questions. This time, more of them responded, and I’m still expecting another response or two, which I’ll happily post upon receipt.

Thanks to all the candidates who’ve participated in our little pre-primary Q&A.

Voters, don’t forget that your ballot, if mailed, must be postmarked no later than Monday, August 14, 2017. There are some in-person options on Tuesday. Further information is here.

Mayoral candidates Brad Frost and Carlton Bowen are on the November general election ballot in American Fork. Kyle Barratt, Barbara Christiansen, Staci Carroll, and Jeffrey Shorter are running for two available city council seats.

Note: Responses may be slightly edited for grammar, punctuation, and format. Responses by candidates who were defeated in the primary are still available below, behind the buttons.

Published: 25 July 2017
Updated: 31 October 2017

city council candidates — City Council Candidates

Now Available: July 29 Candidate Audio and David’s Commentary

07/31/2017 / David Rodeback

Audio

I’ve just published four posts here which may interest American Fork voters. Two (one for each race) have audio from the July 29 meet-the-candidates event, divided by question or statement, with a bit of discussion but no opinion from me. Some folks like it that way, and that’s okay. The audio isn’t professional, but I hope you’ll find it adequate.

While we’re at it, here’s a link to the American Fork Chamber of Commerce’s video recording of the event, just posted today.

Opinion

The other two posts contain my summaries of candidate responses, my recommendations, and — especially in the case of the mayoral debate — my candid commentary about what we heard. One of the mayoral candidates consistently fares poorly in that analysis. If that sort of thing bugs you, you’ll understand why I put my opinions in separate posts — so you can avoid them. For what it’s worth, my thoughts on the city council race are much happier. It’s a very strong field.

So read these if you wish, but you’ve been warned:

Here are two final thoughts, lifted from my city council notes.

Whatever you may think of Washington, DC, these days, we’re a long way from there. We have every opportunity to be well-governed in American Fork. I’m not sure that choice was even on our ballot last November.

We owe all our candidates and their families a debt of gratitude for the effort and sacrifice required to run for office, let alone serve if elected. One way to show that gratitude would be to vote in larger numbers than usually turn out for a local primary — especially if we have learned before we vote.

Thanks for reading. Comments are always welcome, within the usual bounds of civility and readability.

David’s Very Candid Notes on the June 29 Mayoral Debate

07/31/2017 / David Rodeback

This is not an attempt to give a complete play-by-play report of everything each candidate said, though I will summarize the responses to a degree. It’s one guy’s notes and opinions, and you are duly warned: I’m not pulling punches here. Well, not very many. You may not like what you read, and you’re certainly entitled to your own views and your own vote.

I will do us both the favor of being candid.

You don’t need me to tell you everything they said. If you want to hear the candidates themselves, audio is available in a separate post. And I won’t always quote the questions here, though I do that in the post with the audio. And you may not need me to tell you what it means — but I’m about to try, for anyone who’s interested.

Mayoral Candidates Q&A – Part 2

07/25/2017 / David Rodeback

Mayoral candidates Brad Frost and Carlton Bowen are on the November general election ballot in American Fork. Here they answer questions about taxes, fees, water rates, and roads. (Previously, they answered questions about experience and qualifications, goals, and why they’re running.)

Note: This page will be updated as further responses are received. The questions in the post were sent to all three candidates by e-mail on Tuesday, July 18. Candidate responses are ordered alphabetically by surname. Responses may be slightly edited for grammar, punctuation, and format. Responses by candidate Daniel Copper, who was defeated in the primary, are still available below, behind the buttons. Continue reading

Mayoral Candidates Q&A – Part 1

07/25/2017 / David Rodeback

Mayoral candidates Brad Frost and Carlton Bowen are on the November general election ballot in American Fork. Here they answer questions about their education, experience, objectives, and motives for running.

American Fork Mayor Candidates Contact Info

07/18/2017 / David Rodeback

[Updated 7 August 2017]

Here is all the contact information I’ve found for the 2017 candidates for American Fork Mayor. Some of the basics are at afcity.org; the rest I’ve accumulated from various online sources.

If you live or work in American Fork, you should join the All About American Fork group on Facebook. Most of what happens there isn’t politics, but candidates and related events also pop up there from time to time. See also the City’s Voter Information Pamphlet.

If you’re a candidate — or even a voter — who has additional information for any of these, please send it to me, and I’ll verify it and post it. Note that I have not included links in some cases where I think I found the right person, but the profile lacks a photo or is empty. And I have included personal Facebook, Twitter, and other social media links, whether there is recent political content there or not. Continue reading

American Fork Candidates

06/07/2017 / David Rodeback

Here is the official list of candidates for mayor and city council in American Fork for 2017. Contact information is already available at the City web site, and we’ll be using it here to ask them some questions. You’re more than welcome to propose questions in the comments to this post or any other. And we’ll add more contact information, including social media links, when we have it.

See an earlier post here for details about the election. Note that there are sufficient candidates in both races for a primary to be held. It will reduce the mayoral field to two candidates and the city council field to four (for two seats).

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name, not randomly or in order of my preference.