Age: 37
Address: 2703 2nd Ave.
Occupation/Employer: Store manager, Kutter Harley-Davidson of Monroe
Community involvement: Board of Directors for Monroe Chamber of Commerce
Education: Business management degree
Previous experience and achievements (in government or other entities): no answer
1) What you have done to prepare yourself to become a city councilman?
I have been going to the city council meetings since I decided to run. I have also been talking with a lot of the people of Monroe to see what they would like changed.
2) Aldermen and the mayor work closely together and with the city administrator and other city employees, as well as the public. How would you describe your personality and management style?
I am very open; my door is always open to discuss anything, from work-related stuff to personal.
3) Council members are charged with the duty of hiring and firing city employees, as well as negotiating with their unions for salary and wage increases and benefits, such as vacation time and sick leave. It is of public interest to know how much in the way of campaign contributions you have received from city employees? Would you accept any?
I have not, nor would I ever, take contributions from a city employee. What would they really have to gain by doing that? It would ruin both people's relations and make the rest of the community question what they do.
4) What should be the policy of allowing the public to speak at council meetings? Department heads? Other employees? Without advanced notice on the agenda?
I believe every person, public, department head, anyone should be allowed to speak. But, it should be put on the agenda, if known ahead of time or they need to wait until the correct time during the meeting to speak.
5) The city is in the midst of determining its continued use of the Green County Landfill/ Transfer station, and whether to buy new trucks and trash bins to continue collecting residential trash as a city service or to hire a private company for the service. What do you believe would be the city's best decision on these issues? How much should the city consider the effects its decisions has on other communities that use the county landfill transfer station?
I think the city needs to gather all the info before making a decision. We, Monroe, are a leading force in Green County. What we do affects the smaller communities around us, so we need to keep that in mind. We need to do the best we can by trying to save money and jobs at the same time.
6) Would you encourage the city to use Zero Based Budgeting? (This would require every line item of the budget to be approved, rather than only changes; the amount of money approved for expenditures is based on actual need instead of an automatic increase from the year before. This requires a thorough review process of every item with no reference to previous level of expenditure.)
This is a tough one. Zero-based budgeting could help us or could cost us more money. Approving every item could take more time away from other things, and time is money. But if we used it correctly, we could save some money. We are not looking at saving hundreds of thousands by doing this. So we have to do what is best for the money and time required. If we as the council are letting the department heads do their jobs and holding them accountable for their jobs, then we should not have to worry too much about the budget. We hired them to do a job and help run this city. We need to let them do that.
7) How do you, as a city council member, plan to help facilitate or foster economic growth and development in the city and neighboring communities?
I am already helping do some of this through the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. We, the city, need to help open more doors for businesses that are looking to grow or start in Green County and Monroe. If that means tax breaks, loan help, discount water and sewer, we need to keep an open mind. But, we need jobs to help offset the help that the city gives businesses.
8) Have you ever failed to pay taxes when you were supposed to?
I have never failed to pay or paid late any of my taxes on anything that I do own or have owned.
Address: 2703 2nd Ave.
Occupation/Employer: Store manager, Kutter Harley-Davidson of Monroe
Community involvement: Board of Directors for Monroe Chamber of Commerce
Education: Business management degree
Previous experience and achievements (in government or other entities): no answer
1) What you have done to prepare yourself to become a city councilman?
I have been going to the city council meetings since I decided to run. I have also been talking with a lot of the people of Monroe to see what they would like changed.
2) Aldermen and the mayor work closely together and with the city administrator and other city employees, as well as the public. How would you describe your personality and management style?
I am very open; my door is always open to discuss anything, from work-related stuff to personal.
3) Council members are charged with the duty of hiring and firing city employees, as well as negotiating with their unions for salary and wage increases and benefits, such as vacation time and sick leave. It is of public interest to know how much in the way of campaign contributions you have received from city employees? Would you accept any?
I have not, nor would I ever, take contributions from a city employee. What would they really have to gain by doing that? It would ruin both people's relations and make the rest of the community question what they do.
4) What should be the policy of allowing the public to speak at council meetings? Department heads? Other employees? Without advanced notice on the agenda?
I believe every person, public, department head, anyone should be allowed to speak. But, it should be put on the agenda, if known ahead of time or they need to wait until the correct time during the meeting to speak.
5) The city is in the midst of determining its continued use of the Green County Landfill/ Transfer station, and whether to buy new trucks and trash bins to continue collecting residential trash as a city service or to hire a private company for the service. What do you believe would be the city's best decision on these issues? How much should the city consider the effects its decisions has on other communities that use the county landfill transfer station?
I think the city needs to gather all the info before making a decision. We, Monroe, are a leading force in Green County. What we do affects the smaller communities around us, so we need to keep that in mind. We need to do the best we can by trying to save money and jobs at the same time.
6) Would you encourage the city to use Zero Based Budgeting? (This would require every line item of the budget to be approved, rather than only changes; the amount of money approved for expenditures is based on actual need instead of an automatic increase from the year before. This requires a thorough review process of every item with no reference to previous level of expenditure.)
This is a tough one. Zero-based budgeting could help us or could cost us more money. Approving every item could take more time away from other things, and time is money. But if we used it correctly, we could save some money. We are not looking at saving hundreds of thousands by doing this. So we have to do what is best for the money and time required. If we as the council are letting the department heads do their jobs and holding them accountable for their jobs, then we should not have to worry too much about the budget. We hired them to do a job and help run this city. We need to let them do that.
7) How do you, as a city council member, plan to help facilitate or foster economic growth and development in the city and neighboring communities?
I am already helping do some of this through the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. We, the city, need to help open more doors for businesses that are looking to grow or start in Green County and Monroe. If that means tax breaks, loan help, discount water and sewer, we need to keep an open mind. But, we need jobs to help offset the help that the city gives businesses.
8) Have you ever failed to pay taxes when you were supposed to?
I have never failed to pay or paid late any of my taxes on anything that I do own or have owned.