Age: 27
Address: 504 26th St.
Occupation/Employer: Assistant superintendent at Edelweiss Chalet County Club; The Bruce Company.
Community involvement: Member of St. John's United Church of Christ
Education: 2002 graduate of Monroe High School
Previous experience and achievements (in government or other entities): Currently serving on City of Monroe Common Council Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee, Finance and Taxation Committee, Salary and Taxation Committee, Board of Public Works.
1) What you have done to prepare yourself to become a city councilman?
I believe that as an elected official you need to work with everyone. We are all part of a team and need to work as a team. It's not in the best interest to disenfranchise anyone or create sides. Together we should evaluate the problem and then determine the best course of action. I strive to represent my constituents at every meeting possible.
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?
Our department heads are hired to do a job, and I believe they do an outstanding on at that. I cannot find it sensible to micromanage someone who is adequately educated to do such job. City employees are accountable to the council, and the council is accountable to the people.
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?
In any one of my three campaigns, I have never received any contribution nor would I accept any from city employees.
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?
There are currently designated areas on all agendas for people to speak. Therefore, they should speak in the appropriate area of the meeting without any advanced notice. Any such requirement would be a form of censorship or an infringement of the right to free speech.
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 have on other communities that use the county landfill transfer station?
I believe that making any such decision at this time would be premature. We must explore all options and determine the best course of action once we have the solid figures from requests for proposals (for private contracted service). Council members should frequently remind themselves of who they represent. In my opinion, the agreement to fund and to use the transfer station does not serve Monroe's best interest. This is an area for the private sector and not for government control.
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.)
I absolutely agree with zero-based budgeting. This would be a vast improvement for the "budget process" of last year. Last year, I campaigned for a responsible budget for the taxpayers. That obviously didn't happen; therefore, I voted against the budget. Zero-based budgeting would correct this injustice.
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?
Recently, Mayor Ross has asked me to be the point person on this very issue. I hope to have a permanent working relationship with both Green County Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce. This is where I hope to be a proponent of economic growth for our community.
8) Have you ever failed to pay taxes when you were supposed to (i.e., on time)?
No.
Address: 504 26th St.
Occupation/Employer: Assistant superintendent at Edelweiss Chalet County Club; The Bruce Company.
Community involvement: Member of St. John's United Church of Christ
Education: 2002 graduate of Monroe High School
Previous experience and achievements (in government or other entities): Currently serving on City of Monroe Common Council Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee, Finance and Taxation Committee, Salary and Taxation Committee, Board of Public Works.
1) What you have done to prepare yourself to become a city councilman?
I believe that as an elected official you need to work with everyone. We are all part of a team and need to work as a team. It's not in the best interest to disenfranchise anyone or create sides. Together we should evaluate the problem and then determine the best course of action. I strive to represent my constituents at every meeting possible.
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?
Our department heads are hired to do a job, and I believe they do an outstanding on at that. I cannot find it sensible to micromanage someone who is adequately educated to do such job. City employees are accountable to the council, and the council is accountable to the people.
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?
In any one of my three campaigns, I have never received any contribution nor would I accept any from city employees.
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?
There are currently designated areas on all agendas for people to speak. Therefore, they should speak in the appropriate area of the meeting without any advanced notice. Any such requirement would be a form of censorship or an infringement of the right to free speech.
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 have on other communities that use the county landfill transfer station?
I believe that making any such decision at this time would be premature. We must explore all options and determine the best course of action once we have the solid figures from requests for proposals (for private contracted service). Council members should frequently remind themselves of who they represent. In my opinion, the agreement to fund and to use the transfer station does not serve Monroe's best interest. This is an area for the private sector and not for government control.
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.)
I absolutely agree with zero-based budgeting. This would be a vast improvement for the "budget process" of last year. Last year, I campaigned for a responsible budget for the taxpayers. That obviously didn't happen; therefore, I voted against the budget. Zero-based budgeting would correct this injustice.
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?
Recently, Mayor Ross has asked me to be the point person on this very issue. I hope to have a permanent working relationship with both Green County Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce. This is where I hope to be a proponent of economic growth for our community.
8) Have you ever failed to pay taxes when you were supposed to (i.e., on time)?
No.