WSU 9/12/07 Mayoral Debate Report

By TK

OK Forum readers, here are my extensive notes on today's debate. I've tried to report what was said as best as I could with no editorializing.

Opening statements

Van Hooser: Front row seat on city council led me to realize things in city government aren't making sense. I'm not a politician. I'm a teacher. And a citizen who cares about Ogden. People say I'm not tough enough, don't have experience. Tough enough to be a school teacher is pretty tough. Plus being a teacher gives you common sense, something lacking in this administration. Ogden crime rate has gone up. 3rd highest in State. City debt has gone up. $93 million. Not sensible to run city in debt. May not have an MBA or be a CEO but I know enough math to know how to balance a budget. Downtown development has come with a huge price. Over next 20 years we will pay for downtown with future RDA funds and lost tax revenue. I'm smart enough to know when facts don't line up. Mature enough to take responsibility for my actions.

Godfrey: 7 1/2 years ago Ogden had highest tax rate in State and 2nd highest crime rate. Tackled complex issue of taking in less tax $ while adding police officers and encouraging economic development. Reduced property taxes 3 times, actually it was 4 one time was real small so we don't count it. Reduced crime rate. Will put #s on website. #s collected by 3rd parties. Overall crime down 23% violent crime down 43% Done this by adding police officers. And did that without raising taxes, actually lowered property taxes. Found a new economic engine for city. High adventure recreation. used natural amenities to become such a high adventure recreation center. 11 ski companies have come to Ogden. Now more ski companies here than anywhere else in country. Redeveloped over 60 acres downtown. 2000 new jobs. 120 more acres downtown to be redeveloped. $1.1 billion in private investment in city.

Questions from moderators.

1st question was about how to work with WSU and support its students.

G: I bleed purple. Having WSU helps me, since I graduated from WSU. I've lectured on campus, served on committees, been involved with homecoming, alumni. Goal to make Ogden a university town. Junction will help bring students downtown. Need for student housing downtown. Ogden City and WSu will only succeed together.

VH: Need for more open communication between city and WSU. University needs its land to expand. City should not be telling WSU to give its land away for gondola. Work with students and faculty to see what needs are.

G: Never told WSU what to do with its land. But if something is good for city and good for WSU we should pursue it.

Question #2 was about the USTAR initiative

VH: Things WSU is doing promote entrepreneurship. WSU is helping folks develop businesses. Local industries can get employees from WSU.

G: Have worked with WSU to develop USTAR. WSU can help recruit new businesses to Ogden.

VH: mayor sounds so good I think I'd vote for him if I weren't running myself.

3rd question was about property tax increases

G: Assessment is a county issue. Bound by state law. We've lowered Ogden city tax property taxes, other taxing entities have not lowered their taxes. Changes to state laws are needed. Need to reward state legislators who lower taxes. Property owners taxes should be frozen from point of purchase. Fighting for these things in state law.

VH: One of citizens biggest complaints is taxes. But we do need to think about safety, good schools. remember taxes provide these things. Property values have inflated due to real estate speculators. need to stabilize neighborhoods to lessen impact of these speculators.

4th question was about crime reduction

VH: crime prevention is a community issue. People are afraid in their neighborhoods. Perception is reality. Violent crime in Ogden is twice the state average. We can develop community plans. We are short 14 officers. we patrol the Junction 24/7, why does rest of city get this kind of attention. Need to do more to encourage police officers to work for Ogden and keep working for Ogden. Writing more traffic tickets isn't the answer.

G: working to prevent crime is first part. Zero tolerance for those who commit crime is second part. We need more officers. Have increased force by 20%.

VH: Police force needs better promotion options, better relation with Mayor.

5th question was about public transit

G: We neeed to look at new transit options, technologies and routes. Waiting for council to get back on routes. What should happen is a downtown transit loop. Funding happens at county level so it must benefit county, not just Ogden. Run a rail or streetcar around downtown over to Newgate mall, into Riverdale and Roy. This will have broad appeal to county as a whole. Use UTA study $ to research plan.

VH: Mayor has not communicated with council on transit issues. We need mass transit and that means streetcars. Need a route that runs from Downtown to WSU. Bring students riding Front Runner to WSU.

G: I have been and am currently meeting with council on transit issues.

6th question was on working with city council as mayor.

VH: Council is part time. needs to be cooperation between mayor and council. System is broken. Mayor doesn't provide correct info, or infor at all. Council doesn't feel comfortable trusting info coming from mayor and it needs to be able to trust that info. Had to hire own attorney to get own info. Need to separate city government from RDA. Mayor shouldn't be director of RDA.

G: First I've heard from anyone on council that I've provided false information to council. If I have I'd love to correct this publically. Mayor and Council is a partnership. Both sides have to work together. I've worked hard to develop a good relationship with council.

VH: Council asked for info on Bootjack and mayor refused to tell us who Bootjack was.
There were 4 more questions, one about diversity in Ogden, one about Harrison Blvd in front of WSU, one about Ogden's trails system, and one about the odor ordinance.

I'll let others post the answers to them as this post is way too long. Oh, and there were also closing statements and then a few questions from students in the audience.