Ogden Council Ward 4

Standard-Examiner

BY JORDAN MUHLESTEIN
Standard-Examiner staff jmuhlestein@standard.net

OGDEN — The candidates for the Ogden City Council from Ward 4 are Caitlin Gochnour and Kent B. Petersen.

Caitlin Gochnour

Age: 44
Occupation: Community volunteer

What experience prepares you for this position? With a communications/public relations degree, I was a communications specialist for Questar. Later I served as Panguitch Main Street Manager writing grants, preparing financial statements and working with business owners to promote economic development.

What is the top issue in the city? Responsible economic development and public safety go hand-in-hand — the first won’t succeed unless we get the other under control.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish? I will strive for harmony and open communication between the council and mayor, a bustling downtown and revitalized neighborhoods, an infrastructure system upgrade, a transportation network tied to Front-Runner and safe neighborhoods all of which will complement efforts to make Ogden a trail mecca and outdoor recreation capital.

What sets you apart from your opponent? I have positive energy and a strong work ethic. I’ve regularly attended council meetings and met with all the departments within Ogden City to understand their functions and priorities. And I’ve knocked on hundreds of doors to hear my neighbors’ concerns. As an independent consensus builder I’m already focused on finding sensible solutions to Ogden’s vital issues.

Kent B. Petersen

Age: 71
Occupation: Retired from the automobile business

Experience: I had a $100 million per year business and was a partner in charge of hiring people and running teams. My business experience will translate to Ogden City, which is about $120 million per year, with the council kind of functioning as a board Petersen of directors. I have a management degree from the University of Utah.

Top issue: I think it is crime in the inner city that has emerged very noticeably as the top issue. How we control that crime will be important.

What to accomplish: I hope to accomplish several things. First of all, I want to work on a cooperative effort to see if we can lower crime, by working with people in the area, public initiatives and more people (police) on the street. We are also facing a transportation problem and we need to link FrontRunner with the rest of the city. We should do a study on why bus ridership is low, and if there are other ways (than buses) to move people, we have to look at them. We need to broaden the sales tax base by aggressively going after good, clean businesses. Infrastructure, open space and building a tourist industry are other things to work on.

What sets you apart? I have the time to devote to the council and I have the depth of business experience that I can bring people to a consensus that lacks in the current council. There is quite often a rift in the council and my experience could go a long way toward solving that. I have community ties that I think are unique, I have been on the institutional council at Weber State University and been alumni president as well. I have business contacts that are unique. The business community had rallied behind me and been very supportive because they are aware how critical it is for the council to move forward.