All of the candidates for Logan City Council have now made an appearance on KVNU’s For the People. Most have had an extended interview on KVNU’s Crosstalk. A few questions to those of you who are following this race:
- How do any of these challenging candidates differ in any meaningful way in terms of positions than those they are challenging? I have not seen any contrast either in terms of specific issues or general political philsophy. Am I missing something?
- How many of the candidates, incumbent or challenger, actually have a defined philosophy on government?
- The letters of endorsement for various candidates that have run in the Herald Journal so far have emphasized integrity, experience, love for the community and other unquantifiable highly subjective positive attributes. Is being wise and honest enough to qualify as a competent elected official? If all the candidates are honest and nice people (and I think they are) how do they expect me as a voter to differentiate them in the voting booth?
- Is anyone else amazed that no one has sought to define themselves as the property rights and limited government candidate? Given the environmental policy and community development problems shouldn’t someone provide this alternative that so many citizens are thirsting for?
- Does anyone else get the feeling that some of those involved in City politics are afraid to disagree with one another?
-Tom
Robert Horning seems to differ from the “big government three” that are currently up for re-election. I think he expressed this well in his Crosstalk interview. He called the mayor and council shortsighted for the way they’ve dealt with traffic issues over on 10th and 14th west. He also said he’d have voted to buy power from IPP 3, and he criticized the incumbents on the park strip issue. I think we need him on the council.
I have noticed that the LTE writers often stress that they know a certain candidate, he’s a good guy, and he has a record of service to the community. This is probably how many in Logan select who to vote for. But look where these criteria have gotten us. We have a statist majority on the council that has no real philosophy other than “it’s the right thing to do”. So I think people need to concentrate more on issues than experience or friendship.
Tom, are all of your council candidate interviews available for download? I can’t find Monson or Horning by using the search feature on the site.
They are here, but not organized well. I am thinking of doing an Election 2007 Clearinghouse like we did last fall.
tom…
you have the opportunity to ask those questions and pry that info out of the candidates!
we’re counting on you…
Just for those who are interested – Herm Olsen now has a website up and running with info regarding his stance and a biography. HermOlsen.com