Meet the Candidate - October 11, 2011

Meet and Greet - October 5, 2011

City Council Meeting

Tonight I attended our Centerville City Council meeting. It was great to hear the discussion of the Centerville Foothills Management Plan. I really was impressed with the citizens that were in attendance that had questions, or wanted their opinion heard. Well Done!

I am still hopeful that the Foothills Management Plan will do what I am hoping...that is, to keep the foothills how they are. As this was being discussed, the thought came into my mind: "Why can't we just put a plan into place that says that the foothills will remain the same forever?"

I know this is a silly thought, but it does have some validity. I hope we can keep our foothills as they are, and that we can avoid development up there.

Other than the Foothills discussion, I continue to be interested in the discussion surrounding the property on Chase Lane that is a health concern and hazard to the neighborhood. It is a very touchy situation, and it seems that it is a "lose-lose" situation for all involved. I credit the city council, the neighbors, and those with interest in the property for working to come to a solution. I hope that all involved will feel good about the final decision that will be made.

Other than these two issues, there were some other minor discussions. The meeting lasted until after 10:00 pm. Now, it is time for sleep.

Another post coming tomorrow, after my first Cottage meeting.

Getting educated about UTOPIA

One of the main issues Centerville residents want to talk about when I meet them is UTOPIA. I started knowing very little about UTOPIA and knew that I needed to learn more.
A few weeks ago, each of the candidates for city council was invited to an information meeting to learn the ins and outs of UTOPIA and how it affects our city, businesses, and residents. I was surprised to learn that I was the only candidate to respond and attend the information meeting. It really gave me a better understanding of what UTOPIA is and how to best answer questions of those I meet. (To learn about my thoughts on UTOPIA, click on the "My Stance on the Issues" link on my website or click here).
Below is a letter I received after attending the meeting:

Dear John,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us yesterday. We were impressed by your attendance – it showed your dedication to your community and your desire to educate yourself properly on important issues.

By attending our Lunch and Learn, you have properly armed yourself with critical knowledge on what UTOPIA is, how it works, and how it is a benefit your communities and set yourself apart from other city council candidates in your community.

We hope that you were able to walk away from our meeting with a greater understanding of UTOPIA. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. We will be more than happy to speak with you.

Again, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to learn more about UTOPIA. We look forward to working with you more in the future.

Sincerely,

Todd Marriott
Executive Director
UTOPIA

Campaigning for City Council

I made it through the primary and I am happy with the results. I worked very hard but it was difficult to know if my hard work was paying off.
There are no polls in a local election to tell you how well you are doing. The only way to know how you are doing is to see the election results. So I worked even harder.
It was great to see the results of my efforts. Second place in the primary was a boost to my confidence.
I have met a lot of people. It is addicting to knock on doors and meet people and hear wonderful stories about the people in Centerville and about the city we live in.
Some residents I met have lived here for 60+ years. They love Centerville, as do I.

I am looking forward to meeting many more Centerville residents as I campaign.

I am excited for the potential opportunity to serve on the City Council.

Thank you for your support!