Education
Political Science - Leadership & Ministry
I’m running to preserve Hooper’s small-town values while preparing for responsible growth. As a father of nine and a longtime public servant, I want to ensure our community remains a great place to raise a family. I’m motivated by a deep sense of civic duty and a belief that fresh perspective, transparency, and community-first leadership are needed to face the challenges ahead.
1. Growth management: I support smart planning that preserves open space and protects our rural feel. We will grow, that’s inevitable. We should decide how that looks and what pace it goes.
2. Commercial development: I’ll promote balanced economic development that benefits residents without overburdening infrastructure. Smart budgeting with transparent fees and mutually beneficial partnerships.
3. Transparency and engagement: I’ll work to improve communication between the city and residents, ensuring decisions reflect community values. Voting records, budget decisions, and fee transparency should be a priority and clearly available and published in a way that all residents can easily understand.
I bring 15+ years of experience in public service, including city council, organizational leadership, and business development and consulting.
I’ve led multi-million dollar budgets, negotiated public-private partnerships, and built consensus on tough issues.
Most recently I have led organizational leadership and development, including training and preparation for high conflict environments and high stakes leadership decision making.
My career has focused on listening, problem-solving, and delivering results—and I’ll bring that same approach to Hooper City Service.
I’ll prioritize needs over wants, focusing on infrastructure, public safety, and essential services. I’ll advocate for increased fiscal transparency, explore responsible revenue options, and avoid burdening residents with unnecessary fees. Every dollar should serve a clear public purpose, residents of the city should understand that purpose. I will ensure the budget reflects the values of our community.
Respectful dialogue and proper decorum is key. I believe in listening first, understanding concerns, and seeking common ground. Even when we disagree, I’ll remain professional, transparent, and committed to the best outcome for the city. I’ve built my career on collaboration and have training and tools that specialize in conflict resolution and deescalation.
As a leader we are held to the highest standard of excellence even when we disagree, and I’ll bring that same spirit to every conversation in Hooper.
Education
High school and life
There seems to be a lot of division and not a lot of accomplishment in our City lately- I'd like to get more accomplished by getting people in government together with the general population and addressing issues that are facing our City to try to come up with creative viable ideas that will keep our City's future bright and maintaining the atmosphere and lifestyle we have come to expect.
Well one is dirision- we seem to have an abundance of that now and it's totally counterproductive. We need people in government to put all their efforts towards keeping Hooper a good place to live with a bright future. Secondly we need to improvise ways to get fiscally sound because it appears we are going to face a serious negative financial situation soon so we can't keep "kicking the can down the road." We have limited choices- raise taxes- incourage commercial to improve our Cities revenue -reduce expenditures but I doubt that would be enough to make a large difference if it even were feasible. Lastly we need to devise ways to comply with State and Federal regulations such as Moderate Income Housing which we are or soon will be facing.
I've lived in Hooper for well over 60 years so I've seen it grow and watched the changes to invironment that have occurred- both positive and negative. I think that gives me great insight to ideas that have worked and ideas that have not been as productive as they appeared they were going to be. I'm also very open minded and I'll always try to promote policy's that will benefit the majority of the residents. And I think my life experiences and occupation have given me a great practical insight for things that can be beneficial and things that do not make sense in an atmosphere I beleive best represents our citizens and helps our City stay a great place to raise a family and live.
It's not terribly complicated- you can't spend more than you take in. If there are practical ways cut spending I'd look at that, but that doesn't look promising. Revenue coming in can only be increased by raising taxes for everyone, which I'm sure isn't popular or by increasing our income from commercial enterprises which won't be popular with everyone but appears to be the most favorable to the majority of residents.
Intelligent mature dialogue is the best way to resolve differences in opinion- which will always occur. We don't all think alike or have the same goals in mind for each other or our City. There will be times that individuals will have to agree to disagree, without having petty power or ego struggles influencing the decisions that need to be made for the benefit of the City and its citizens. Practical useful solutions can usually be accomplished by that mature dialogue, and people who aren't willing to ingage in such shouldn't be serving in an elected public office.
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Education
Weber State University Bachelors Degree Health Education
I am proud to call Hooper home and am passionate about maintaining its allure. Intelligent growth and development will enable us to retain our city's distinct identity. Fostering a sense of unity and cooperation is crucial. I plan to build upon the successes of my initial term, driving projects and goals that benefit our community. Specifically, I aim to preserve our Utah Healthy City designation, which was achieved through collaboration with Council Member Cindy Cox.
Communication - Effective communication is crucial, and I believe this issue originates at the city government level. A better working relationship between the mayor and council can be fostered through improved communication, which in turn may lead to increased respect and kindness among the public.
Financial Management - We have recently implemented changes to increase council member involvement in city finances, which should lead to an improved financial trajectory.
Revenue - We can continue to look at the Smiths project and aggressively pursue new business opportunities that fit our area. Instead of waiting for opportunities to arise, we need to take a proactive stance and seek out groups that would thrive in our spaces.
With over 3.5 years of service on the City Council, I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to informed decision-making through attending numerous classes addressing city-specific issues. My dedication to diligent work is unwavering. Although some decisions may be met with disagreement, I assure you that they are made impartially, with the utmost consideration for my district's constituents. Free from personal gain or obligation, my decisions are guided by thoughtful analysis and integrity. My 20-year tenure as a Paramedic has taught me the value of collaboration with diverse individuals. I am confident that those who take the time to know me will attest to my ability to work effectively with people from various backgrounds.
The complexity of the city's budget is often underestimated. With my background knowledge, navigating the budget becomes more manageable. It's essential to note that our budget must be balanced by law, meaning we cannot operate in the red. Upon reviewing the budget, I believe we can identify areas for reduction and should adopt a more frugal approach. Effective spending involves sticking to a written budget, except in emergency situations, handling it similarly to a personal household budget but with increased diligence.
When disagreements arise within a group, I've found various approaches can help resolve them. Understanding differing opinions is a crucial first step. Compromise is effective when both parties are willing. If not, reassessing the situation can be beneficial. Ideally, respectful discussion resolves most disputes.
I was raised in Hooper & have been blessed to live here most of my life. I truly believe there is no place like Hooper. I have a profound love for this place we call home, & a strong desire to preserve it, so I have decided to run for City Council. I have a deep reverence for our country & constitution. I believe when you care about something, you do what you can to protect it. Hooper is at a pivotal point in time. We’re facing the challenges of unprecedented growth, a new highway, budgetary concerns, & economic development. It’s crucial we work together to devise & implement carefully thought-out resolutions to these challenges. I’m committed to respecting your concerns & suggestions & working with you to find the best path forward.
Residential & Commercial Growth:
We need to balance private property rights with the concessions of living in a community. Our sewer system& lack of property tax revenue bring challenges. Let’s find a balance that will allow us to grow responsibly& generate revenue in a way that will protect our way of life.
Fiscal Responsibility:
I support operating within our budget, cutting unnecessary spending, prioritizing needs over wants, & an easy-to-understand accounting of spending to the public.
Transparency & Accountability:
While serving on the planning commission, I’ve worked to provide thorough& accurate information& to base my decisions on truth. If elected, I’ll continue to do so. I’m committed to earning, building, & maintaining your trust
I’ve served on the Planning Commission & General Plan Advisory Board & spent numerous hours researching state & city code. I’ve attended or watched almost every city council & commission meeting for the past several years. I helped establish the Hooper Tomato Jam & volunteer at Tomato Days. I served as a state & county delegate, as a volunteer on a state scholarship appeal committee, & in numerous church & civic volunteer & leadership positions. I was employed for 9 years in the mortgage industry & worked part-time at Hooper Irrigation. My experiences have taught me the importance of leading & serving with integrity, listening with an open heart & mind, & taking time to do things the right way, rather than the quickest or easiest way.
To help balance the budget, I'll prioritize conservative, need-based spending & work to eliminate anything that is not a necessity. We should seek out fiscally wise revenue options that will leave the city better off down the road; promoting the right types of commercial businesses & seeking grant money for necessities rather than luxuries can help. We should plan ahead & prepare for maintenance projects & revisit that plan often to make sure we’re on target. We need to make financial decisions based off of sound judgement, not fear. For the council to make educated decisions, they need to be fully informed about the budget. I’ll advocate for a detailed, easy-to-understand monthly accounting of all funds coming in & going out of the city.
A difference of opinion can be a very healthy thing. I find value in listening to different viewpoints & ideas. This is how progress happens. I have always tried to keep an open mind. There have been several instances in my life when I’ve felt one way, & after listening to another’s views, my thoughts have changed. That’s the beauty of having a diverse set of people contributing to a process. Everyone’s life experiences give them a unique perspective. I pledge to listen to those perspectives & respect them, with the intent to understand them. I’ll strive to communicate my point of view effectively & respectfully & work together with the council, commission, and community to find compromises that will benefit Hooper the most.
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