VOTE411 Voter Guide

I’m running for city council because I believe Ogden Valley deserves leadership that listens to the desires of those that have made this place their home. We deserve elected representatives that protect the unique small town character, open spaces and access to nature. Leaders that plan thoughtfully for our future. Too many beautiful places in Utah have been lost to over development and its time to take a stand. My wife and I have been blessed to be raising our children in Ogden Valley and I want others to be able to have that experience too.

-Protecting Our Open Spaces: Enforce strict zoning to prevent over-development and preserve the natural beauty that defines our valley. Better utilization of existing commercial areas and buildings first before rezoning agricultural property to mixed use or commercial. -Supporting small local owned businesses and farms: Streamline the application process and limit "red tape". Create incentives to strengthen our farming community, fostering sustainability and resilience. -Manage the housing issues: Regulate short-term rentals by creating a required licensing system and support accessory dwelling units (ADUs) within single-family homes, provided the homeowner occupies either the primary residence or the ADU.

I've said before, I am not a politician. I believe in being active civically and in the principle of servant leadership. I’ve served as a county delegate and currently as a state delegate, stepping up not for personal gain but to serve when our community needed a voice.

Growth is going to happen, but it should be thoroughly planned out with a focus on the impact it will have on the next generations. I believe we should follow the OV General Plan that was created almost ten years ago but it does need to be reviewed and updated. The limited resources we currently have, particularly water, need to be at the forefront in any building decisions. I do not support in the idea of "if you build it, they will come", but more of "if we need it and it supports the vision of the valley, we will move forward".

I like the idea of getting all the water boards and districts together on a volunteer committee to share information and good practices. Good information leads to good decisions. The more communication we have with one another the better our outcomes will be.

For over 38 years I have served our nation and our community. I served over 25 years in the Air Force, retiring as a Colonel in 2012. I’ve served on four local non-profits over the past 13 years. I believe that I have the Talent, Temperament, and Time to help Ogden Valley City become a highly effective city that supports all folks throughout Ogden Valley.

I’m running for City Council in District 5 because I believe that we can create a future that we all want. Successfully working with executive councils, be they non-profit Boards, elected city councils, or Colonels in the Pentagon, can be really challenging. I am a team builder, I seek out wise council from all sides of an issue before I decide.

The first 12 months will be the most critical. Starting on November 18, 2025, the new Council must decide on how to organize, manage, and provide all municipal government services, including making tough calls on organizational structure. I will work hard to ensure all essential services in place on January 5, 2026.

We must establish a new Planning Commission, adopt city Ordinances, and adopt a new Ogden Valley General Plan. This will be a herculean task – to get it right. I have been participating in the Transition Team 3 Land Use and Zoning efforts. I will continue my work on this team.

The Lieutenant Governor’s feasibility study approximated revenue of $5 million and expenses of $4.7 million in 2026. It’s naïve to think the revenues will be that high and government service expenses that low. As a small government, fiscal conservative, I will make sure that the City Council makes the hard decisions to operate within actual revenue, which may limit some services.

I have the Talent, Temperament, and Time to succeed. I have over 38 years of professional experience, in business, in government, and in non-profits. I’ve served on five Board of Directors, comparable to City Councils. I served 25+ years in the Air Force, retiring as a Colonel. In business I own two companies and led a $30 million/year division of a nation-wide company. I have managed multi-million-dollar/year operations for organizations around the world. I know how bureaucracies work, crafting federal policy and legislation between the Air Force, White House, and Congress. I'm fiscally conservative and have managed budgets from $50,000 to $11 billion. I've written and applied war plans, business plans, and nonprofit strategic plans

Let’s be clear - growth will happen. The things that we love attract others, and those others come with great sums of money. Healthy growth reflects the Ogden Valley General Plan, updated as the Ogden Valley City General Plan. Maintain rural character where we can while respecting landowners’ property rights. Managing growth responsibly starts with incorporating the latest water and sewer studies, determining a new maximum build out estimate, and new carrying capacity estimates for utilities and roads. We must create a new planning commission, with a Farmer and Water company rep. The hardest task will be creating and adopting the new Land Use Codes. We cannot copy/paste Weber County's codes, as they allowed unchecked development.

Any candidate who claims they can “ensure sufficient water” is untruthful. None of us can, and the city will have only a few tools to employ (including land use codes that require proven water for new development approval). I have a Masters of Science degree in Civil (Environmental Engineering). I've operated two State-licensed water quality laboratories. I rely on the experts - like the Board of Huntsville Irrigation Company- when in doubt. I would support a Water Advisory Board consisting of the water companies and WBWCD. I support voluntary testing of wells for contamination. Primarily, the city must recognize the water rights and engage with those that have them, including the water companies, WBWCD, and State Engineer.