By MARK NEWMAN Courier staff writer
May 13, 2008 11:29 pm
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Editor’s note: Between now and June 3, the Courier will profile candidates in contested area county and statewide races.
BLOOMFIELD — All six candidates competing for the one open seat on the Davis County Board of Supervisors said they believe the county can move forward — but they also agreed that no one is going to get very far if the county roads aren’t repaired.
From there, though, the two Democrats — Jesse Bonner Sr. and incumbent Dale Taylor — and the four Republicans — David Simmons, Dr. J.L. Stogdill, John Tharp and David Thordarson — had different ideas on how the county can succeed.
Most candidates said the way to keep taxes from getting out of hand is to share expenses among more people who move to Davis County.
“They’re not going to [just] come here; you have to go and get them,” said Simmons.
The county has some amenities, he said, like good schools and a good hospital. But more can be done, including creating opportunities locally.
“We need to create some new business and jobs to keep young people here,” said Tharp, “and we need to all work together to do that, laying politics aside.”
“I want to see more economic development,” said Stogdill. “I have a son who moved away from the area due to economics. I would like to improve the area to get him and his family to move back.”
Bonner said the county can maintain its character even when bringing in more business.
“I don’t want to make Davis County bigger, I just want to make it better,” he said.
Thordarson said he’s experienced keeping taxes low.
“I’m just running because I think I can do a good job, and because I think I can save the taxpayers some money, like I’ve done for the people in my ward as a [Bloomfield] city councilman,” he said.
Helping improve the county is a rewarding job, said Taylor, but not an easy one.
“This is a job with so many issues and things to do, you just can’t get on top of them overnight. I’ve got over three years experience already and I genuinely like working for the people. It’s a wonderful job. [But] for a part-time job, this is a pretty full-time job. [That is], the more time you spend at it the better things turn out. When I became supervisor, I had to close my farm shop because I didn’t have time to run it.”
Bonner said he is prepared to spend the necessary time. He vowed to give the best service he could by being available without a wait.
“I think if you’re an elected official, you need to be there for the people, not have them make an appointment to see you,” he said. “It’s set up that way right now. I don’t really like that. And I don’t have a special agenda. Whatever the people want and need, that’s my agenda. Make the citizens happy; they stay and contribute to Davis County, making [it] a better place.”
If Simmons were to have an agenda, it might be called maintaining a “can do” attitude.
“I get really tired of hearing someone say ‘We can’t do that,’ or the roads have ‘been that way since I was kid.’ It’s time to change. If you can’t fix 10 roads, fix one,” he said. “I don’t want to see [millions] spent on gravel for the roads and then five years from now have the same problem. Can [these changes] be made overnight? No. But you’ve got to try.”
Tharp said he’ll do what it takes to make Davis County an even better place to live.
“I’m inspired to run to make this county a prosperous one in which my children and grandchildren will have something to want to stay here for,” he said. “I’m the type of person who will move; I won’t sit there and wait.”
Tharp said taxes, roads, law enforcement and schools are some of the biggest issues in the county. But there’s one more thing that could help.
“I would like to see a rural warning system for severe weather situations. I think we need that, I really do.”
Thordarson said he’s concerned about spending money that requires asking for more money from his citizens.
“County spending is up half a million dollars, the property tax levy is up from $3.50 to $5 per $1,000 (in assessed valuation),” he said. “I’d like to be able to lower that but if not, would definitely strive to keep [such a jump] from happening again.”
Stogdill said he wants to see Davis County get a fair share of taxes paid to the state.
“It seems like everything is going north, and nothing is coming back,” he said, adding that highways around Davis County need serious work. “They’re going to spend a million dollars on landscaping, to decorate I-235 with plants. It frustrates me to go to Des Moines. It’s like rubbing salt in a wound. I am not bashful about speaking up for what I think we should get.”
As a former Pulaski mayor and council member, Stogdill knows where to apply pressure to get things done, he said.
Taylor said sometimes, it’s a matter of knowing where to look for the money.
Just as one example, he cited a problem that’s been around a long time. The courthouse is leaking. Supervisors found a grant to bring in an engineer, he said, to see if they can finally resolve that situation.
Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com.
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