, r - - '' i - . ' i ' t . ' I Charles Shumway Charles Shumway, 57. is an Independent In-dependent Party Candidate for Vernal City Councilman. He has lived in Vernal since 1955 and is a pharmacist. Question: 1. Why do you feel you are the best man for councilman or mayor? I wouldn't say I am the best man, rather one of the best men who have filed for councilman. I feel that I am better qualified now than when I ran eight years ago. At that time my drug store had been robbed five times and I wanted the police department upgraded. up-graded. I was elected and worked with the city council to accomplish that goal. If I am elected this time, that same determination to work with the council for good government would be my objective. 2. What political or leadership positions have you held which would qualify you for councilman or mayor? I served on the State of Utah Water Pollution Committee as vice chairman for six years. Vernal City Council: Chairman of Finance Committee, two years; Chairman of Police Committee, two years; owner-operator of Shumway Pharmacy, 13 years and chain store manager for seven years. 3. What will be your main objectives if elected a councilman or mayor? I think we should go along with President Reagan's appeal in his economy moves to cut expenses and squeeze the budget. The country is in a recession. It could get better or it could get worse. We hope it gets better, but if we are prepared by tightening our belts, and if the worse comes, we will survive as a city. Even now, some cities are . bankrupt. 4. What proposals do you have to solve the continual bickering between the city and other governments in the valley? The core of the bickering is over WATER ! The law firms are becoming wealthy with our tax dollars. If the bickering can not be resolved for the good of the whole valley, the three entities should split and have three completely separate water systems. Ideally, one valley-wide water system is the way to go. Another glimmer of solution to this problem can be found in question number nine. It's a view point that should be considered by the entities involved. The tax dollar would be better spent investigating this possibility as opposed to giving it to law firms and stay dead-locked. There may be variables but my feelings are to check it out. 5. As councilman or mayor do you feel you should represent the best interests in-terests of the people or of the city or do you feel there is a difference? There is no difference. If a councilman represents the people fairly, he is doing a good job for the city. 6. What aspect of Vernal City bothers you the most? Lack of enough traffic lights on main street. I realize this is not the fault of the city. Also another thing that bothers me is the delay in repairing torn up streets. 7. Because much of what Vernal City does greatly affect persons living outside the city's limits, what do you feel are your obligations to them? A city councilman's first obligation is to the residents of Vernal City. He should be cooperative and sensitive to the needs of people living outside the city limits. Vernal residents pay city and county taxes. The county pays taxes and both pay sales taxes which help run the city. I feel as a large community both can benefit when the tax dollar is spent wisely. 8. What are your feelings about the growth that is affecting the area and what would you recommend to effectively ef-fectively deal with growth? We should have a workable master plan with step one, step two and step three representing a number of year spans in each step. If the economy speeds up or slows down, this adjustable master plan could keep ahead of the population growth and needs of the people. 9. As a councilman or mayor, how would you propose to solve the valley's water problem? I have talked to people with opposing points of view and over the weekend I had the opportunity to visit with an old friend who was visiting in the area. He had an alternative view point. He is a former resident of Vernal City, an authority on water and is familiar with the water in our valley. Hehas made many tests of the water in Ashley Spring anil has made studies of the slope of the mountain. The tests of Ashley Spring luid never had a bacterial bac-terial count. The need is for getting rid of the turbidity that we all see in our water during the spring of the year. Ideally, the water should be under one valley-wide water system. The most economical way would be to use the natural gravitational flow of the water from Ashley Spring as opposed lo an expensive pumping system. Use the Red Fleet water on an exchange basis, just as the people have already voted to do, with the understanding that the water would be ased for irrigation. Locate the purification plant at Ashley Spring, rather than use an expensive pumping system. As more (continued on page 23) Shumway water is needed in the coming years, consider building another purification plant at Red Fleet Dam and use the natural gravitational flow of the water to supply the lower valley. 10. Should Vernal City seek more Federal and State help in solving the problems in the valley or should the city shun outside help? Before trying for more Federal and State money for this energy impacted area, I think that big industries who plan to locate in this area should be expected to pay their fair share of up-front money for essential services that an influx of people would require. 11. Do you favor the implementation of a valley-wide city or should the growth of the city follow its natural course? I lean in the direction of a valley-wide city. Realistically many problems must be resolved and a well mapped out master plan created so that the population growth following its natural course could be integrated in an orderly manner. A ballot vote would be necessary to let the majority decide.