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Show PAGE 6 THE ZEPHYRNOVEMBER 89 election 89: the race for mayor " i,'. interviews with the candidates Tom Stocks: the incumbent i . On October 14, 1989, The Zeohvr conducted an interview with Tom Stocks. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. Zephyr: You've been mayor for eioht years. Whv do vou want to run again? Whv do vou think vou should run again? Stocks: A couple of things. I think we have some programs going that should continue on. I enjoy it. My accounting practice is not as It was during the uranium boom. It would take me some time to build that back up, though that doesnt bother me. Those are the basic reasons. I enjoy being in government, In politics. I enjoy the democratic way of life. Zephyr: What skills do vou possess that vou bring to the office of Mayor if you're Stocks: re-elec- ted? think Pm a pretty good administrator; I think weve cut costs and I've worked for token wage compared to other communities that are paying substantially more for the same service. That's the administrator, supervising the utilities department, and the mayor's job. During the last six years that I've been the administrator, I think weve cut costs by cutting back personnel. We have at the same time increased salaries to all employees for the six years Ive been an administrator. I think we have provided quality service. There were 47 employees when I started in 1981, and were down to 25 full-ti- me employees now. To all for the freebies that come from fines, employment that, we've used compensate ive and use the most security office and so on. Its important to be efficient and Inexpensive labor you can when youre doing cleanup work and weeds ; v and that sort off thing. ; ; administrative Anytime youre in an position, you surround yourself with quality That work makes the people. better, and I think if s been proven with the thing ambitious and excited about moving ahead. They parks department. They've been have developed the parks far beyond my expectations.; All this Is important My extended family goes way into this community. So when I do things, maybe its selfish for the kids that are related, but I think if s for ajj kids. ; ;v We have good people in the administrative department Though if s a small staff, we put out a financial statement that can be read by the lay person, and thats what its for. We give the Council very good Information to keep current at what theyre doing. V' Youve been mayor and administrator for 6 years. Do vou feel this Zephyr: Is the most effective wav of running cltv government? Stocks: Absolutely. You can always go out and hire people to be administrators, but the range of salaries youre going to pay Is a lot Zephyr: Well, whats the advantage to this kind of government? I plus you Implement those programs that you want Stocks: It's m planning point of view. Youd and that should be moved along from the long-terI look at a 15 increase In salary for an administrator, over what received In all 3 In gets three times as much a town of about positions. The Park City administrator . v "'-?4500. vou think vour moq was what do Zephyr: l ooking on the last four years, noteworthy accomplishment, and what Is vour biggest regrets decision vou wish vou could change? Stocks: The accomplishment I think of, and It really wasnt my Idea, all the the things It wants to see done. Mayor can do Is serve the Council and Implement It asked me if I could get some funds to cover the open ditches where the kids cost to be somewhere around $30,000. play on 5th West We had anticipated that We expanded that program to $180,000 and were turned back by the Impact Board. We then turned it Into $425,000 and I think that was a nice accomplishment for sidewalks, getting some of the flood problems taken care of that have been sitting there for years. We put In handicap ramps around the community. I think weve accomplished a lot In maintaining roads. The parks Is a permanent thing that will last beyond my years. Any time you can have permanent accomplishments that will those are good things. And Im proud of the way law last for years to come handled Is ; enforcement today. ; cost-effecti- ve, . ; cost-effect- , things are an If to was need not there solve. a something obstacle, problem. It's something you at the time, we did it in a different manner. So I cant recall anything at the moment I'm sure there are probably a number of things that I could have handled better, but nothing that comes to mind that really bothers me. Oh, we put those bicycle stripes in and we got a little criticism for that, but I was tickled to death to see all the kids on the skateboards using the bike lanes. Zephyr: Usually citizens hear candidates extol their own virtues and point out their opponents' liabilities. What do vou think vour opponent's strong points are, and what are vour weak points? Stocks: Let me give you my opponents strong points. He has an education. I dont know If hes a people person or not . Bill and I have had disagreement on how he ran the school district but that was his business. As for my weakness, I like to see things move and I push. Pushing projects, like that sidewalk up by your home. Im the kind of individual where Ill continue to talk to you about It If for instance we had to trim your tree, I would have pushed to do that if it was the only place I could put sidewalk for the sake of making the project work. .We don't need to trod on the public, but we all get excited by getting something accomplished in a smaller time frame. Zephyr: Do vou feel vou push too hard sometimes? Stocks: No, but if you're looking for a weakness, that might be one of them. When people dont accomplish what I think they can In a certain time frame, I get As far THE SHOP" as any decision I might regret, I cant think of any. All short with that Let me ask vou some Questions about various aspects of city The first is redevelopment: this has been a hot Issue lately. government. Stocks: I believe all elected officials need to be knowledgeable of what their authority is and what their responsibilities are. The Council, when we got Involved in redevelopment at the state level, got that knowledge. They saw the accomplishments of other redevelopment organizations. And not just redevelopment They have to tie Into some other areas of being able to either borrow money or finance things without having to go to a mil levy that creates a feeling of over taxation by the citizens. The Council is who got Involved In wanting to see redevelopment happen. The Mayor can never do that I think its a good toot I think itll come back. I think It got shot down this It started out as a because year political issue that should never have been. You need a perk to start redevelopment, a business that makes the incremenL Thats ail youre working from. The numbers got askew. Millions of dollars In taxes? buil Theres no millions of dollars of taxes even on City Market The amount we ab,e to fl0nerate and work with on an annual base Is 12 to 15 HI87 ears and Innuendos of context All we want to see is that the properties be developed In a are outand planned systematic manner. HOW do VOU fel about ffPhyr: consolidation? Zephyr: WELCOME FAT TIRE FESTIVAL It s not my decision. What do vou think of the concept n!uwi . nt wish to get Into that I feel that consolidating of services Is Consolidating representation is the fear of people. When weve nd wahave on administrator who says we dont care about your not so e,ected r0b!emiS.; ? out of my way. Thats why consolidation A Mah. If you want consolidation, a dictatorship S P38 will make It mn I nke flovernment didnt really V011 do business want to ansW8y ttSt Zephyr: 51218. SSSSSr 33 No. Main 259-862- 3 1 ; |