WHO WILL IT BE? Responses from St. George City Council applicants (Part 2 of 3)
Tomorrow, the St. George City Council will make its selection regarding who will fill Mayor Jon Pike’s vacated council seat. We have made contact with all 25 applicants in an attempt to gather their responses to the following set of questions. The following is our second set of our responses. Watch for a final set Thursday morning.
Name: Susi Lafaele
What qualifications do you think a person should have to be a council member?
I think a person appointed to be on City Council should have a passion for the community in which they live. They should be honest, hardworking and experienced in community and personal relations.
What makes you uniquely qualified over the other candidates?
I think I’m uniquely qualified because I would bring a voice and a perspective to the St. George City Council that reflects the needs and attitudes of younger generations and more diverse communities. I think I’m the perfect person to connect the council to the thousands of Dixie State students and other young voting adults who connect via the Internet and express their sentiments via social media, which I understand so well. Growing up on a Navajo Indian reservation, the child of a white mother and a Samoan father, I have a unique experience in what it’s like to be different, to be diverse in a very traditional society. I see that upbringing as a positive experience that helps me to communicate easily with others and value their diverse opinions and attitudes. It uniquely qualifies you to give voice to those who don’t have traditional upbringings and helps you to see things from another perspective, so that all people are represented in our community’s governmental affairs.
In your case, what makes you more qualified than, say, Tara Dunn or Ed Baca, who placed third and fourth in the council race last year?
I think Tara and Ed are qualified in their own right. I, however, feel that I get what drives the Generation Xers and the Millennials. And as they start to outnumber the boomers in the makeup of our city, the council needs someone who can interpret and communicate with them. I feel that I bring that level of understanding to help the council govern the city to the benefit of ALL its residents.
Do you think the council will choose you?
I hope the current city council chooses me!
Anything else you’d like to add?
If appointed, I bring youth, energy and vitality to the council. I bring a point of view that’s not abrasive but rather synergistic with the rest of the council. As a community developer, I help create a synergy that includes everyone in the community and that would translate to a position with the city council.
Name: Daniel Olsen
What qualifications do you think a person should have to be a council member?
I think a candidate should have experience in business, willingness to be involved, to serve others, and the time available to put in 100 percent effort. Having an understanding that you represent your fellow citizens is also a key component.
What makes you uniquely qualified over the other candidates?
I feel that I would be an asset to the city council due to my small-business background, my grassroots involvement in the political process, my support for the youth, and the time that I have available to devote to the city residents of St. George. Over the past six years being a precinct chair and vice-chair, I realize the importance of representing those that elected me to that position.
In your case, what makes you more qualified than, say, Tara Dunn or Ed Baca, who placed third and fourth in the council race last year?
This is not a competition against Tara Dunn or Ed Baca and not a selection process of only two or three people. All 24 candidates bring their own strengths and backgrounds. The city council’s job is to choose the one that will help the city of St. George benefit the most.
Do you think the council will choose you?
I hope so. I guess we will wait and see.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Since 2007, downtown St. George has been struggling. While there have been attempts to bring businesses and activity back, success has been minimal. Since St. George Musical Theater was removed from downtown, businesses have closed and struggled due to the lack of drawing power. St. George is sorely lacking in the area of the performing arts and is falling far behind cities like Cedar City, Ivins and Hurricane. With the amount of talent that is here in our city, it is a shame that nothing has been done. I would like to help remedy that problem, along with others.
Name: Chris Leishman Nelson
What qualifications do you think a person should have to be a council member?
Hard worker. Collaborative. Problem solver. Willing to listen. Willing to learn.
What makes you uniquely qualified over the other candidates?
I will bring an expertise to the council that is needed. I have worked closely and collaboratively with nonprofits, businesses and city departments for decades. Social service needs come before the council consistently. I can speak that language and help the council make informed, long-term decisions that will be best for the city of St. George and its citizens.
In your case, what makes you more qualified than, say, Tara Dunn or Ed Baca, who placed third and fourth in the council race last year?
I am super impressed by the candidates that are vying for this open seat. The council has a tough decision to make and many good choices to choose from.
Do you think the council will choose you?
I am passionate about where I live and I don’t plan on leaving. I love St. George, I always have. I have spent my adult life working to make St. George better and stronger. I will continue to do that regardless of the result of the council.
Anything else you’d like to add?
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Name: LaRene Cox
What qualifications do you think a person should have to be a council member?
A city council member should understand the role of city government and be a good listener. This person should not be afraid of making difficult decisions. She should be able to interface with and work well with others (team player). To be a successful member of the council, she should also be able to dedicate sufficient time and resources.
What makes you uniquely qualified over the other candidates?
I feel I am very qualified, but since there are other qualified candidates, I don’t see myself as uniquely qualified. With that said, I have the time (I am retired, not tired), talent, energy and passion to make a unique and meaningful contribution. If the council were to select me, I would be honored to contribute to the community that has been so good to me and my family.
In your case, what makes you more qualified than, say, Tara Dunn or Ed Baca, who placed third and fourth in the council race last year?
Your question implies that someone who may have ran previously and lost is somehow more qualified than someone who has never ran. I see no correlation. Each candidate should be considered independently on their own merits.
Do you think the council will choose you?
I am confident the City Council will choose the person they feel is best qualified to serve.
Anything else you’d like to add?
My family has benefited greatly from our community and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. With the recent sale of our family business I now have the time, talent, dedication and desire to make a meaningful contribution as a member of the city council. If selected, I promise to study each issue as
it arises and work hard with the other council members to do what is best for our community.
Name: Kellee A. Hindes
What qualifications do you think a person should have to be a council member?
Active in the community, culture and the events of the community.
What makes you uniquely qualified over the other candidates?
My 10 years’ experience as a volunteer and civil servant in the city of St. George, particularly supervising a large team of Volunteers in Public Safety, 28 crossing guards, creating and organizing major community volunteer programs, such as C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Teams), National Night Out Against Crime, procuring and administering grants that helped cover the expenses of the programs. Founder of two successful businesses in the City of St. George that still continue to employ numerous individuals at substantial compensation rates.
In your case, what makes you more qualified than, say, Tara Dunn or Ed Baca, who placed third and fourth in the council race last year?
My experience and qualifications as stated in paragraph above.
Do you think the council will choose you?
I think I have a probable opportunity to be selected based upon my proven history of volunteerism and community involvement.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I believe I would be an asset to the city council because of my steady, even-keeled nature.
NOTE: City council applicant Ed Baca declined to respond to the questionnaire.
SEE RELATED STORY:
Who will the council pick? We interview the applicants
