Provo City Council

District #3

Dear Voter,

This year’s elections are as important as they are strange!  Having a front-row seat on the Council, I believe I know the issues as well as anyone in Provo.  I would like to share my perspective about the candidates in District #5.

Having recently attended a conference in Salt Lake City with the Utah League of Cities and Towns we received some counsel from Craig Call, a former Provo City Council Member and State Ombudsmen.  He strongly encouraged cities to elect some younger members to serve.  He stated that while we still want life experience and the wisdom that comes with it, we would be better served if we had some fresh ideas from those who still have most of the future before them.

That’s what I see in Sterling Beck. His “new” outside perspective is very critical at this time in Provo.  We are at the threshold of some dynamic growth in Provo with our Bus Rapid Transit System, Transit Oriented Development, corridor building and trying to build our tax base.  Sterling brings “vision” to the table. The rest of us, more mature Council Members, will only benefit from thinking “out of the box”.  Sterling will bring important dialogue to critical decisions that will affect us for years to come.  Sterling is well educated, and comes from a family who has served well and who understands the processes of government.

He is eager to learn, listen, and to serve.

Let me also add this, his opponent is a friend of mine.  She has served our city well.  I appreciate her work and dedication.  I heartily applaud her for it.  However, I personally believe that we shouldn’t have career politicians in city government–two terms are enough and four terms are just too many.  The people in my district tell me they would like to see a change.  They would like to see more money and effort spent in their neighborhoods and not in just the downtown neighborhoods.

Please remember to vote on November 3^rd!

Midge Johnson

The Facts:

• The Provo city council has made it difficult for parents to keep a home in the family name or allow their children to take care of the property. (See: Deseret News)
• An unfortunate number of Provo residents have faced a decline in home value due to decisions that change the allowable use of their homes even after a legal precedent has been established. (See: Deseret News)
• The state itself has had to intervene when the city crosses the line in disregarding property rights. (See: Deseret News)

The Sterling Solution

As a Provo homeowner, I understand the need to protect the rights of our property holders. I will work to restore property rights while strengthening the core of our neighborhoods.

The Facts:

• The city council’s irresponsible decisions have wasted tax dollars without benefitting the public. The iProvo fiasco alone lost over $8 million. (See: Reason Foundation)
• Taxes are often raised in order to compensate for wasteful projects. In June of 2007, the council voted to add $1.2 million of sales tax revenues to the city’s budget in order to compensate for the iProvo debt. (See: Daily Herald)
• Utahans are already facing the possibility of a $100 million increase in statewide taxes (See: Deseret News)

The Sterling Solution

My position on taxes is simple: I will never support a tax increase unless the people call for one through their votes. By cutting waste and staying away from irresponsible ventures, we can save millions of dollars and balance the budget.

It’s time to focus on the services that truly strengthen our community: parks, schools, police officers, and firemen. Let’s use our money to help our neighborhoods rather than waste it competing with private businesses.

I know that Provo’s citizens work hard for their money. I will always work to protect their tax dollars.

The Facts:

• The Provo City Council started high speed internet venture iProvo without a vote from the people. (See: Daily Herald)
• iProvo lost the city money every year and garnered national criticism. Over $8 million was wasted. (See: Reason Foundation)
• The council “sold” iProvo to a for-profit company, agreeing to take back responsibility for the service and the massive $39.6 million dollar bond if the company was unsuccessful. (See: Salt Lake Tribune)
• The for-profit company hasn’t been able to make their $207,505.55 monthly payments since last November. (See: Daily Herald)
• If the dwindling surety deposit runs out, Provo will be responsible for the $39.6 million dollar bond. (See: Salt Lake Tribune)

The Sterling Solution

The iProvo fiasco is such a serious issue because it took much-needed funds away from our neighborhoods.

As a council member, I’ll work to grow Provo by encouraging private enterprise rather than spending your tax dollars on speculative ventures. I will never vote in favor of a wasteful, irresponsible venture like iProvo. I will always remember to protect the taxpayer’s money and respect the proper role of government.

If the city is forced to take back iProvo and its accompanying debt, I will work to see that a more secure sale is made.  I will fight to make sure that Provo is protected from the millions of dollars that may be lost if the city remains responsible for payments and continues to re-negotiate the terms of the transfer.

Council members have a responsibility to listen to all of their constituents and serve as a voice for the neighborhoods that select them.

The Facts:

• Residents rarely have up-to-date information about council decisions that will affect their neighborhood. Currently, residents need to attend a lengthy city council meeting or wait approximately two weeks after the meeting to access the minutes. Often, people miss the opportunity to share their opinion on the issues that matter to them. (See: Provo City)
• The previous council decided to fund iProvo, a high-speed internet venture, without a vote from the tax-payers. iProvo was a colossal failure and has already wasted more than $8 million. In 2008, the city sold it to private company Broadweave, promising to take it back if it failed. Now that Broadweave doesn’t have enough funds to make payments without drawing from their surety deposit, the people of Provo may have to take on the massive $39.6 million bond. (See: Salt Lake Tribune, Reason Foundation, Daily Herald)
• Council decisions often end in a stalemate when members fail to listen to all of their constituents. The previous council has had difficulty resolving the North Joaquin parking permit issue in a way that benefits long-term homeowners and renters because many were angered when the council made a plan before listening to both sides of the issue.  (See: Daily Herald)

The Sterling Solution

I recognize the opportunity and responsibility that district-wide elections hold. As a city council member, my door will be open to all residents of the district.  Homeowners, renters, long-term residents, and students will be welcomed.

I’ll also focus on transparency and provide my district with up-to-date reports on what the council is doing. Within two days after a city council meeting, I’ll post new information on a website accessible to everyone.

I understand that the council’s decisions have a real impact on the people of Provo and will avoid any major undertaking without getting the input of the residents.

It’s time for the city council to make downtown revitalization a priority, creating a new jobs and city revenue.

The Facts:

• A thriving downtown will benefit the entire city of Provo. Solutions for America explains: “…Research shows that a healthy and vibrant downtown boosts the economic health and quality of life in a community. Specifically, it creates jobs, incubates small businesses, reduces sprawl, protects property values, and increases the community’s options for goods and services. A healthy downtown is a symbol of community pride and history.” (See: Solutions for America)
• A single building cannot make a downtown area viable. The creation of a conference center or parking structure is not the “silver bullet” to downtown revitalization. Growth requires a plan and a concentrated effort. (See: Downtown Revitalization Myths)
• In many cities, tech companies are choosing to relocate downtown. They provide a business anchor for the area and their presence contributes to the success of nearby restaurants and retailers. (See: The Plain Dealer, Carleton University)

The Sterling Solution

Downtown is an important part of Provo’s character and heritage. My wife and I can often be found walking downtown, visiting at a local hamburger joint, browsing through the book stores, and sharing a gelato. As a council member, I’ll work to make the downtown experience even better for all of our residents.

As Provo becomes more attractive to tech companies and other businesses, many will choose to make downtown their home. The influx of people and money will contribute to the overall success of the area. I’ll work to make downtown bike-friendly, business-friendly, and family-friendly.

It’s time for the city council to focus on encouraging local business rather than competing with the private market.

The Facts:

• Utah in general is becoming an increasingly popular place for the tech industry. The state currently has over 5,000 technology companies employing 66,000 people.  (See: Deseret News)
• Even during the recession, Utah’s tech companies have continued to grow. Between September 2007 and September 2008, marketing consulting grew 19.5% and information services grew a whopping 41.2%. (See: Utah Tech Council)
• Technology professionals contribute to the local economy. The overall Utah tech industry payroll is over $3.3 billion. The average tech company salary is 58% higher than Utah’s average annual non-agricultural wage. (See: Deseret News)
• According to Novell CEO Ron Hovsepian, tech companies are choosing Utah because of our “fantastic engineers that are innovative leaders, workforce with skills beyond technical ability, good balance of the right type of workers with professionalism and values, and low-cost data center facilities.” (See: Utah Tech Council)
• Instead of attracting these tech companies to Provo, previous councils made the mistake of undertaking a speculative tech venture themselves. The iProvo internet fiasco ended up wasting over $8 million. (See: Reason Foundation).

The Sterling Solution
Tech businesses are bringing their money to Utah and we want to be sure that many of them make Provo home.

If we want to make sure companies choose Provo, we need to stop driving them away with overbearing legislation. I have over a decade of experience working with the tech industry and know how to make this happen. As a council member, I’ll work to jumpstart our local economy by supporting programs and policies that make it easy for businesses to start or relocate here. I’ll also use my influence to ensure that the council remembers the proper role of government, focusing on supporting businesses rather than entering into ventures that are better left to private enterprise.

Bringing tech companies to Provo will benefit everyone. We’ll see more jobs and more business tax revenue for city services. The incoming funds can be used to support local schools, parks, and downtown revitalization.