VOTERS' GUIDE: Providence mayoral contest heats up over full-time job question

By Emil Dixon

November 7, 2005 | PROVIDENCE -- Tensions are rising as residents prepare for the Tuesday election by discussing key issues with their favored mayoral candidate, either face-to-face with Clint Thompson or via Internet blog with Randy Simmons.

Simmons said the two different campaigning approaches summarize the differences in his and Thompson's philosophies. He said Thompson wants to "save Providence from the future," while he wants to use technology to help him run the city.

Clarifying his approach, Thompson said he has personally met nearly 750 of the 3,900 registered voters in Providence. "I want to meet the rest so I can hear their concerns and unify the city behind me," he said, "As far as I'm concerned this town belongs to the citizens... I want to take suggestions."

Thompson said he believes those who know him will vote for him, but that he needs to find a way to reach everyone so they can discuss the "real issues concerning the city." He said instead of addressing citizen's concerns Simmons has used the full-time vs. part-time mayor debate as a smokescreen.

He said he once told residents that the city needed four of City Administrator and Recorder Skarlet Bankhead. As a result, he said, citizens have felt that he may want to hire additional city employees. Thompson said this isn't the case. "I need to be more efficient, not hire more people," he said.

This ties into Thompson's overall philosophy as a candidate. He said as a full-time mayor he would be able to review the city's ongoing projects and find ways to be able to finish them. He said the city has 21 unresolved issues that in some instances have lasted more than eight years.

"If I went down there I could probably find a couple hundred items that are behind time," he said, "I'm interested in seeing that the work gets done."

Thompson said the city needs to update its water and development plans. He said his interest and concern in this matter has led to Simmons accusing him of being against growth, but said that's not the case at all. He said he is "for justifiable, controlled growth." He said he will determine whether growth meets the criteria by forming citizen committees who will research and address the concerns of both Providence residents and potential developers.

Simmons said he believes Thompson's hesitance toward growth will lead to Providence missing out on potential tax opportunities. He said he wants to attract businesses while still maintaining the integrity of the city.

Simmons said he believes all city operations, including developing and zoning, can be managed by a part-time mayor. He said no mayor in Cache Valley is full-time except Logan.

"I have a hard time imagining it to be a full-time position," he said, "but if I have to I will take a sabbatical and work full time on it until everything gets straightened out."

Simmons said the campaign contribution report he submitted to the city has been attacked because it has contributions from developers. He acknowledges the contributions but said this doesn't indicate that they are bribes. "Many are my friends ... I'm not going to turn them down," he said.

Simmons said anyone who thinks the contributions are bribes has a "complete lack of understanding of the process." He said he can't vote on the council and he isn't on the Planning and Zoning Commission so he can't make decisions on whether or not to allow developers to build.

Simmons said he thinks Thompson is running a great campaign, but doesn't feel the City Council will give him the funding he wants to become a full-time mayor.

Thompson said he doesn't know what the council's decision will be, but said he thinks they "will be hard pressed" not to vote in his favor if he wins the election. While he won't give a definitive answer to whether or not he will remain in office if not given a full-time salary he said he has never quit anything in his life and is adamant that he "won't leave the city stranded."

NW
MS