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Providence election preview: USU department head challenges mayor By
Lindsey Blau PROVIDENCE -- Residents of Providence came to the courthouse last week to meet the candidates vying for two City Council slots and the mayor's seat. The mayoral race Alma Leonhardt, the mayor, wants to continue to hold that position. Leonhardt was born and raised in Providence. He has served as mayor for the past four years. He and the council have been able to establish new programs along with Salt Lake City to create an environment of learning and fun for the whole city, he said. Leonhardt said roads have been a great concern and as mayor, he was able to work with the council and replace some of them. In the past couple of years there have been extreme water concerns. Since the problems occurred, a tank that holds four and a half million gallons of water was built. Leonhardt promises that if he is elected mayor he will continue to serve the city to the best of his ability and provide solutions to help population control and water rights as long as they continue to be major issues. Randy Simmons, who is running for mayor against Leonhardt, spent his teen-age years in Providence. He moved to Oregon and Virginia only to discover that he missed Providence. His family moved back. Simmons is head of the political science department at Utah State University. He has served on the City Council for six years. He feels he will be best for the position because of his experience -- teaching and working for four years a member of the Utah League of Cities and Towns legislative policy committee and as a member of the League's board of directors. Simmons believes in finding solutions to the unprecedented growth of the city. "Many residents worry that open spaces are disappearing, that we will not have enough water, and that traffic congestion is appearing," he said. "The biggest challenge we face is to find ways to accommodate growth while protecting the features of Providence we love." Simmons believes the city should respect property rights, and that city officials should work together to find the best solution for problems that arise by following the ordinances of the city. He also believes that the city can come up with creative ways to solve expansion problems. In his closing statement Simmons said, "As a citizen of Providence City, Utah, you will always know where I stand. You might not necessarily agree with me, but you will know where I stand and know that I want to serve this city as best I can." Two-year council seat Deon Johnson is running for a two-year term on the council. He is a City Council member and because of his experience feels he will be best for the job. As part of his present position, Johnson has supervised the zoning of the city. He feels that he knows everyone well enough that they can come to him with their concerns and he will bring them up to his fellow council members. He has been in the construction business for more than 40 years. From personal experience, Johnson said, he knows what goes on behind the scenes when dealing with construction. Through his experience with the council, Johnson has learned how to deal with the concerns of citizens and promises he will to continue to try to make everyone happy. "We can improve what we have going," Johnson said. "We can control growth as long as we can maintain it. If we work together, I promise that we can keep the best things that Providence has to offer, available to everyone in the community." Dean W. Herd, director of placement educational publishing at USU, is also running for the two-year council seat. He has been involved with sales representation, divisional management, regional management for Western USA, and has been a managing partner within educational publishing. Herd and his wife left Utah and missed it so badly that they had to return, he said. The expansion of Logan in the years they were gone caused them to look elsewhere for a home. They both fell in love with Providence because of its "magical charm." Herd said he is interested in maintaining the spiritual dignity of Providence. "I'm seeing us maintaining what we have in direct proportion to our growth," Herd said. "Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-growth. I am dedicated to a program that will prevent our wonderful city from growing faster than its britches. "When I read the Constitution, I still have an overwhelming feeling when I read the first couple of lines of the Preamble: We the People," Herd said. "What is We the People? It is not just the mayor, or an individual council member, it is all of us working together to resolve situation -- the key word is 'together.' I will make sure that I will make the job easier for the community and a lot more fun if we work together. You may not agree with me and I may not agree with you, but as long as we communicate, everything will turn out in the end. If you elect me I will make sure that our situation is We the People." Larry Allen, a Providence resident for two years, is in the running for the two-year council seat. Allen is a CPA and has a master's degree in business administration. Having lived in several large cities, he was finally able to enjoy the accommodating atmosphere of Providence, he said. Allen believes that in order to preserve the atmosphere he dearly loves, the city needs to provide good planning and organization to work toward innovative solutions. "We can't stop growth, but we can control it," Allen said. "I have seen what has happened to the infrastructure of a big city. Believe me, living in San Francisco, California, for while made me realize that the infrastructure of a town needs to be maintained. We need to make sure this city doesn't get too crowded. If we work together and communicate with all parties, I know we can work toward innovative solutions to maintain fiscal accountability and responsibility while still maintaining expected and necessary city services." Four-year council seat Joe Campbell, the incumbent councilman, is running for another four-year term. Campbell has been a Providence resident his whole life and knows almost everyone in the city, he said. During his last term he worked with other council members to find the best solutions for the city as a whole. He has experience in dealing with the current water issues that continue to inhibit the city. His focus has been water control. "Every year there is a concern about water," Campbell said. "This past year was really dry. Because of concern it has caused us to think about building a secondary water supply. I promise that if you elect me, I will make sure that there will be something to fall back on when you turn your faucet on, and nothing comes out." Campbell wants to make sure the city does what it can to provide for each individual citizen. He said he understands the rising need for population control and the development of the city, understands the rights of the people and will make sure that all of their needs are met if the situation permits Vic Saunders, who was reared in Providence, is also running for the four-year council seat. Saunders' experience includes radio and television broadcasting and Utah Farm Bureau public relations. He believes strongly in planning for the future of the community. He knows there will be growth and with the proper planning, he said, and he knows the city can work together in an understanding of the citizens needs and wants. Saunders wants a safe environment, with a resolution of current water and street issues, busy streets, transportation concerns and economic development. He is willing to work with the citizens to ensure the proper resolution for everyone. "Let's keep the open space Providence city has, but let's allow it to expand as well," Saunders said in his flier. "As long as we work together, we can accomplish these goals. So, let's work together to build the Providence of the future today. Let's do the right things today for a better tomorrow."
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