VOTERS'
GUIDE: Four candidates want to be mayor of Hyrum
By Sarah West
October 1, 2005 | HYRUM -- Four candidates
are seeking the office of Hyrum mayor.
"The greatest asset that Hyrum has is its people,"
said Gary Clawson, candidate for mayor. "The
people in Hyrum work together and I think they have
a lot of abilities."
He said his main goal would be to finish the library
that's been started. He said there's still some money
that needs to be raised for that to be accomplished.
Another goal Clawson said he has is for the city council.
"I think the main thing for Hyrum City Council is to
work together and be positive in whatever they're doing."
Clawson said he served on the city council for 12 years
and really enjoyed it. He said a number of people asked
him if he would consider serving again, this time for
mayor, which he took into consideration.
Candidate Dean Howard said, "Hyrum's been good
to me and I wanted to have the opportunity to give something
back. If I win I'll try and do that, and if I lose,
no hard feelings."
He said he believes the people in Hyrum pay their
taxes for their water and many other things and "they're
just about at their limits." He said taxes can never
be eliminated, but his goal would be to keep them from
increasing.
He said another hope of his for Hyrum is for an efficient
government. "We've had good efficient government in
the past, and I'd like to maintain that and if possible
make it even more efficient."
Curtiss Parkinson, candidate for mayor, said,
"Hyrum is a beautiful little place and it's growing
a little faster than many of us would like it to. But
I think if we use our heads and we're effective at it,
the growth can be as beautiful as we'd like it to be."
He said he'd like to bring more businesses into town
that will employ residents and hopefully those people
who move to Hyrum will want to stay.
Parkinson said about his concerns with Hyrum's growth,
"I decided if I'm ever going to do anything, it's now."
He said Hyrum has a "fantastic water system" but that
phase two of Hyrum's pressurized irrigation system needs
to be finished which will make it gravity fed rather
than pump fed.
Candidate Douglas Stipes said, "I feel it is
important to make sure that when you represent the city
that you represent all of the city, not just a neighborhood,
not just businesses, and not just the citizens who are
the loudest."
He stressed the importance of good communication between
the dty administration and the city council and he said
he hopes to improve on that by keeping the council better
informed so "they can do their jobs better and respond
to the citizens better.
Stipes said, "The mayor of a small but growing city
is at the helm. Through his work, leadership, and abilities
he can guide his city to safe waters or guide it into
a tempest." He said the influence a mayor has depends
on how they lead the council. "I do not want it to be
led away from what we have worked so hard for."
There will be two polling stations for the primary
election Oct. 4, one at the Hyrum city office, located
at 83 W. Main, and the other at the Senior Center located
at 695 E. Main.
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