VOTE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH
All the work of the mayor and city council needs to be visible to and shared with the citizens. This can be accomplished by hosting live video stream of city council meetings on the city’s Facebook page; posting on social media to inform the public of upcoming projects and issues, so community members are not surprised by any action or decisions made by the servants at city hall; and not waiting for the citizens to find out what is going on, but be proactive about sharing.
A mayor should keep the city council accountable to the citizens and direct the council’s work openly and ethically. |
The deliberations of the mayor and city council should not be made without substantial effort in researching and seeking out the opinions and feedback of the citizens. Feedback from community members should be received and acknowledged in anyway presented, including, but not limited to: public forums, electronic submissions, verbal communications, or written documents. It is unethical for the public servants of any city to make decisions that benefit a select few without consideration of, or respect for, the other members of the public. Careful considerations should be made to avoid even the appearance of a decision that benefits one or all members of city hall exclusively.
It is also important for local government officials to adapt and make reasonable accommodations for citizens who may not be able to fully participate in or benefit from the services and opportunities of the city because of disability or special needs. |
Revenue, resources, and property acquired by and/or donated to the city inherently belong to the residents of that same city and should be handled and respected as such. Any taxes, bonds, or levies on the public ought to be strictly budgeted to carefully reflect the needs and desired services of the community. Personal use of the city’s resources--including time--by any official or employee, is unlawful. Any and all resources should be handled intentionally and frugally for the growth, progress, and benefit of the city as a whole. This is best accomplished by creating and following clear and well designed short and long term plans.
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ABOUT TRAVISTravis Brown has claimed Rexburg as his home for nearly eight years. Originally from Canada, he chose to attend school in Rexburg at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Having experienced poverty as a child, being the oldest of his eight siblings, and losing his mother when he was ten, Travis learned the true value of hard work and resilience. These acquired traits enabled him to pay his way through a two-year LDS mission in Las Vegas, Nevada. Through that same natural dedication and solid focus on responsibility, he has worked his own way through college as a full-time building supervisor at BYU-Idaho where he studies part-time. It was here that he met his wife, and after struggling with infertility, welcomed their baby girl, Adeline, into their family. Travis Brown has been a trusted employee and leader wherever he has gone, including his full-time job on campus. Travis and his wife, Abegeal, have been the managers of the Rexburg Farmers Market during the summer season for multiple years, and have plans to continue running the market for the foreseeable future. The friends they have made here are considered family and they plan to remain in Rexburg for as long as possible, having felt incredible support and care from the loving community here.
Travis seeks to give back to the community as much as possible, having already been an involved and informed voter for the county since he first arrived to Rexburg. He and his wife volunteer for and support programs designed to assist those in need, ranging from families who need some extra help — such as the EBT system at the Farmers Market — to supporting community programs such as the animal shelter. Being a young father, as well as an involved community member, Travis is able to relate to many of the different groups in Rexburg. And even if he can’t directly relate, he loves to hear other people’s opinions and learn from their knowledge and life experiences. More of Travis and Abegeal’s story and experience with the Farmers Market can be heard on their BYU-I Radio interview as well as their interview on the Rexburg Hustle Podcast from earlier this year. |