Melissa Johnson
for
West Jordan City Mayor
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More than Campaign Promises, look at what Melissa has done for West Jordan...
Voted against the 28% property tax increase, the telecommunications tax and the energy tax increase.
Fought for fair division of school district assets and opposed the 40% school district tax increase.
Worked with city committees, volunteer groups, local scout troops, schools, and businesses.
Congressman Jason Chaffetz
"Melissa Johnson has a demonstrated commitment to fiscal restraint. Her voting record speaks for itself. In the years I have known her, I have seen her reject tax increases, oppose new spending, and take a stand against an excessive compensation package for the previous city manager. I have worked personally with Melissa from the earliest stages of my Congressional campaign. I found her to be articulate, bright, and dedicated to the people she serves. I would be honored to continue to work with her to represent the interests of West Jordan residents."
I have served on the West Jordan City Council for the past four years. During that time I have been pleased to represent you at City Council meetings, County Council meetings, transportation and growth summits, and to the State Legislature. I was elected Mayor Pro Tem in 2007, and I was appointed to be a member of the Jordan School District Transition Team in 2008.
I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Utah and completed mediation training from Utah Dispute Resolution.
I currently work as a mediator, helping people reach solutions to a broad range of problems and avoid litigation. I have also worked as the Operations Manager for a GE Capital company, and have owned and operated a small business in West Jordan.
I have always valued service to the community and have spent the past 20 years volunteering my time and efforts to make a positive difference to our city. I have worked in 5 different schools both as a classroom volunteer and member of the PTA. I have worked for scouting organizations, non-profit community groups, and the Red Cross. I currently volunteer my time with the Salt Lake Community Action Program helping people who have been financially hurt by the recession and are in danger of losing their housing. I was fortunate to be involved with the Wild West Jordan playground project. I served on two planning committees and helped build the project from the ground up.
I know the value of working together to build and strengthen each other. As Mayor of West Jordan, I will work hard to keep our community strong.
The West Jordan Chamber of Commerce , the Region 6 PTA, and the West Jordan Citizens Committee are co-hosting a "Meet the Candidates" event .
Thursday, September 10, 2009
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
West Jordan City Hall
8000 S. Redwood Rd.
3rd floor Council Chambers
Candidates for Mayor and City Council will be there to meet with you and answer questions. I look forward to seeing you there!
Fiscal
Responsibility
It is easy to identify the challenges we face as a community: a weak economy and the threat of increased taxes, gridlock on our roads, and half-built parks are a few of the issues that are being discussed during this election season. We need a Mayor who can find workable solutions that make sense.
Last year, the roof started leaking at one of the Fire Stations. Black mold forced the firefighters to move to a different building. While other council members talked about tearing down the building and debated how large the new Fire Station should be, I voted to clean up the mess and fix the roof.
We need more common sense in government. As Mayor of West Jordan, I will focus on our common values and prioritize the things that are most important to our community.
Lower Taxes
Times are hard for all of us. Our economy is forcing us to tighten our belts and be careful of how we spend our money. Some of us have lost jobs, or had to take a pay cut. Many are on a fixed income. Now is not the time for a tax increase. I am the only member of the current City Council who has voted against every proposed tax increase. I will continue to look for ways to cut our spending, and increase our efficiency.
As our city grows, we will need to increase our revenues to pay for services. Those increases do not need to come from your pocket. We can increase our city's revenues by encouraging business growth in every sector. By partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to support new business and expand existing businesses, we can weather the current economic storm. Sales tax growth will help keep property taxes low.
Transportation
As our city grows, transportation becomes a challenge that must be addressed. As a member of the City Council, transportation was one of my priorities. As Mayor, it will continue to be a priority. There are three areas that need attention as we plan for improvements to our current roads: building new roads, maintaining our existing roads, and increasing public transportation.
We can work closely with our county, state, and federal representatives to secure funding for West Jordan road projects. We can partner with UTA and UDOT to make the most of our transportation dollars.
Building New Roads
As anyone who lives west of Bangerter Highway can tell you, we need new roads in West Jordan. Many of the traffic problems we have today are a result of having too few roads connecting the western half of our city. There are several new roads in the planning stages. Mountain View Corridor, 5600 West, and expansions to 7800 South and 9000 South are all on the 30-year plan for West Jordan roads, but we cant wait that long. We need to focus on getting these road projects started as soon as possible.
Road Maintenance
If you look around your neighborhood this summer, you will probably see City crews repairing pot holes and resurfacing roads. Unfortunately, there is not enough money to fix all the road problems throughout the city.
Raising taxes is not the solution!
West Jordan gets money for road repairs from the State Gas Tax, a tax you pay on every gallon of gas you buy. Right now, a large part of the money that should be spent on West Jordan roads is paying for roads in other parts of the state. We need to change that. I am working with several State Legislators on a plan to help West Jordan get more money to pay for roads, without increasing our taxes.
Increasing Public Transportation
Construction has already started on the new TRAX line that will run through West Jordan. UTA is also planning to extend the Bus Rapid Transit line into our city. These are good additions and will help with our traffic problems. We need to pay careful attention to future opportunities for public transportation and make sure that our views are represented to UDOT. As Mayor, I will take an active roll in promoting improvements to our transportation system.
Public Safety
We need to feel safe in our community. We need to feel comfortable walking through our neighborhoods and letting our children play outside.
The primary function of local government is to provide for the physical safety of its citizens. Public safety was the only area not affected by the recent budget cuts. I approved hiring additional police officers to patrol our city. I voted to replace an emergency vehicle that kept breaking down, endangering the lives of our officers and citizens. I am very conservative when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars, but we cannot compromise the safety of our families.
Public safety will continue to be my top priority. Having well-equipped and highly trained Police and Fire Departments insure that you will have help in an emergency.
Parks
Parks and nature trails are an important part of any community, giving us a place to relax and unwind from the stresses of our busy lives. We have parks scattered throughout the city that are used on a daily basis for picnics, sporting practice, or just a place for the neighbors to gather and watch their children play.
Some parks, however, need more attention than they have been getting. We have older parks that have been neglected and newer parks still waiting to be built. The current design plan for our parks is almost a decade old and needs to be updated. Money is available for building new parks, or adding amenities to existing parks, we just need a plan of action to bring everything together.
With careful management of existing revenue, we can build new parks, make improvements to parks that do not meet the needs of the neighborhood, and still have money to buy land for future parks - without raising taxes.
Fiscal Responsibility
Every candidate will say that they are fiscally responsible. To me, this means carefully managing the city's budget and providing first for essential city services.
I consistently vote against unnecessary expenses. One example is the proposal earlier this year to build a new fire station. The roof at one West Jordan fire station started to leak and toxic black mold was found growing inside. Several council members favored a proposal to spend $3.9 million to demolish the fire station and build an entirely new, and much larger, facility. I spoke strongly against this proposal and voted instead to repair the damage and replace the roof, a total cost of $37,000. A new fire station would have been nice, but it was not necessary.
As Mayor I will continue to exercise caution and restraint with your money.
- Roads
- Maintenance
- TRAX / UTA
Questions
I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with many citizens of West Jordan during the past few months. As a community we have many of the same concerns. We have similar values, and we want the same things from the people who represent us.
I am always happy to answer questions you may have about the challenges we face as a city, and the direction we should take to meet those challenges. I have listed my response to some of the questions I am asked most often.
Why are you running for Mayor?
There is still a lot of work to be done. During the past four years, as a member of the City Council, I have worked toward improving our city and providing residents with more access to local government. As Mayor, I will continue to make government accountable to the citizens.
We need to focus our efforts on shared values and common goals. We need to keep property taxes low by setting priorities and postponing projects that do not meet an immediate need.
We need to partner with the State, the County, and the Jordan School District to make the best possible use of our tax dollars.
West Jordan is the fourth largest city in the Utah. It is time for us to take a larger role in shaping the future.
What are your goals?
What is your background in community involvement?
When is the election?
The general election will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
Why should I vote for you?
I have experience and a proven track record. I am the only member of the Council who has voted against every tax increase. I have a good working relationship with all four of the State Representatives from West Jordan and I have experience lobbying the Legislature. I have worked closely with members of the Jordan District Board of Education and can keep open lines of communication between every level of government.
My professional responsibilities allow me to have complete flexibility with my schedule. I can be available to meet with residents, businesses, or Legislators during morning, afternoon, or evening hours. I know the level of involvement needed for our Mayor, and can commit my time and efforts to serve our community.
I have the time and experience to do the job right.
Who else supports you?
"Melissa Johnson has a demonstrated commitment to fiscal restraint. Her voting record speaks for itself. In the years I have known her, I have seen her reject tax increases, oppose new spending, and take a stand against an excessive compensation package for the previous city manager. I have worked personally with Melissa from the earliest
stages of my Congressional campaign. I found her to be articulate, bright, and dedicated to the people she serves. I would be honored to continue to work with her to represent the interests of West Jordan residents." - Congressman Jason Chaffetz
Salt Lake Tribune -
* Melissa is not endorsed by any council member who voted for the 28% property tax increase.
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_13579695
How can I help?
• A campaign donation of any amount will help with the cost of printing signs and flyers to mail to voters. A $25 donation will cover the cost of 10 signs.
• Place my campaign sign in front of your West Jordan home or business.
• Hand out flyers, or other campaign materials around your neighborhood.
• Join the list of individuals and businesses supporting me and endorsing my campaign.
• If you live in West Jordan, VOTE for me on November 3, 2009 and encourage your friends and neighbors to also vote for me.
If you are able to help in any way, you can contact me by calling (801) 718-2728, sending an email to johnson.melissak_gmail.com, or writing to:
Campaign to Elect Melissa Johnson
5155 W. Wood Shade Ct.
West Jordan, UT 84081
Why are you
running?
What are your
Goals?
What is your
background?
When is the
election?
Why should I
vote for you?
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Email: johnson.melissak_gmail.com
Phone: 801-718-2728
