SF.Elections.JonMiller

Jon Miller Candidate for City Council, District 4 For the purposes of this forum, sponsored by Voices of Santa Fe, candidates were requested to focus on the three core issues they believe are facing Santa Fe. Further core issues and additional comments sent by the candidate on their background, motivation, etc. are found after the section on Core Issues. Core issues Here are my main priorities so far: OUR CHILDREN Santa Fe has an embarrassing school drop-out rate, over 35%! I’ll work closely with school boards, youth organizations, parents, teachers and children to create a Youth Renaissance in our city. Let’s protect this, our MOST valuable resource! OUR WATER State Engineer Tom Turney has repeatedly chastised the current council for stonewalling on this most important issue. We must act quickly to reinstate the residential conservation rebate system eliminated by the current council. We also need to constantly seek out new sources of water. I will work tirelessly until the water we need is in the pipes. OUR BUS SYSTEM When we as a community elected to create the Santa Fe Trails system, we agreed that it would be largely a subsidized activity. Currently, that subsidy rests at 96-97% of the total cost. (Fiscal year ending June 2001: Expenses topped $4.5 million, of which fares accounted for less than $165,000.) So I’d like to see them be free of charge. This would reduce traffic-clog and the resultant air pollution. It would help promote a “Leave your car at the hotel” program for tourists. Best of all, it would reduce the cost of living for those who choose to ride it to and from work. For all these benefits, subsidizing 100% instead of the 96-97% we already do sounds like money well spent! Further Comments by the Candidate Additional issue addressed by Jon Miller: YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT—The most common complaint I’ve heard going door to door in this campaign, (besides the abysmal billing practices of the water company!) is that it’s hard to get our current councilors to return a simple phone call. In an effort to offer you better representation, if elected I’ll hold a District 4, town-hall style meeting no less than once per month. I’ll bring the coffee, you just bring your input on anything you’d like to discuss. I want to serve as your direct link to City Hall! Background Information My name is Jon Miller and I’m an independent candidate for City Council, District 4. I believe it’s time for decisive leadership in Santa Fe—leadership that understands the issues that are important to YOU! I’d very much appreciate the opportunity to serve you in that way, starting now: please call or e-mail me with your concerns regarding District 4 or the city as a whole, (home and work: 474-4900, e-mail: ianfolk@qwest.net) The main reason I’m running for City Council is the need for consensus-seekers in local politics. I’m proud to be raising my family in Santa Fe, but it frustrates me (and makes me worry for my son, not just a little) when I see the divisive attitude taken by our leaders. Among themselves it’s “us versus them”, between districts it’s “not in my back yard”, and with the county and other regional partners it’s downright bickering. I’d like to do my part to change that. I’m very experienced at seeking out the “win-win” possibilities. (It’s not difficult, once one comes to the life-changing realization that EVERY situation has them!) All it takes is open-minded leaders who are willing to put aside their differences and seek common ground solutions to the issues that affect all of us! I’m asking for your vote on March 5th. The fact that you’ve taken the time to access this site says your looking for the best possible representation in local government. If given the opportunity to serve you , I’ll always be available to listen to your concerns. Call or e-mail me. Attend my monthly district-wide meetings. Together, we can bring YOUR issues to the forefront of Santa Fe city government. A vote for Jon Miller for City Council is a vote to put city government back where it belongs—in the hands of the citizens of Santa Fe! We will continue to update our information on the candidates, and plan to sponsor additional dialog, and possibly interviews for this election. If you would like to assist in keeping these pages updated, organize candidate meetings, or have other ideas for supporting democracy in our local community, please contact The Global Dialog Project at valor@global-dialog.org