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Q and A with the mayoral candidates Questions and answers with local mayoral candidate John Moore

John Moore

John Moore

News: What is your biggest strength as a leader?

Moore: "My biggest asset as leader is my experience of being a leader. I've been a police chief, I've been a city council person (and) I've actually worked in almost all phases of city government. I have worked in private industry as well. I think all of those things combined make me a strong leader."

News: As Mayor, how will you shape the future of Williams?

Moore: "As a mayor I would try to shape the future of Williams as the people who live in Williams want it shaped. I think sometimes, in government, we tend to live in a glass house and we work it the way we think the people want and we haven't really got out and talked with the people and worked with the people and seen what it is they want. After all, we're elected by the people to represent the people. I think that's the way our community should focus in the future. We may need a certain kind of growth and another kind of growth we don't need. I think the citizens should have a lot of input into that."

News: How has your campaign been going? What have you been up to?

Moore: "That's a tough question to answer. During the last campaign, the primary, the votes were counted and I thought I won and a lot of other people thought I won. It turns out I've got to do this campaign again. I'm doing it with a certain amount of respect and trying to keep a very clean, positive, upbeat campaign. I've been talking to folks and getting their feel and seeing what they might want for the community. I've got to emphasize, it's the people who live here, it's their community that we represent. That's basically what I've been doing."

News: What are the issues out there? What are people asking you about?

Moore: "Some of the issues that are facing Williams, as I move through the community, water is an issue. Water has been an issue and will always continue to be an issue. No matter who the mayor is, they will have to work toward that goal - to make sure that we've got enough water to support our community as it grows, or even if it doesn't grow, we've got to make sure that we've got enough water in place. My thought is that we have to have the water in place and be pumping it through the pipes before we make any big decisions about any major growth. It's kind of a shame to jump out there and talk about the water we're going to have and maybe we won't have it. We drilled the wells and we felt we were going to get all that water, only to find out, and this was back years ago, that there was a mistake made and we drilled them in the wrong place. Now we're not going to get as much water out of them in that area as we thought we would. Water is an issue. Of course, when I campaigned and talked with people in the community, I guess the biggest thing they ask me about is the last election, how come we're having to do it again. I think that is a concern and an issue right now. I talked to some people who feel like they shouldn't even vote, because their vote doesn't count and I would just say to the people, go vote, make sure your vote counts. One vote can make a lot of difference."

News: How would you lead the community and council?

Moore: "I would lead the community and council by example. I'm a worker. I get out and talk to the folks. You can see me every day of every week of every month and every year talking to some citizen about something that concerns the city. I really like to get out and see what's going on around the town, not only in the business district, but in the neighborhoods. The council I would lead the same way. I would ask for the council's input. I think sometimes, having been a council member for the last several years, it seems to me that we sometimes get things handed to us and we make decisions too quickly. I think the council should be well informed, as the community should be well informed on things much in advance and give us time to study and actually talk to the community to find out what they want. Communication is a big part of running our city government and I think sometimes, as a whole, we are missing that. I would like to see the council agendas printed in the newspaper weekly. I would like to see it posted at more locations than at city hall, where the people, if they have a concern about what's on the council's agenda that particular night, they can come and deal with that. That's how I would lead the council, by example, and I would also make sure that the council, as well as the citizens, were well informed on what direction we were going."

News: What is the biggest difference between you and your opponent?

Moore: "I think some differences are that I am community oriented. I like to be out with the people, talking to them more. I think that's one big difference. My opponent has done a reasonably good job. I think he's gone out of the city a lot. Sometimes it's necessary that you go out of the city and be involved with other things in the state, but for the most part, I believe the mayor should be around the community as much as he can and be taking information and advice from the people."


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