LeBaronLogic

Let the Steel Days (Celebration) Begin

Well, there is no cannon blast and a sunrise flag ceremony (as in decades past), but American Fork (Ut) Steel Days 2008 starts tonight in earnest with the official opening and then a performance at the AFHS by the American Fork Symphony at 7p sans the American Fork Amphitheater at Quail Hollow (because of threatening weather). Please check out some of the activities. Go to www.afsteeldays.com. (As well as a map for locations). Look for the following to be big hits for 2008 Steel Days:

• Picnic in the Park at Art Dye Park (Thurs eve): This seems to get bigger and better each year (fourth yr now). The outdoor movie is "Horton Hears a Who" a cute movie thats FREE as are most of the events.
• Battle of the Bands and Skate Tournament (Fri evening): Heart pounding tunes from garage and other bands are sure to be good as well as the twists and turns at the skate park.
• The Big Show and Fireworks (Sat eve), The Return (Beatles impersonators), Eclipse and the Super Crescent Band, which is the best. And the fireworks. . . no better in the state (including the "Arena of Heat") to the south of us.

Hope to see you at some of the events. If you see a volunteer in a white Tee Shirt, express your appreciation. They put in hours and hours in our behalf and have been very responsible fiscally in putting together a great celebration for friends, neighbors and families. In fact this committee begins work for the following year as the last of the fireworks wink at the crowd. Click on the Sponsor link and be a patron of those establishments found on the list who have given so graciously as to give our city budget some help.

A Day at the Legislature

Today was the annual "Local Officials Day at the Legislature". Also attending were Youth City Councils from throughout the state, including American Fork. The following is a brief schedule with comments. . .

• 6:15am ... meet at AF high School and depart for Capitol, (can't believe I woke up at 5:20)?
• 7:00....... arrive at Capitol (brrr, 12 degrees), register, network with other youth councils. Also met Rep. Dougall who visited with us. Mingled and nibbbled at the continental breakfast in the Gold Room.
• 7:30........ Orientation at the steps below the Supreme Court Chambers. The Capitol restoration is awe inspiring. The engineering and isolation stabilization making the building able to sway in an earthquake is amazing for the 92 year old building. See www.utahstatecapitol.utah.gov.
• 8:00....... Observed Legislative Committee Meetings. The hallways and rotunda were busy with Legislators, young people, staffers and local elected officials.
• 9:00....... Observed Senate and House Proceedings. The youth were also able to visit with Rep. Sumsion during this time. Some went on a brief tour of the Capitol.
• 10:30 depart from Capitol to the Grand America Hotel
• 11am.......City Youth Council Meeting with Political cartoonist, Pat Bagley. Pat shared some of his famous cartoons lampooning utah culture, politics and a smattering of national matters with stories. Shortly before the end of the session, youth council members visited with and had pictures with Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert.
• 12:15 ..... Luncheon joined with Mayor Thompson with legislators, local elected officials and other youth councils. Governor Huntsman addressed the gathering encouraging the youth to be involved in the process of community and state government. The keynote "speaker" was President George W. Bush (ok, Steve Bridges, the hilarious impersonator). See www.stevebridges.com for some comic relief. Among many of his zingers were; " Ya know I take alot of criticism. Bob Woodward wrote a book entitled "State of Denial". Come on, we all know Denial is not a state (pause); its a river (pause) in Africa (pause)."
• 2p.........Return home to American Fork with added information, appreciation and contacts regarding this great state and community we live in.

Now a Word(s) from Ann Coulter . . .

I admit it, I am kind of an Ann Coulter fan. She calls it like she sees it, albeit in a sometimes insulting, abrasive offensive way. But politics is a nasty business and she doesn't let the liberals get away with anything. Her latest article "The Elephant in the Room" at www.AnnCoulter.com is worth a read.

A New American Fork Youth City Council

Tuesday evening the City Council appointed a new Youth City Council, then had a nice and brief swearing in ceremony. These are outstanding young people who will add another thread to our wonderful community fabric. Those appointed were:

• Evan Nuttall, Youth Mayor
• Mikayla Orton, Youth Council Member and Youth Mayor Pro Tem
• Steven Mitsuda, Youth Council Member
• Christie Bruening, Youth Council Member
• Richard Flores, Youth Council Member
• Bethany Richards, Youth Council Member
• Kaylee Bromley, Youth Council Recorder

Also appointed as Youth Council Advisors were Eric and Julie Nuttall.

The American Fork Youth City Council will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 5:30pm to 6:45pm at City Hall. Their first meeting is this coming Tuesday January 15th. The public, both youth and adults are welcome. Our Youth Council will be joining other Youth City Council's from across the state in the Local Officials Day at the Legislature event on January 23rd. See this Download local20officials.pdf . The young people are now studying their charge and mission and seeking interested youth to serve on various committees. Download youth_councilcommitteel_application1.doc

"Hear 'Ye, Hear 'Ye" . . . AF Youth City Council to fill Vacancies

I know, I know, this blog has been on a slight hiatus. Work, City business, more work and basketball (I have been asked to be on the American Fork High School boys basketball coaching staff  as the assistant sophomore coach). For now, we are recruiting American Fork City Youth Council Members. The American Fork City Youth Council consists of a highly energetic group of high school students wanting to make a difference in their community. Youth council members develop their agenda pursuant to a city charter and implement their own activities being assisted by youth council advisor(s). The Youth Council in the past has been involved with several activities such as Youth Forums, Leadership Conferences, countless service projects such as Sub for Santa, Steel Days youth dance, Fun Run, Easter Egg Hunt, providing meals for election judges, senior citizen projects and others; as well as City Council presentations, fund raising events, and leadership conference presentations.

The Youth City Council (YCC) focuses on four major areas: 1-Serving the community; 2-Youth leadership development; 3-Local government experience and 4-Increased communication between youth and adults. Youth council members consist of a youth mayor, 5 youth city council members including a youth mayor pro-tem, youth city recorder, and other citycounterparts and youth committee chairs and members as needed who serve for a six month period.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the American Fork City Youth Council, please contact City Councilman, Shirl LeBaron, 756-4771, as well as Download youth_council_application1.doc . Follow the instructions at the bottom of the application. Meetings are held the 1st & 3rd Thursday at 6 pm in the American Fork City Council Chambers beginning the third week in January. Everyone is welcome to attend Youth Council meetings.

Final AF Election Results

The final tally is in, as approved tonight by the American Fork Canvass Board (City Council). Provisional and absentee ballots have all been counted. Below are the results compared to unofficial returns from Election Night:

                                            Unofficial               Official             

Sherry Kramer ..... 3,493 - 26.34% .... 3,764 - 26.35%

Shirl LeBaron ....... 3,413 - 25.74% .... 3,678 - 25.75%

Rick Storrs ............ 3,417 - 25.75% .... 3,654 - 25.58%

Jason Porter............. 2,852 - 21.51% .... 3,093 - 21.66%

There are some interesting precinct by precinct results and other analyses, which will be discussed in an upcoming post. For now, numbers alone will have to suffice, darn.

 

   

Any Steel Days Vice Chairs Out There?

While this is an unusual Help Needed ad, why not? Our city is in need of a Steel Days Vice Chair to serve on the City Celebration Committee immediately. Responsibilities would include but not limited to the following:

• Assist Randy Morris, Chair, 2008 Steel Days
• Serve as Steel Days Chair for the 2009 Celebration
• Serve as Past Chair/Adviser to the 2010 Steel Days Chair and Committee
• Assist with the Big Show
• Accept assignments with any Steel Days activity
• Help with budgeting and coordinating events

The duties also include monthly mtgs continuing to bi-weekly and weekly as dates get closer. This is a volunteer position, however there are complimentary carnival and big show tickets as well as the satisfaction and good will in serving your community. Please send a letter of interest and qualifications to shirl@afcity.net.

"America Our Country" - AF Speech Contest

Congratulations to those award winners in the recent Mary Kawakami Youth Scholarship Speech Contest. The Patriotic theme was inspiring but even more so with the uplifting speeches by our area youth. The first place $1,000 winner was Jeff Rodeback, 2nd place $600 - Tate Arnold, and third place $400 winners were Erika Brown and Donna Williams.

American Fork Election Results

The election returns from todays voting has recently been posted. The following are the results with all 15 precincts reporting. For more detailed reporting click here for the Utah County website and the unofficial returns.

American Fork City Council (4 year terms):

Sherry Kramer 3,493 - 26.34%

Shirl LeBaron 3,413 - 25.74%

Ricky Storrs 3,417 - 25.77%

Jason Porter 2,852 - 21.51%

2 year term:

Dale Gunther 4,555 - 98.59%

There was a 45.84% voter turnout which is outstanding. I congratulate those who ran. I am appreciative of the support and confidence of the citizens in returning me to a second term. I believe the electorate of our city voted for experience and feels the city is on track and making good progress in quality of life areas; i.e. water, infrastructure, parks and recreation and the arts. I will continue to work for the good of the city and for you my neighbors and fellow citizens. 

Campaign Downloads

Too busy to catch my city council re-election campaign literature? You have come to the one-stop-place. (All downloads are virus free and protected by copyright). You may use them for personal use or for distribution for my campaign.

1. Download endorsement_ad.pdf (This first newspaper ad/primacy).
2. Download palm_card_front_07.pdf  (flyer).
3. Download 2nd_page_palm_card_07.pdf (back side of flyer).
4. Download look_paper_ad.pdf (last newspaper ad re. accomplishments/recency) and
5. Download hourglass_postcard.pdf  (postcard mailer).

Happy reading. Don't forget to vote on Tuesday November 6. Polls are open from 7am to 8pm.

Background Checks for Council Candidates?

David Lifferth, councilman in our neighboring city of Eagle Mountain has suggested future council candidates in that city be subjected to a background check. Click here for the dnews article. Hmmm, is that a good idea? No doubt Eagle Mountain has had its share of problems with elected officials. The problem with a background check (notwithstanding constitutional grounds), is it would have a chilling effect on willing and able standout citizens who would like to serve but unwilling for good reason to be subject to 1. Arrest and conviction records, 2. Division of Child and Family Services data bank, 3. credit report and 4. neighbor interviews. (All of which would have to be made public). Wheww, and we thought our dog ocassionally slipping out the fenced back yard and pooping on the neighbors lawn is a problem. This is certainly a case of the ends not justifying the means. Hey, what if someone has a minor skeleton in the closet, i.e. a compulsive shopper former spouse who ran the household finances into the ground or __________________________ (fill in the blank). Here is what a "background check" would reveal about me......

• Watches "Law and Order" too much, but doesn't miss Fred Thompson.
• Splurges occasionally on Rocky Road ice cream.
• Is obsessed with golf, basketball, traveling and city politics (not necessarily in that order).
• Likes recreational gardening (interpreted means anything less than an hour or is something the Mrs. or children can do).
• Once lived in Price and Moab (beautiful part of our state; southern carbon county of course is where the first moon landing was filmed).
• Sometimes runs out in pj bottoms to retrieve the paper from the driveway.
• OK, I did have a parking ticket or 2 at BYU (was late for a class I was teaching, couldn't find a parking place except in Lindon and gasp, parked in A parking). Was lucky I wasn't towed.

David Rodeback's Endorsement

Yet another important endorsement for the re-election campaign to the city council of your author, to wit:

"This year I'm voting for experience -- and bloggers, where I can find them. This means Councilman Shirl LeBaron."

--David Rodeback, www.localcommentary.com

Brevity is great. David as many of you know is an avid blogger. I value his insight into the multi-faceted dynamics of municipal governing. Besides that, I am vying for being his SMFCC "Second most favorite City Councilor", of course my colleague Councilmember Heidi Rodeback being his first. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."  Now how is that . . . having your own post for an endorsement. Disclaimer: The quote above is a tit-for-tat, due to a Seinfeldism referred to in a recent posting on David's blog and has nothing to do with the subject matter of the original quote.

Sneak Preview

The following is my submission to the Daily Herald for their "Election Supplement" to be delivered on November 1 with their regular paper.

Q. How would you address the needs of your community?

A. As an American Fork City Councilman, I listen to all citizens who are willing to speak and all third parties that intend to impact the life of American Fork’s citizens. I study the issues in detail. I interface
with experts and others experienced in the topic at hand. I consult
with other members of the City Council, the Mayor, and City Staff who are
close to the issue. In the end, it is my duty to weigh both sides of
the discussion and make decisions in the best interests of all members of
the community specifically and for American Fork City in general. Some
decisions, such as water management, transportation plans, zoning,
public safety and other infrastructure and capital projects are far
reaching, and will impact generations of citizens. These decisions typically
have a serious impact on City and family budgets.  I will continue in
a second term to spend the time necessary to make difficult but
necessary decisions, in helping make American Fork City . . . even better, as
a place to live, work and play in. Please visit my campaign website at
www.votelebaron.com and my blog at www.lebaronlogic.com.

Q. How do you differ from the other candidates?

A. All but one candidate, including myself, are currently serving on the
City Council. These Councilmembers running to retain a seat on the
council are hard working, dedicated individuals who have a good grasp of the
issues and are committed to improving an already wonderful city.
Personally, I have experience having served for 4 years as a council member
assigned to the Finance Committee, Recreation and Fitness Center, Fox
Hollow Golf Course and the Steel Days Committee. I have also served as
Mayor Pro – Tem the last 2 years. This experience and skill set, will
allow a seamless transition into another 4 year term. Further, I have
served on the library Board, Planning Commission and on the Utah League
of Cities and Town’s Legislative Policy Committee. I also serve on
the Utah County Boundary Commission.  I am a proven, seasoned local
public servant, but yet I am not so entrenched as to not consider new and
fresh ideas and approaches.
I am the only lawyer currently serving or running. It is extremely
beneficial to have an additional legal perspective represented during
Council Meetings, work sessions, dialogues, negotiations, and in the overall
decision making process.

Early Voting Starts Today

Beginning today, American Fork voters can go to the AF Library at 64 S.100 E. from 3 to 7pm until Nov 1 or noon - 5pm on Nov 2.  Early Voters can also go to the Xango office at Thanksgiving Pt or to the Utah County Clerks office and cast an early ballot. The dates for registration have passed. The General Election is in 2 weeks on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.

City Endorsements

The following are my endorsements for the upcoming American Fork Municipal Election on Tuesday November 6, 2007:

Four year terms (4 candidates, 3 open seats)

1. Sherry Kramer,  "I have had the pleasure of serving with Councilmember Kramer. Sherry works hard studying the issues, making site visits and is serious about her responsibilities. She also enjoys her service to the community. In addition, Sherry considers others views before casting her votes. We are well served as a city with Sherry on the council. She should stay."
2. Shirl LeBaron,  See www.votelebaron.com. Click the tab for third party endorsements. I know, a self-endorsement is really exciting isn't it?
3. Ricky Storrs, "Ricky's relationships with city staff and citizens gives rise to institutional knowledge that is unsurpassed. Councilman Storrs' involvment in nearly every city department and committee gives him information and experience vital to the Council. His affable personality also is a plus. Re-elect Rick to the Council."

Two year term (1 opening to fill the remaining term of the late Jimmy Cates):

1. Dale Gunther, "Dale's availability, energy and financial acumen is a valuable asset to our community. His vast life experiences, business involvements and personal relationships have been used to further the interests and standing of our city. Councilman Gunther's skills should be further used in his service on the City Council.Vote to keep Dale on the Council."