Eagle Mountain Friends and Neighbors,

My name is Charlotte Ducos. I have been a resident of Eagle Mountain for 9 years. I attended my first Eagle Mountain City Council meeting shortly after we purchased our property in 1998, and over a year before I moved into my home here.  I have remained involved throughout my years here in Eagle Mountain and I feel that I have a firm finger on the political pulse of Eagle Mountain.  I voted early this year.  I voted for Heather Jackson as Mayor.  I want you to know why.

First and foremost, I voted for Heather because she has done a remarkable job as Mayor for these last two years, and on the City Council before that.  Heather has done what she promised, and more. You can see a list of the accomplishments of her administration on her campaign website—but it will not be a full list, there is much more that time and space and attention span do not allow to be listed.  Heather took the helm at a very politically unstable time in our City’s history and has turned the City around.  We have entered an unprecedented time of stability and progress—and Heather has been a big part of that.  She has not done it alone.  She has had the help of her staff and an excellent City Council—but I do not believe that this detracts from her leadership at all.  Heather is a team builder and she has accomplished what she has because she has created a climate in her administration where people work together to accomplish great things.  There is still much to be done, and Heather and those she works with know that.  They are committed to continue the progress we have enjoyed under her leadership.

Why not change?  It is hard for many to resist a label that says “New and Improved.”  I have met Mr. Bolli and found him to be a friendly and charismatic individual.  Mr. Bolli knows where I stand on this Mayoral race, so my words here will not be a surprise to him. I do not mean disrespect to him or his campaign team, but there are some things I want to make clear to those who may be new to Eagle Mountain or unfamiliar with the way our City is set up or functioning.  Mr. Bolli has expressed many “new” ideas.  I have to admit that many of them sound wonderful and seem to have exciting possibilities.   However, it is important to understand that most of the ideas he is putting forth are not new.  Much of what he is suggesting is already in place, already functioning, or not necessary or appropriate.

Let me be more specific. 

On the subject of transportation, those who have been involved politically know that we already have a Community Transportation Plan in place.  It is a part of the City’s Master Development Plan and UDOT has already been made aware of it, and it is already reviewed and updated as new developments require it.  Heather is in constant contact with UDOT and other County and State entities and already hosted a Transportation Summit last year to bring to the forefront transportation needs and issues in Eagle Mountain and the surrounding area.  Her efforts since that Summit have continued and increased.  Many of our recent improvements in transportation are a direct result of Heather and her administration’s efforts, as well as the efforts of the current City Council members and many concerned residents.

On the subject of Economic Development, those who have been involved politically know that it was Heather who re-organized and appointed the currently functioning Economic Development Board.  She is the one who appointed Mr. Bolli to that Board.  If that Board has been unsuccessful in accomplishing its aims, Mr. Bolli is a part of that failure. If it has been successful, he is part of the credit as well, but it was Heather and her administration that created and oversees that Board that is already functioning.  In addition, Heather and her administration have made great efforts in attracting new businesses.  Incentive Programs for new businesses are not a new idea, they are already in place and were recently updated.  There are already staff procedures and responsibilities set up to follow up on leads and developments, and the City staff and administration already aggressively market and represent our City at every opportunity. Heather works regularly with business owners who are looking at locating in Eagle Mountain.  These proceedings are confidential and take time, but they continue to happen because Heather and her staff continue to earn the respect and confidence of those businesses. 

On the subject of Community Activism, Mr. Bolli has suggested that the residents of the City need to be handed back their power and access. I am here to tell you that that power and access already lies in the hands of the people.  I have attended countless City Council Meetings. I have voiced my concerns on a great many issues.  I have always been heard.  I have not always had the outcome that I wanted, but I have always been heard. It is a misconception to believe that because you did not get your way, you were not heard.  The Mayor and Council have to consider many different aspects of an issue before making a decision.  Resident input is a very important aspect, but it is not the only one.  I have been at meetings when the Mayor has addressed a resident’s concerns as voiced during Public Comment time. I have seen her direct staff, there and then, to look into the issue and report back to her.  Community Councils may be a great thing, but Eagle Mountain does not need a Community Council to hear resident concerns.  That is a specific function of the City Council, and Public Comment time is already provided for that purpose. A Community Council may provide a forum for discussion, but the forum for action is the City Council and the Mayor—our ELECTED officials. They are responsive to the residents because they are elected by them.  The power is in our hands, we exercise it every time we vote, and then we take our issues to those we elect in the proper forum as set up by City statute and ordinance.  Most meetings pass with limited or no public comment, not because there was not time set aside for it, but because nobody came to give it.  The power is in the proper hands, we need to empower OURSELVES to USE it!

On the subject of Parks and Recreation, no mayor has been a bigger force for the bettering of our parks and open spaces.  Trails and parks that have long been dreamed about have been initiated and some completed by Heather Jackson and her administration.  More are planned and/or under construction.  A Parks Board already exists and functions, and it was Heather who created it. 

On the subject of Fiscal responsibility, our City is in better shape fiscally than most right now.  Every City is tightening budgets, and ours is no exception.  Belt tightening is already happening and Heather is committed to fiscal responsibility. 

 On the subject of Full versus Part-time Mayor, I believe that there really is no choice.  Eagle Mountain needs a full time Mayor.  We are still a very young City.  We need our most visible elected official to be visible.  Much of the progress we have made over the last couple years, has been made because our Mayor was in the office or out doing business during business hours. Our Mayor was able to put full attention on the needs and priorities of the City and was available to meet with officials from UDOT and other State and Local agencies, during business hours, with her full attention, when a part time mayor would have been at work elsewhere.  We may be one of two cities with a full-time Mayor, but I think I would not be alone in my assessment that Eagle Mountain is not like most other Cities!  I believe that we will only continue to progress at the rate we are progressing if we continue to elect a full-time Mayor to represent our interests.

One final issue that has come to my attention, that is of great concern to me, is that of campaign financing.  I learned recently that campaign finance disclosures show that a very large percentage of Mr. Bolli’s financial backing can be traced to a single source.   This is to the tune of several thousand dollars.  This source happens to be a very influential developer in this City, and I see this as problematic.  Business owners do not make donations like that without some certainty that they will benefit from that donation.  While the donations may be legal, I feel that they present an undue influence that is problematic and of great concern to me.  We have come a long way in this City, I do not wish to move in the wrong direction.

And there you have it.  It all comes down to the simple fact that our City is better off now than it was two years ago, and is still moving forward.  Improvements have been made in every aspect of the City.  I am all for change when change is warranted, but this is a really great time to “Stay the Course.”  For all of the reasons listed above, and more,  I urge you to vote for Heather Jackson for Mayor on November 3!

Charlotte Ducos, Eagle Mountain Resident