Rob's blog

I am a product of Utah. Born in Provo, I have lived most of my life going back and forth between Utah and Salt Lake counties for family, school or work. In 1997, I moved to West Jordan to raise my family and put down roots. I had previously graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Family Science, had been a small business owner, and a computer and network administrator for several companies. I have learned what businesses need to survive and work well in an increasingly competitive world. I also became involved in the world of politics.

I hadn't meant to do it. I just kind of fell into it. When I moved to West Jordan, I had no concept of what a city council did other than make city rules and run for office every few years for who knows what reason. At that time, West Jordan was in the newspapers a lot as a laughingstock in the Salt Lake Valley for employees getting fired, quitting, one half of the city council suing the other half, people getting thrown out of meetings, and stuff that I found embarassing as a resident. I had never been involved in politics, and other than voting, had never really concerned myself with being civic-minded. I decided to see for myself what was really going on at city hall and what we as citizens could do about it.

After a tumultuous election where the former mayor was ousted (we seem to have a hard time keeping mayors for two terms in our city) and where several council members did not run for re-election, a new group came on board and I started to pay attention to what kinds of decisions they were making as a council. Some I agreed with. Some I took exception to. We always KNOW we know better looking from the outside than the people sitting up there, as any fool can see, right? After attending council meetings for about two years and reporting on what was happening there to people who had joined together in an e-mail list, I decided that maybe I could do as good a job if the public wanted to give me the chance to prove myself. I threw my hat in the ring in 2003 and after working a hard campaign, managed to win the city council seat for District 2 in West Jordan.

It has been almost 4 years now since that time. I have voted on hundreds of issues, read probably several tens of thousands of pages of information, been through hundreds of e-mails and phone calls from constituents, and found that things always look easier from the other side! I don't know why everyone who gets into politics gets into it. Some surely do it for the power and the prestige. I am in it solely because I see West Jordan poised to pass the crest of the hill and climb to be one of the premier cities in the Western United States (if we play our cards right), stay the same or go backwards depending on who is in control of the government. It all depends on what the people want.

Since this is a bio, I will also tell you a little of my personal interests. I am currently a graduate student in Political Science at the University of Utah working on a mid-life career change (not to be a career politician - which I abhor, but to use understanding of what politics is for and how to accomplish and advise those who make decisions to do so with greater purpose and understanding). My family consists of my wife, Joylynn, and four wonderful children of whom I am all very proud. I enjoy working with computers, making new friends and personal contacts, writing, reading (history and politics are favorites), playing games with my kids, watching movies, trying to learn how to be a good dutch oven cook, and giving church and community service.

The following are articles that I have kept when I have been published saying or doing something in the newspaper. Some are positive and some are not - I leave it to the reader to make their own determinations regarding my judgement. It is all part of the public record as a councilman and my constituents deserve to know the whole story when deciding whether to send me back to represent them for a second term. I want the public to know my side of the story as well that can relate some "additional details" that sometimes get left out on the newspaper editor's desk. I hope you find these articles helpful and would be happy to discuss my part and positions in any of them if you would like to contact me.

How well have I represented the city council to the community at large? There are some things that I am proud to have dedicated my time to doing. There are other things that I would have done differently if I had the chance for do-over's. But either way, it is important as people consider who to vote for to know how I have acted in my capacity as an elected official. Well, here it is in black and white (and sometimes in color, if I can find a good graphic for it!)

My record as a city councilman both defines and describes what I stand for in service to my community. The issues that I have voted on and what I feel is most important to us as a city and as communities is the question each voter must ask themself when standing in the voting booth.

To make it easier for my constituents to check my record, I am posting articles here on things I have or have not supported as a councilman and positions I have taken on issues affecting our city. The issues I hope you will agree need to be discussed and dealt with to address the quality of life we enjoy as citizens of this great country. Also, I am happy to discuss any vote I have made and why I made it to the best of my ability for any constituent who asks for it, but for many of them, the votes will speak for themselves. Each person has to decide how they would or wouldn't have voted in mine or someone else's shoes, but before being too critical, try examining the same information I have been provided when making my decisions. I've kept lots of it - electronic and in paper form, so if you want info and I can provide it, I'm happy to share.