Meet your candidates - Matt Troy - Candidate for Ogden City Council

Candidates' responses have not been edited.

1. What is your background, and how will it help you to serve this community?
 My background is in residential construction and facility maintenance. Currently I am a journeyman electrician. 

2. Describe your qualifications and experience for this office and explain your reasons for running. How would you be an asset?
   I am a life long Ogden resident, I was raised here. I have never held a public position, and believe my personal traits make me the perfect candidate for the people. Humble, approachable, credible, disciplined and compassionate.
   
3. What are the priority issues facing our community, and how would you address them if elected?
   Funding, infrastructure, and quality housing that is affordable.
   
4. What are the most important challenges facing our community, and how do you propose to address them?
   Revert to question 3.
   
5. How will you address housing issues?
   Explore new ways to attract quality home builders and investors to construct affordable long term housing.
   
6. How will you approach difficult issues and decision-making?
   Through critical thinking and having an open mind. There’s a whole council of elected officials, and we need to lean on one another to work through issues together for the better of Ogden. We all come from different background and that’s a huge advantage for critical thinking and problem solving.
   
7. How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?
   I plan to add more community outreach and get citizens involved with council meetings. Social media is an amazing, FREE, and effective tool that just isn’t being utilized to its max potential.
   
8. If elected, what three steps would you take to put our city on a firmer financial footing?
   I’m not sure it’s as easy as a 3 step process. But with any budget, there’s always ways to check wasteful spending and explore new means of revenue that don’t come off the backs of our community.
   
9. How well is our community meeting the needs of low-income residents, and what more, if anything, needs to be done?
   I feel low income housing is in a good spot. However I feel good quality food options with a better variety would also benefit. Getting good affordable groceries in town, means less money spent on gas and more tax revenue for the city.
   
10. Do you have any plans for how our community can further address the drug problems affecting not only our youth but also the opioid addictions among the senior population?
    A strong police presences is always key to fighting crime and drugs. I plan to work closely with RCPD to find better ways to support our law enforcement in the community. It is my understanding that RCPD more or less operates on a “get way you pay for” system, it is also my understanding, that years ago Ogden wished to be relieved of the add cost for more police presence. It is my plan to open up/source new funding so we can have that again.
    
11. How will you work to support a vibrant economy in our area?
    Support the businesses we have now and ensure they thrive.
    
12. How will you work to increase job opportunities for your constituents?
    It all starts with attracting more business in town, it’s tough with Ogden essentially being in a dead-end valley. This just means we need to look for business that don’t rely on consumer traffic to stay profitable.
    
13. How well is our community meeting the needs of seniors, and what more needs to be done?
    This is a topic I’m not sure where the needs are and aren’t being met. In any aspect of my role as a member of the city council I will always seek the opinions of our citizens to insure that most accurate representation of their needs is presented.
    
14. Our community is proud of our First Responders but there are issues with every community. What do you see as the most pressing issues with the police and fire departments?
    Lack of help. We have the some of the finest facilities and equipment in the state, we just need more great able bodied people to answer the call.
    
15. Anything else you would like our readers to know?
    If elected, I want all the Ogden citizens to know, their voice will always be heard. I encourage them to also remember every word and promise made by elected officials and be sure they’re making good on those. There’s no way to know what our community needs based on our own assumptions. I’m merely a servant with integrity and the time to devote to our city. And I will always put Ogden and its people first. This has and always will be my HOME.