Four candidates are vying for two seats on the Center City Council for the June 11 primary election.
Candidates include Troy Hatzenbihler, Michael Schutt, Adam Vaughn and Jody Wolf.
Each candidate was emailed the same set of questions from the Center Republican in which their answers could not exceed more than 1,750 words overall.
The candidates were given a strict deadline to turn their answers in before 5 p.m. May 24.
All four candidates responded to Center Republican’s emailed questions.
This is a last of a multi-part series that will be running between May 16 and May 30 leading up to the primary election.
Here are the responses from candidates in alphabetical order:
TROY HATZENBIHLER
Age: 57
Candidate for: Center City Council
Family: Significant other, Nicole, and together, they have four children and five grandchildren.
Extracurricular activities: Rebuilding old semi trucks, motorcycling and hobby farming.
Q: Why is it important for you to run for this position?
A: I wanted to help with some of the decision making in Center in hopes of building or town and community stronger.
Q: What do you want to accomplish in the first year if you are elected?
A: First year’s goals, get a handle on spending, tighten up budget, take a hard look at infrastructure and start a maintenance program for streets sidewalks.
Q: What do you feel are the top three issues that need to be addressed by the entity you are running for?
A: First, tighten up the budget. Take a serious look at areas that are costing tax payers’ money and work with council, citizens of Center to find solutions to some of problem areas to get them running smooth again.
Secondly, very serious look taken at the streets many of the yearly maintenance programs have been neglected and to get a plan in motion to start up regular maintenance programs soon.
Thirdly, work very hard on figuring out a way to get new business to start looking at Center as a place to invest in.
Q: If you get elected, how do you plan to commit time to this position outside of meetings?
A: Be active in the community be open to phone calls emails and the person to person discussions.
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: After 30 years of self employment and as a business owner, I have seen a lot of change and had to deal with and find solutions to work with and accept change or figure out a strategy to push back against some areas of change for the better of my business, my employees and personal. I’m not scared of change, but I will look at all avenues for the best interest of citizens and the city of Center in making those decisions.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like the community to know about you?
A: Center is my hometown, grew up here and live here. I had left for a short while but eventually returned. Thirty-plus years of driving truck nation-wide, and if ever asked where i was from the answer was always Center, North Dakota.
The more I get involved in the every day operations of Center and business side of Center the more I wanted to get involved.
Several areas need change, we can no accept the old motto (well thats how we’ve always done it).
If i get elected for Council, I will work hard to change our motto work hard with citizens, council and buisness to make some very needed changes.
MICHAEL SCHUTT
Age: Not given
Candidate for: Center City Council, incumbent
Family: I have been married to my wife Tammey, for over 24 years. I have six grown children, which have all been raised in Center, and eight grandchildren.
Extracurricular activities: I have been a current council member for the past eight years. I have lived in Center my entire life. My wife and myself started our business, T-M Tree Service, in 1998. We have run our business from Center since the beginning. My hobbies include riding motorcycle, hunting with my children and grandchildren, camping, ATV riding, and playing darts. Besides running my business, I have been busy in the community. My city portfolios included water, sewer, garbage, and the Lewis & Clark Development Group.
Q: Why is it important for you to run for this position?
A: My priorities if I’m reelected for another four years are to keep city finances accountable to the residents. Keep our streets, parks, and pool well maintained and safe.
Q: What do you want to accomplish in the first year if you are elected?
A:The people want Center to be a great place to work, live, and play and a great place to come home to. There does seem to be some lack of communication in city government and the residents of Center. A simple solution would be to initiate open and casual conversations which can lead to some great ideas and certainly a better working relationship; a relationship of respect and understanding. I truly believe that if people, even if they may disagree on issues, can come together, and find common ground to agree on, then progress can be made.
Q: What do you feel are the top three issues that need to be addressed by the entity you are running for?
A: N/A
Q: If you get elected, how do you plan to commit time to this position outside of meetings?
A: N/A
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: We will never agree on how to do everything, but we certainly can agree to have respectful conversations and an open mind. By owning and operating my own business, I am well aware of the need to operate within a budget. Some of the successful projects I was involved with while in office were the new sewer line project, lagoon rebuild project, and helped getting the Dollar General into City. I have volunteered my time and business services to local churches and the community.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like the community to know about you?
A: It has been a real honor to serve this community as a city council member for the last eight years. With your support, I look forward to serving another four years.
ADAM VAUGHN
Age: 38
Candidate for: Center City Council, challenger
Family: Wife, Cassaundra. We have four children together ages 11, 8, 6 and 3
Extracurricular activities: I like to fish with my family and use any opportunity to play games and sports with my kiddos. I am a member of the City Planning and Zoning committee.
Q: Why is it important for you to run for this position?
A: I am running because I want to be an approachable and strong voice for the community. I value the interests, opinions and challenges of the community. I feel I can best represent the communities’ interest on the city council.
Q: What do you want to accomplish in the first year if you are elected?
A:In my first year I want to acquire feedback from the community as to what their hopes and visions are for our community. Then begin to implement changes that best fit that vision. I want to be an effective and active listener for the community and implement changes that best correlate to that vision. I will also look into other similar cities for reference.
Q: What do you feel are the top three issues that need to be addressed by the entity you are running for?
A: 1) Ensure fiscal responsibility for everything, make sure everything is accounted for with no waste; 2) Create a preventative infrastructure maintenance plan and implement it immediately to ensure our infrastructure lasts as long as possible before replacement; 3) Ensure Transparency and accountability across the board.
Q: If you get elected, how do you plan to commit time to this position outside of meetings?
A: I will maintain an open-door policy for any community members that have concerns or opinions they want to voice. I will dedicate a certain number of hours per month depending on the tasks being done to research or do planning for the council.
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: I have a Passion to make this community the best it can be for my children to grow and succeed in, therefore I will do my best to make it better for every citizen of Center.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like the community to know about you?
A: Hypothetically speaking I cannot run my household in the red very long without the banker coming to take it. I believe that should also be the same way for any municipality or denomination of it as well. I do not want to take Anything away from our community whatsoever, in fact there should be more for people and especially children to do here. I want to ensure everything is still here for the community for generations to come. Everything can be accomplished through accountability, fiscal responsibility, and regular maintenance of our infrastructure.
JODY WOLF
Age: 49
Candidate for: Center City Council, challenger
Family: Significant other, Lacy Yunker, and our son Riley, who is a junior next year at Center High School. My family has lived in Center and Oliver County for many generations..
Extracurricular activities: Travel ,hunting ,fishing, former president of center angels. spending time with family and friends.
Q: Why is it important for you to run for this position?
A: I’m running for this position to provide transparency between the people of Center and the city. No more hearsay.
Q: What do you want to accomplish in the first year if you are elected?
A: Right out of the gate , I hope to clean up the mess we have with accountability from city employees and different boards. Nobody listens to learn anymore, they listen to argue.
Q: What do you feel are the top three issues that need to be addressed by the entity you are running for?
A: My top three issues are to bring city business up to date, repairing our streets and address lack of maintenance of everything from civic center to gutters.
Q: If you get elected, how do you plan to commit time to this position outside of meetings?
A: My time outside meetings will be spent evaluating needs of the city and addressing concerns from residents. My business is fully staffed, which leaves me available for needs that arise. I’ll be able to make sure things are getting done in a timely manner.
Q: Why should people vote for you?
A: It’s time for the residents to have a say where city funds go. I believe that change is good and that business needs to evolve.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like the community to know about you?
A: I believe theres a difference between friendship and business. Most can’t correlate between the both. I’ve owned businesses in town for years. I grew up here. Center residents used to work together. I hope to help get back to what this town had.
