CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 6
BIO
Name: Roger James McConkie
Age: 45
Occupation: Attorney, shareholder at Prince Yeates & Geldzahler since 1989
Previous political experience: None
QUESTIONS
• Why do you want to represent District 6 on the Salt Lake City Council?
Salt Lake City is facing many challenges in the coming decade, including the City Creek development, maintaining the character of our neighborhoods, protecting open spaces, public safety and air-quality issues. Dealing with these matters will be even more complicated because of the lack of respect for opposing views and opinions that seemed to characterize this past administration's approach to government. Providing leadership in dealing with these challenges requires someone with the experience and history of resolving conflicts and issues effectively while under pressure.
I am running for public office because I can help restore civility to Salt Lake City government. Throughout my career as an attorney, I have found common ground between opposing parties. I will do the same as your City Council representative by embracing diversity and encouraging a spirit of tolerance and cooperation, all for the good of District 6 and Salt Lake City.
• What do you see as the largest issue for District 6, and how do you propose to tackle it?
Maintaining the character of our neighborhoods in District 6 is very important to me. District 6 is composed of very unique neighborhoods like 15th and 15th, Yalecrest, Wasatch Hollow, Orchard Heights, Oak Hills, St. Mary's, Sunnyside, Sugar House, Bonneville Hills, University Village, H Rock and Indian Hills. Each neighborhood has a unique history and feel. We need to preserve the architectural integrity of the area while allowing for modest expansion within the existing overlay.
I support a coordinated effort involving our community councils, residents, land-use professionals and city government to develop zoning requirements that make sense for our neighborhoods. At the same time, I recognize and respect the rights of property owners and the need to allow for families to be able to reasonably remodel their homes to stay in our neighborhoods.
• Salt Lake City voters will decide whether to approve bonding for up to $192 million to pay for new public safety facilities. Do you support this bond, and why or why not?
I support the public safety facilities bond. The bond is an absolute necessity, especially in light of the shutdown of the 911 system for a time on Oct. 17 due to a leaky roof.
Our neighborhoods in District 6 are quite safe but can and should be safer. Residents need the new east-side public safety center. I believe further avenues should be explored regarding building east of the fault line (1300 East) to ensure our safety now and in the event of an earthquake. This new facility will bring police closer to our neighborhoods, decrease the response time for law enforcement to be on the scene of a crime and will be a great crime deterrent.
The bond is expensive and will require a sacrifice from home- and business-owners alike. We can either pay a lot now or pay even more later. Unlike JT (Martin), I am not willing to ask the police and firefighters to choose which parts of the bond to forgo because of cost.
• Plans for the LDS Church's City Creek Center development call for a skybridge across Main Street to connect shopping areas on the second level of the outdoor mall. The City Council amended the city's master plan to allow for such projects to be considered. What is your opinion of skybridges in general and specifically for the City Creek project? If elected, will you support the skybridge being built?
Yes. I support the building of the City Creek Center's skybridge. While I appreciate the concerns that the skybridge may discourage foot traffic on ground streets, I believe that it is the best solution in light of the existence of the TRAX line on Main Street. I believe that more efforts could be made to encourage pedestrian traffic along each side of the TRAX corridor, including more entryways into the shopping areas on the Main Street level, which might encourage the creation of more outdoor cafes along Main Street. I personally feel that it is unfortunate that undue media attention has been placed on the skybridge at the expense of all of the other wonderful and exceptional components of the City Creek project. I believe the City Council's approach to this issue was thoughtful, thorough and well reasoned.
• The City Creek Center development is seen as a significant step toward the revitalization of downtown Salt Lake City. What other steps need to be taken to achieve that goal?
Revitalization of downtown Salt Lake City is very important to me. Development is the most visible example of revitalization but is not the only component. We need to continue to support public transportation, work to create a more walkable city by connecting walkways and bike paths from downtown to Liberty Park and to the Jordan River. We need to support the theatres and the arts and learning by strengthening Salt Lake City's connections with the University of Utah. As a city councilman, I will support and work to promote all revitalization efforts, not just newer and bigger developments.
• A Dan Jones & Associates survey commissioned by Salt Lake City showed that 78 percent of city residents say Pioneer Park should be renovated to become a more welcoming place. How do you propose to accomplish that?
Pioneer Park is not the problem; it is only a symptom of the problem. The problem is that we have failed to focus enough attention on the needs of the people who frequent Pioneer Park. The safety of Pioneer Park will not change simply by bulldozing the park and creating a new space. Efforts have already been made to change the atmosphere by adding new playground equipment, park benches and picnic tables. The solution is more complicated. My experience as a board member of the Valley Mental Health Foundation helped me to understand the need to find temporary housing for the homeless and the mentally ill while they are in treatment and transition.
As a city councilman, I will work to increase support for changing the city's budget priorities to better address affordable housing, municipal drug courts, temporary shelters, and to strengthen the city's relationships with nonprofit organizations already providing services, like Crossroads Urban Center, St. Vincent DePaul, Valley Mental Health and the LDS Church.
• Why should voters choose you over your opponent to represent District 6 on the Salt Lake City Council?
On the surface, there does not seem to be a lot of difference between JT and me on issues facing District 6. The contrasts between us are profound.
I am an avid supporter of District 6's public schools. Growing up in District 6, I attended Bonneville Elementary, Clayton Junior High and East High. My children attend Beacon Heights, Hillside Middle and Highland High. I know that our public schools are doing a great job helping our children learn and develop academic and social skills which will help them become responsible citizens in our community. My support of our public schools is apparent, because I am the only candidate in District 6 whose children attend public school.
We also have a fundamental disagreement about what a member of the City Council does. As a city councilman, I understand that I will represent District 6 but will make decisions affecting the entire city, including issues involving crime, poverty, transportation and the revitalization of downtown. I work across the street from the City and County Building. Does my working downtown make me any less able to effectively represent District 6? Absolutely not. If anything, this experience will make me more effective in representing District 6 while making decisions on behalf of Salt Lake City, because my experience will not be geographically narrow.
I am running for the Salt Lake City Council to represent you and your neighbors in District 6. I will provide you with honest public service. I have no axe to grind, no lobbyist, corporate interests or developers I am beholden to, just my genuine interest in restoring civility to public service and Salt Lake City. I would appreciate your support and your vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6.