Five people compete for two River Heights council seats
September 11th, 2009 Posted in OpinionRIVER HEIGHTS — This year, two seats must be filled to complete the River Heights City Council and five are working toward the position. After the primary elections on Tuesday, Sept. 15, one candidate will be eliminated leaving the rest an open shot at one of the two council seats. The candidates are of all ages with a broad range of talents and knowledge.
One of the five candidates running is 18-year-old Skyler Tidwell, River Heights’ native and USU student. He has big plans for himself which include becoming the governor of Texas and one day president of the United States. As the governor of Texas, Tidwell said he will make a more profound impact on the country because the state has a large population and area. He was senior class president of Mountain Crest High School from 2008 to 2009.
“Being a member of the city council just seemed like the next step to me so that I can reach my goal,” Tidwell said. “I was really impacted by 9-11 and I decided that I wanted to make a difference. I knew everything about the war in Iraq and what President Bush was doing.”
Two incumbent members of River Heights’ City Council, Kathryn Hadfield and Douglas L. Clausen, are running for a second term. Clausen is a retired veteran who said that he would like to stay on the council in hopes of finishing what he already started. Some of these things include carrying out the construction of new roadways and giving River Heights’ their own cemetery which is currently joined with the Providence cemetery.
Kathryn Hadfield has been on the River Heights’ city council for two years because she took the seat of a former councilmember who resigned. She currently serves as director of a children’s choir and works part-time for her husband. Hadfield said she will do what it takes to keep the city financially stable. She said she would like to see land set aside for commercial development.
Retired veteran Richard Okelberry is the father of three children and alumnus of USU. He said he would like to see more volunteering in the community and has constructed an up and running website to create more organization and connection in River Heights. To see his website visit www.richardokelberry.com.
The last candidate is 75-year-old Keith C. Tilley, former shrimp fishing business owner. He said that he support limiting government and controlling the government’s budget. It was uncertain whether he would make it onto the ballot because there was a mix-up in paperwork while he was out of town. It was straightened out and Tilley will be on the ballot this election.
River Heights residents will vote in the City Office Building located on 520 S. 500 East.
Tags: election, primary, River Heights
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