Harrisville 2017 Municipal Elections are coming up! Please review the list of candidates carefully and consider your options before voting in November.
Michelle Tait: Running for Mayor
Tait has lived in Harrisville for 23 years and raised 4 children. She has been very active in her community including helping with Heritage days alongside her family for many years. She served on the City Council for 2 terms and also finished a year of another person’s term for a total of 9 years on the City Council. During this time, she was either helping or in charge of Heritage Days. She was also responsible for Little Miss Harrisville for many years. Tait delivers mail and teaches new carriers at an Academy in SLC. Tait has helped with park development and was part of the decision for implementing the splash pad. Tait says, “I feel I have skills and passion for my community and will do my best for Harrisville City!”
Gary Robinson: Running for Mayor
Robinson has served on the Harrisville City Council from 2004-2008 and has served since 2016. He has lived in Harrisville for 39 years. He graduated from BYU in geography and has lived or worked in Harrisville since 1973. He recently retired from FJM/Big West Oil after 37 years as a financial analyst/accountant.
Robinson’s vision for Harrisville, under his leadership, would involve “Valving its current assets and recourses.” He says as Harrisville City grows the cost per citizen should go down. “We need to live within our means. Taxes do not need to be raised. We need to keep citizens better informed of the issues.”
He also says, “If your neighbor has a messy yard maybe you can help them.”
Austin Tracy: Running for 4-year Council Seat
Tracy says, “I believe that it is important to give back to the community and I live by this thought…. I think one of the most rewarding things a person can do is encourage our youth and show them what they can do to make their community a better place.”
Tracy feels it is important to have family activities in our community such as recreational sports and community celebrations like Heritage Days and the annual Farmer’s Market.
Tracy filled a mid-term seat on the City Council in September 2016 and has thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I am a very motivated person who is not afraid to tackle a challenge. I think that each person in the community can make a difference if they are willing to speak out for what they believe in.”
Jeff Pearce: Running for a 4-year Council Seat
Currently serving on the City Council and the North View Fire Board, Pearce, also previously served on the Planning Commission as chair and vice chair. He has been involved in the city for 10 years and he says, “I am very committed to the future of Harrisville. I feel my experience and training in city government is an asset to the community.”
Pearce says he feels we have a great city with opportunities to expand in the retail business which will, in turn, increase the financial stability of the city and ease tax burdens. “We need to tighten our belts, trim wasted spending and be mindful of our citizen’s money.”
Pearce is also in favor of continuing the recreational sports in the city.
Grover Wilhelmsen: Running for 2-year Council Seat
Also, a long-time citizen of Harrisville, Wilhelmsen has lived here for 37 years. His qualifications for running include: 8 years as a city councilman for Harrisville and 4 yards as a board member for the North View Fire District. Wilhelmsen says, “In my experience on city council I feel that representing our citizen, city personnel, and our profession al series in the city is the best way of meeting the needs of our citizens and our city.”
He also adds, “Having a City Council that has the needs of our citizens as a high priority is important. We are fortunate to have a dedicated staff that works very hard at maintained g area city infrastructure, parks and recreation, police and fire/ambulance services.” He feels in order to maintain that quality there needs to be careful and creative budgeting and planning.
Kevin Shakespeare: Running for a 2-year Council Seat
Shakespeare says, “I feel I have many life experiences that would make me fit to serve the people of Harrisville. I have several years of experience in management which have helped me gain organizational skills, problem solving as well as extensive people skills.”
He also adds, “My prime reason for running is that I moved to Harrisville a little over a year ago, and I love the community and I would love to have the privilege of serving it with my conservative values.”
Clark Beecher: Running for a 4-year Council Seat
Beecher and his wife have lived in Harrisville for over 32 years. “We have raised our 5 kids in Harrisville and have never regretted that choice.”
Beecher tells us, “I have seen many changes in our little community, some good and some…challenging. We have had some remarkable leadership in our community over the years…and now I feel it is time for me to give back.”
Over the last 30 years Beecher says, “The growth of Harrisville has been the biggest change that I’ve seen…and with that growth comes opportunities.” As a sales manager in a local company Clark feels this experience will help prepare him for the challenge to serve as a member of the City Council.
Jenn Jensen: Running for a 4-year Council Seat
Having served on the Harrisville City Council for the last 4 years, Jensen has been a part of many decisions and a leader. “I have been a big proponent for the Frisbee Golf, Fishing Pond and we have grown our Recreation by at least double and keep improving all the time.”
She says, “I was shocked during a budget meeting when people on the City Council wanted to remove Recreation from the City budget.”
She also adds, “I feel if I leave now we will lose all that we have set out to accomplish for our community. I also had the public works department go and paint crosswalks on all the city 4-way stops…they work and improve safety for our residents… I would like to keep going and continue being a leader for our city.”
