“I envision a community that is being recognized for its growth and for its improvements, not just in the area of economic development but also in the area of quality of life. So what does that look like? More choices for places to eat, more choices for activities, entertainment, recreation. More choices for future jobs or advancements within your own company. A place where people are attracted to come to or continue to stay here.”

What is the No. 1 issue facing the city and what would you seek to do about it?

“One of the issues that I think, and I’m not necessarily saying it’s the biggest issue, but I think it’s one of the things that tends to hold us back, is negative self-talk within our own community. So those who are in our community who have a more difficult time finding positive things to talk about and then also those who are outside our community who maybe have not recognized the positive changes that we’ve had so far. Finding a way to continue to show those not just in our community but outside our community a lot of the positive changes that we have had so that they can recognize that and have more positive things to talk about.

“I think you have to do it by just creating more positive things and doing a better job of communicating, whether it be through marketing or ad campaigns or just spreading more positive mental attitudes and allowing it to be contagious and allowing it to spread instead of negative things becoming contagious and spreading. I think you have to do it and live it and pass that on to others.”

What should be done about violent crime?

“Really about the only thing that the City Council, I believe, can have a direct influence on is just encouraging our police force to have more positive outreach, trying to be more visible, working towards setting up more Neighborhood Watches and teaching the community that it takes all of us and that we all have to be part of the solution.”

What role do you think the city should have in the development of the proposed cultural and recreation center?

“I think in order for it to be successful the city and/or the county is going to have to take some sort of role in that, whether that be through leadership, whether that be through the use of tax dollars in order to get it up and going. And I think it’s our responsibility to market it to the community so that they understand the value of it, the need for it, so that they would be more willing to support it.

“I think overall we can do a better job of trying to communicate to everyone why we feel these things are important. I’d love to see the city hire a public relations person. It’s beyond a want. I think it’s something that’s going to be required. The school district has one. Iowa Central has one. Every large corporation around here has one, yet we don’t. I think the time has come and passed for that need and it’s now becoming a necessity. We need to find a way to make it fit in our budget.”

Do you think tax dollars should be used to pay for the proposed cultural and recreation center?

“I believe that it’s going to take that in order for it to become a reality. To what extent is the unknown. But I believe it’s going to take support from the city or the county in order for it to become a reality.”

What do you think should be done to address the housing shortage?

“I have a different perspective, I think, than most. I’m of the belief that by improving economic development and job opportunities for people and by continuing to make improvements to the quality of life in Fort Dodge, then I believe that those things can just take care of themselves.

“By creating more opportunities for jobs or more advancements within a current job, and by improving the quality of life such that people desire, than those are the things that are going to make them move here and if the current housing is not available I think that they’re willing to create it.”

Would you recommend any changes to the partnership in which the Fire Department and UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center provide ambulance service?

“I would favor changing anything that is going to provide a higher quality of service to the customer or patient. I don’t believe decisions should be based solely on what is the monetary benefit of anyone, but what is the benefit to the consumer or the patient or the client.”

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Related: FD voters must choose on Tuesday