Hot Springs mayoral candidates participate in Q & A
Randy Woods, Hot Springs
1. Why are you running for the mayoral position?
I’m running for mayor because I care a lot about the community. I want to help the community grow and prosper. I’ve grown up here and graduated high school here. I went to North Idaho College in Idaho, experienced a little bit of a bigger city and I realized Hot Springs is home. It’s a nice quiet community but you are closer to bigger things. It’s a nice place to live and raise a family.
2. What makes you an ideal candidates? What experience do you have that is pertinent to this role?
I’ve been involved in government since I moved back here after college. I was on the fire department, the Hot Springs ambulance and I became the fire chief in 1994. I was the county fire warden for two years. I serve on the Sanders County 911 Board of Directors and I’m an advisor on the Sanders County Council on Aging. I’ve been mayor for five years, which has been a huge learning experience.
3. What do you plan to bring to the town? What changes, improvements or ordinances would you attempt to effect?
I want to continue with some of the things I started. Some of the things I really want to work on are Hot Springs as a tourist town and we want to do things to help develop the area. The goal is to bring more tourists here to help the town grow and prosper. It brings in more business to the community and with that, it helps improve the community through and through. One of the things we need to do, which came out in these debates, is have more town hall style meetings so people have a better voice in the community. I want to help continue on with some of the beautification and clean up projects in this town. Once a month the town has a pick up day and we help people who have no way to haul their garbage away, whether it’s a car, a washer or dryer. We are trying to build some real community projects here and are working on setting up a recycling station to help people recycle and protect the environment.
4. Give a brief overview of you education, employment, family history, etc.
My great grandparents homesteaded out here. It’s been a long stay in the community area. I graduated from Hot Springs High School and graduated from North Idaho College. I came back and worked with my dad at his business. In 1995 I bought it from him and remodeled it.
5. How do you differ from your opponents?
I’m young and energetic with a vision for improvements.
Karen Evans, Hot Springs
1. Why are you running for the mayoral position?
I am running for the position of mayor because I was approached by numerous concerned citizens in the community and felt it was my civic duty to step forward. I believe Hot Springs is a great community to live in and would like to be part of assisting in the town’s growth and prosperity.
2. What makes you an ideal candidates? What experience do you have that is pertinent to this role?
I served on the Hot Springs Town council for four years, 2005 - 2009, and am familiar with town issues. I still attend meetings. I am currently a bookkeeper / assistant manager at a local business. I have been a legal secretary in excess of 15 years, in Spokane, Washington, Washington, DC, and Lewiston, Idaho. I was an administrative assistant / staff supervisor for a world renowned commodity advisor where I spoke with world leaders, traveled to conventions representing the company, etc. I am an entrepreneur having started a business from scratch, owned, operated in all aspects and sold at a profit. I am currently a top-rated power seller on e-bay with 99.8 percent positive feedback on over 8500 sales -- which translates into customer service, timely responses and mailings, management, etc. I have been a volunteer in our community at the Hot Springs Senior Citizens Center, where I also served as the activities director, Lion’s Club, Church Treasurer, Youth Group Leader and Sunday School, etc. I have also been a substitute teacher at Hot Springs School.
3. What do you plan to bring to the town?
Experience and truthfulness. Transparency at City Hall in all aspects. Willing to listen to all citizen concerns, comments and questions. I highly value my integrity and name. The role of the mayor, according to Montana Code, is that of executive, overseeing the approved budget and making sure it is followed. Their other job is monitor the administration branches for efficiency. A mayor should create a good working relationship with the town employees and the town council since they are the voice of the people from the wards of the town. The mayor and council must work together.
4. What changes, improvements or ordinances would you attempt to effect?
A complete review of the budget needs to happen before changes, improvements, etc., could be determined on what is best for the town. Inform the town citizens as to where our money comes from and how it is being spent. The most important issues brought to my attention in our jurisdiction include fiscal responsibility, budgets, and compliance with Montana Code. I plan, as mayor, to review all of these and do my best to bring everything into compliance with Montana Code.
4. Give a brief overview of your education, employment, family history, etc.
I was born and raised in Whitefish, graduating from Whitefish High School and continuing on to Kinman Business University where I graduated. I worked for nine years at a law firm in Spokane, Washington, three years for a world-renown commodity advisor, three years at a law firm in Washington, DC and about four years for a law firm in Lewiston, Idaho. I am married and have one son. My husband, son and I moved to Hot Springs in the spring of
2004. My son graduated from Hot Springs High School in 2007. I am an avid fan of our local sports teams and youth. I am pro-Second Amendment. I have had a real estate license and completed a course at Phoenix Firearms and Training Center. I learn something new every day and everyone has something to offer.
5. How do you differ from you opponents?
I am different from my opponent in that I have no business to send town business to and will, therefore, look for the most economical solution. We have different definitions of honesty and integrity. I intend to allow issues on the agenda of our monthly meetings without first getting my approval.