Candidate Survey: David Wiechman (Ward 4)
Dave Wiechman
LAKEWOOD WARD 4 Candidate survey
- Name: David Wiechman
- Occupation: Economist
- Length of Ward 4 residency: 13 years
- Website: www.wiechman4lakewood.com
- E-mail: Wiechman@ecentral.com
- Campaign phone number: 303-986-4818
- Family: Daughters Michele and Rachel
Q: The city is compiling proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance. What specific changes would you like to see and why?
A: We need less straitjacket rigid rules and more flexibility. We should set the general goals and objectives and leave the citizens more flexibility in deriving the actual ways to achieve the desired results. The staff should work more WITH citizens to accommodate accomplishing our general goals in a more user-friendly manner.
Q: The city is dipping into its savings account (the reserve fund) to overcome a $2.7 million revenue gap this year and an expected $2.5 million shortfall next year. Although the reserve exceeds Council-mandated levels, it can stretch only so far. What can be done to bring the city’s budget back into balance other than hoping for an economic upturn?
A: Some construction projects such as sidewalk and street maintenance can be delayed for a year without a significant impact on the quality of our services. If things get really desperate we could impose a wage freeze for a year.
Q: Because of the recession, many homeowners are unable to maintain their home’s curb appeal, which can affect the value of homes in the surrounding neighborhood. What would you do to encourage upkeep of deteriorating properties?
A: Neighbors either individually or through a community association could offer to assist these owners. Everyone benefits from working together for the common goal of maintaining the appearance of our neighborhoods.
Q: What is the first issue you will bring before council if you are elected?
A: Two things-
Change the campaign finance disclosure rules to require that the first report be required earlier (about 10 days earlier) to allow the media to be able to report the facts BEFORE the ballots arrive in the mail.
Establishment of a ward advisory council (as provided for in our city charter) to bring in better input from our citizens, enhance communication to and from our citizens, provide a venue for community leaders to begin working together and prepare our next generation of city leaders.
Q: Elections, including the upcoming City Council election, are expensive and special elections outside the General Election cycle are even more costly on a per-vote basis. City Hall wants to schedule all special elections resulting from petition drives to be on November ballots. The exception would be those elections on issues Council deems more important. Where do you stand on the issue, which itself could become a ballot question next year?
A: My first preference is for the city to do a better job of negotiating solutions that would eliminate the need for a special election. The example of how a solution can be reached through negotiation was the recent elimination of the grocery tax while protecting city revenues.
If a ballot issue is unavoidable, then I would prefer that it be scheduled during a regular election to avoid any additional costs.
However, if it can’t be avoided, the people’s right to petition for a special election must take precedence and we should do whatever is necessary to preserve that fundamental right.
