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The Crossroads Journal

Question and answer with Cedar Fort candidates

By Mike Kieffer
The Crossroads Journal recently gave each Cedar Fort mayoral and city council candidate the chance to respond to questions about the issues facing their community. Sixteen questions were sent to each of the candidates in the municipal elections that The Crossroads Journal covers. These candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions on a wide range of topics including; roads, development, family life, open space, schools and why they are running for office.

Participation in the survey was voluntary, not all candidates responded, and not all questions were answered by those that responded. Four of the sixteen questions were then randomly selected for each city to be published. The candidates did not know which questions were going to be selected for their city for publication. The candidates answers to each question are listed in random order following the questions.

Question: Roads are usually always a topic of interest during election cycles. Do you feel your city has adequate roads, why? What will you do to improve the roads in your city?

Wendy Lojik - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"The budget in Cedar Fort is minuscule compared to most towns and cities in the area. It is most important to continue to keep the budget and make needed repairs and improvements as budgets allow."

David T. Gustin - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"Being a small, growing community, Cedar Fort has a very limited roadway budget. Due to these budgetary limitations, it would beneficial to outline and commit to a detailed five-year plan for our roads which would accomplish my goals of improving the existing roadways while replacing our busiest dirt roads with pavement."

Lynnette Groff - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"We have adequate roads for our small town with the exception of a few existing ones that will need to be widened to our standard of 56 feet. The town does not have the funds to purchase the ground to widen them, so they should be widened as people build or develop on their ground, deeding over their half of what is needed to reach 56 feet. We also have a problem with funds for keeping our roads properly maintained. We did, just last year, have the roads redone though, which was wonderful!"

Question: Can you tell me why you are running for your position?

D. Harold Draper - Cadidate Cedar Fort City Council
"Given the privilege, and working together … my hope is to restore harmony with the residents of this great community, and to establish provision to assist them to improve and beautify at every opportunity."

Kelly Berry - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"Humbly, I was nominated to run for Mayor by fellow citizens that believe while working together we can make changes for good. I have a deeply rooted commitment to establish strong collaborative relationships between the citizens of Cedar Fort in order to build a renewed sense of community."

Wendy Lojik - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"I am running for City Council position. I love Cedar Fort and the history of it being one of our original town settlements when the pioneers came to Utah. I want to help preserve the history and serve the many resents who are descendants of the original pioneers."

David T. Gustin - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"As an attorney, I have many specialized skills that will enable me to effectively assist the Town of Cedar Fort, and believe that I am uniquely positioned to have an immediate impact in the Mayor's Office. With regard to my personal motivations, I feel that my life has been richly blessed, and therefore have an obligation to give back by serving others."

Lynnette Groff - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"I love this town and the people in it. Unfortunately, we can no longer ignore that growth is coming, it is at our doorstep. I would like to keep the small town feel, agricultural lifestyle, and yet grow at a 4% growth rate, not the current 1.5%. We need to look at new residents as future contributors to our town, not as liabilities, just as Cedar Fort opened its arms to my family in 1989, that's how I want to treat new and future residents."

Wyatt Cook - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"I aim to achieve a responsive, effective local government that will preserve small town values, maintain the infrastructure, makes decisions with transparency and provides strong political leadership. I will strive to improve communication between city hall and the community. I will bring my ability to solve everyday problems. I have attended BYU Idaho in business management and currently work as a field training officer for UDC and Special Operations."

Question: What do you do with your down time, what leisure activities do you like to participate in?

D. Harold Draper - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"Service to others … service in the House of The Lord … gardening … the great outdoors … but most of all our Grandchildren."

Lynnette Groff - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"I don't know if you would really consider what I do leisurely, but I absolutely love to workout and there is nothing better than riding my horses, especially mountain riding. That really clears your mind and soul!"

Wendy Lojik - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"I love to bake and craft. Creating something with whatever items I have on hand has been a talent I have used to stretch my budget at home and when I volunteer in the community. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I can use things at hand. I love to spend time with my family. We Jeep, 4 wheel, and laugh and have fun."

David T. Gustin - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"I enjoy spending my free time raising and playing with my children, hiking the beautiful trails covering our state, practicing gun safety and shooting sports, and working outdoors to improve my property."

Question: Why have you chosen Cedar Fort as your place of residence?

Lynnette Groff - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"We moved here in 1989 because we wanted an agricultural lifestyle where it was dark and quiet at night, and a great place to raise kids. I fell in love with not just the beauty and majesty of Cedar Fort and the surrounding mountains, but the people too. This is a real community, full of caring, hard working people that are not just friends, but family."

David T. Gustin - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"Cedar Fort has an abundance of attractive attributes, but two of the biggest reasons I have chosen to live in Cedar Fort are (1) the people of Cedar Fort are caring, genuine, loving and hardworking - the kind of people I want my children to grow up around, and (2) this valley has such beauty due to its natural look and feel. I want to ensure Cedar Fort maintains these qualities for many generations to come."

Wyatt Cook - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"My family has lived here for seven generations, I believe it is a great place for families to live. I think it is important to preserve our town's traditions and history. This town has taught me the principles and ethics I live by. My hope is that future generations will have the same opportunities."

Kelly Berry - Candidate Cedar Fort Mayor
"I moved to Cedar Fort at the age of 19 after marrying my husband, Bart. Here we raised our seven children on land that has been a part of the Berry family for five generations. If elected, I bring experience of a long-time resident of 37 years and the knowledge I have gained while serving in various leadership roles."

Wendy Lojik - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"Cedar Fort reminds me the most of Highland when I was growing up. It has one little gas station/store where all the town can stop and chat. It's small enough to know everyone in every house. I love the traditions and the history of this town. It just feels like home."

D. Harold Draper - Candidate Cedar Fort City Council
"Vickie and I have a very precious Pioneer Heritage that came to fruition here in Utah County, but more particularly in Cedar Valley. Vickie is a 5th generation native of Cedar Fort. We love this valley and appreciate the sacrifice of our forefathers who established a wonderful place to raise a family and enjoy life, as we know it."
The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2024 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 


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