Editor’s note: The following is the fifth in a series of stories on local candidates. It is part of the Transcript Bulletin’s 2015 general election candidate coverage. Other candidate question and answer stories will be published until Oct. 27.
Voters in Stockton are already marking their mail-in ballots for two positions on their town council.
Four people filed to run for the positions on Stockton’s Town Council.
The list of candidates includes one incumbent, George Carter. The other candidates are Judy Bori, Thomas Karjola and Nando Meli Jr.
Each of the council candidates provided answers to a series of questions from the Transcript Bulletin, which are published below.
Incumbent George Carter did not respond.
Who are you?
Judy Bori: Born and raised in Tooele, I lived in Wisconsin for 42 years before returning to Tooele County to be closer to family. When I was in high school, I started doing dental work in Jay Delamare’s office. I worked for the same dentist in Wisconsin for 25 years, until he passed away. Then I started my own business. It was a placement service for permanent and temporary dental personnel. I am now retired and I serve on the planning and zoning commission for Stockton.
Thomas Karjola: I am an electronics technician by trade, a skill I learned during my six years serving in the U.S. Navy. After that, I worked as a marine electronics and land mobile communications technician in Seattle and as a technician for an automatic welding company. Most recently, I’ve been a stay-at-home dad while my wife pursued her career in first the U.S. Air Force and now as a civilian.
Nando Meli: I grew up in Stockton and attended local schools, including Stockton Elementary, before going into the Marine Corps after graduating from Tooele High School. Upon returning, I attended Salt Lake Community College and the University of Utah. I have a Bachelor’s of Science in civil engineering. Since then, I have lived in Stockton on and off until moving back to Stockton in 2000. In 2000, I was appointed to the Stockton planning and zoning commission and then elected to the Stockton Town Council. After serving four years on the town council, I was on the planning and zoning commission for several years. While serving the community, I drafted the requirements for being annexed into the town of Stockton. These requirements were adopted by the Stockton Town Council to protect the current and future residents of Stockton.
Why are you running for office?
Judy Bori: I believe I can do a good job for Stockton and represent the people. That’s what a council member should do: represent the people that voted them in. I want to keep Stockton the way it is and preserve our rural character. I don’t think we need a lot of new development and construction.
Thomas Karjola: I’m running for office so I can better represent my community during the occasional inevitable battles to preserve the Stockton Bar. I am also concerned about the lead and arsenic contamination in the soil in and around Stockton from past mining operations. My philosophy is that government’s job is to be a good steward of the peoples’ tax dollars, responsibly manage infrastructure and municipal services. Outside of that, government should stay out of peoples’ lives as much as possible.
Nando Meli: I do not have an agenda other than to represent the Stockton residents and to provide the best services that are available to a small community. The town has grown over the years and I want to protect its best interest from any outside influence.
Why should I vote for you?
Judy Bori: I’m not intimidated easily. If I feel something is fair, then I’ll be for it. I want to be fair, but that might intimidate some people because if it’s not fair, then I won’t support it.
Thomas Karjola: I’m the right person for the job because I don’t want to be a politician. I want to do the right thing for all of the people of Stockton. I have the time to dedicate to the community and do not want to be paid for my position on the town council. I am active on social media and very accessible to the people. Many people do not like to go to public meetings for any number of reasons. I am available to listen to those people and take their concerns to the town council. I am also always happy to answer residents’ questions anytime.
Nando Meli: I will represent you with the best of my ability. I will be retiring in about two years and will be able to devote more of my time as your councilman. I have experience on the planning and zoning commission and the town council.
What will you do if you are elected?
Judy Bori: Stockton’s most pressing issue is financial. We need to take a look at where the money is going and see where we can eliminate expenditures. If the people of Stockton want to keep the same services, but they aren’t willing to cut expenses, then people will have to pay more taxes. I would insist that our police and fire services have the equipment they need to do their job.
Thomas Karjola: The biggest pressing issue as I see it is revenue. Of course I need to make sure that every penny coming in is spent responsibly, but that is only one side of the equation. We are a small community with many of modest means. Asking the residents for more money just isn’t an option. We need to find a way to attract visitors to come spend money here while still maintaining our small, quiet town setting. That is a tall order, but if there’s a way to do it, I will find it. I will continue to protect the quality of life by fighting to maintain the Stockton Bar, just as I have for three years.
Nando Meli: There are some issues with the roadways and streets of Stockton that need improvement. Our culinary water system needs improvement. These issues and others that are brought to my attention by the residents will be addressed while serving on the Stockton Town Council.
tgillie@tooeletranscript.com