Paul Lockhart
Name: Paul Lockhart
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651.231.0143
Website: http://paullockhartforoakdale.com/
Twitter handle: @ForLockhart
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PaulLockhartForCityCouncil
Candidate Bio
President of the Oakdale Athletic Association working with up to 28 board members on budgets and organization responsibilities. Member of Oakdale City Park and Rec Commission (3rd year) working on CIP for repairs and upgrades. President of the Tartan High School Football Booster Club working with the high school staff and fund raising for the league.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
How would you characterize the business climate in Oakdale and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
We have a great business community in Oakdale and we need to continue looking to find ones that fit in our community and help us grow.
Because of COVID-19 our businesses are struggling to keep employees employed and keeping their doors open. If we lose businesses, we lose jobs. That will eventually lead to losing residents. Our community depends on the local businesses.
What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Oakdale ?
The City needs to find out what the residents would like to see move into their community. I would send out surveys to find out what businesses people would like in Oakdale. I would talk to the business owners and find out their opinions on having a business in Oakdale. What could the City do better for them? What does the City already do well that we could use to solicit new businesses?
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Oakdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I work for a company that has dealt with the rule changes (such as sick time and minimum wage) and it can be sticker shock for a business. But once you dig down into it and find the facts a lot of the change is good. These days you have to allow your employees time to tend to their families and not take a hit financially. Whether it is to take care of a parent or attend your child’s event. Businesses will find that it will not impact them as negatively as they might have thought.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Transportation is one thing that will be changing soon for our Oakdale. From the new development off HWY 5 to the new transit site on the south end. I will make sure that we look at every option and the impact each on will have on our community. I will make sure that we allow our community to have a word in what is being planned before it happens.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
I will keep the budget balanced and make sure we stay within our limits.
What will you do to expand Oakdale’s tax base?
Expanding taxes is not something I am considering at the moment. I would need to look at our current expenditures and make sure that we are doing the best we can for our community before I could give an honest assessment.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
A great education for our children is our future. I will make sure that we are all working together so all schools are getting the tools they need to give our children the best education they can. I think we need classes offered at different times so the working class can still learn while also holding a job.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I have not seen any services that I feel need to be cut back or eliminated. I look forward to talking with our community to find different services that may be helpful to our city and residents.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Oakdale ?
I think it is the City Council’s role to support all businesses and give their support to anyone who would like to see their dream of owning a business become a reality.
What further policies can Oakdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I know that the Federal government working on a package to help companies stay open and employ our citizens. I would spread the work that we need to support our local business and try to buy local to help our community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I have enjoyed living in Oakdale for the past 16 years and volunteering to help make our community better. I look forward to doing even more as a City Council member.
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651.231.0143
Website: http://paullockhartforoakdale.com/
Twitter handle: @ForLockhart
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PaulLockhartForCityCouncil
Candidate Bio
President of the Oakdale Athletic Association working with up to 28 board members on budgets and organization responsibilities. Member of Oakdale City Park and Rec Commission (3rd year) working on CIP for repairs and upgrades. President of the Tartan High School Football Booster Club working with the high school staff and fund raising for the league.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Work transparent as an Oakdale resident, listen to our residents and be their voice.
- Find ways to help our businesses through the current pandemic
- Work with the 622 School District to find ways to get our children more active
How would you characterize the business climate in Oakdale and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
We have a great business community in Oakdale and we need to continue looking to find ones that fit in our community and help us grow.
Because of COVID-19 our businesses are struggling to keep employees employed and keeping their doors open. If we lose businesses, we lose jobs. That will eventually lead to losing residents. Our community depends on the local businesses.
What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Oakdale ?
The City needs to find out what the residents would like to see move into their community. I would send out surveys to find out what businesses people would like in Oakdale. I would talk to the business owners and find out their opinions on having a business in Oakdale. What could the City do better for them? What does the City already do well that we could use to solicit new businesses?
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Oakdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I work for a company that has dealt with the rule changes (such as sick time and minimum wage) and it can be sticker shock for a business. But once you dig down into it and find the facts a lot of the change is good. These days you have to allow your employees time to tend to their families and not take a hit financially. Whether it is to take care of a parent or attend your child’s event. Businesses will find that it will not impact them as negatively as they might have thought.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Transportation is one thing that will be changing soon for our Oakdale. From the new development off HWY 5 to the new transit site on the south end. I will make sure that we look at every option and the impact each on will have on our community. I will make sure that we allow our community to have a word in what is being planned before it happens.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
I will keep the budget balanced and make sure we stay within our limits.
What will you do to expand Oakdale’s tax base?
Expanding taxes is not something I am considering at the moment. I would need to look at our current expenditures and make sure that we are doing the best we can for our community before I could give an honest assessment.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
A great education for our children is our future. I will make sure that we are all working together so all schools are getting the tools they need to give our children the best education they can. I think we need classes offered at different times so the working class can still learn while also holding a job.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I have not seen any services that I feel need to be cut back or eliminated. I look forward to talking with our community to find different services that may be helpful to our city and residents.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Oakdale ?
I think it is the City Council’s role to support all businesses and give their support to anyone who would like to see their dream of owning a business become a reality.
What further policies can Oakdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I know that the Federal government working on a package to help companies stay open and employ our citizens. I would spread the work that we need to support our local business and try to buy local to help our community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I have enjoyed living in Oakdale for the past 16 years and volunteering to help make our community better. I look forward to doing even more as a City Council member.