Bill Anderson, Councilmember, South Salt Lake
Bill Anderson comes across as a quiet, unassuming accountant, and that's likely just what he wants you to think. Note that he only gave us a very small photo to use here. But get Bill started on a number of topics and you'll soon discover that he's given a lot of thought to many of them and has explored various angles you never knew existed. Bill is a member of the ULCT's board of directors.
1. How long have you been serving as an elected official in your community and is this your first stab at city government? I am in my 8th year on the City Council after a brief stint on the Board of Adjustments. This may be my last year on the city council after I voted to instigate a Prop 13 revolt in my city by raising property taxes 134% last year. But, that's another story.
5. What is the greatest challenge facing your community? I have to be honest. My city's greatest challenge is digging out of the hole of losing $2,000,000 in sales tax revenues caused by the recent redistribution legislation.
1. How long have you been serving as an elected official in your community and is this your first stab at city government? I am in my 8th year on the City Council after a brief stint on the Board of Adjustments. This may be my last year on the city council after I voted to instigate a Prop 13 revolt in my city by raising property taxes 134% last year. But, that's another story.
2. What made you want to run for public office? I was "volunteered" to be the Chairman of the Annexation Coalition that resulted in my neighborhood being drawn into South Salt Lake. When the annexation petition succeeded, I thought I should try to make sure it proved to be a good idea afterall.
3. Name one thing (and no doubt there are many) about being a municipal official in your community that is really satisfying, and one thing that that is, shall we say, not the least bit enjoyable. One of the most satisfying things for me is being involved in resolving issues. I do enoy the process of listening to all the parties and trying to find a reasonable outcome. The worst part is having to face people who will not be happy unless they get their way.
4. Where you're not acting in your capacity as a municipal official, how do you spend your spare time (profession, or similar)? I bug the Granite School Board a lot. Not necessarily fun, but necessary. For fun, I attend symphony pops concerts with my wife, theater with my whole family, sporting events with my son. I play golf to practice the frustration of a being a municipal official.
5. What is the greatest challenge facing your community? I have to be honest. My city's greatest challenge is digging out of the hole of losing $2,000,000 in sales tax revenues caused by the recent redistribution legislation.
6. CD in your player? In the car, some weird Bollywood soundtrack (India cinema). When you have a 17 year old daughter, you don't get to pick what's in your CD player. MY faves are James Taylor, Linda Rondsadt, Allison Krause, classic baroque, Broadway musicals...
7. Book on your nightstand? Ghost Soldiers and John Adams.
8. Radio station set on your dial? KFNZ 1280 The Sports Zone
9. Political idol? George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt Principled geniuses with an inate sense of the right thing to do and the courage to do it.
10. Presidential candidate in '08? No, I don't even want to be mayor.