Whiting Is Appointed To Snowflake Town Council

By Naomi Hatch
   Jason Whiting was appointed to the Snowflake Town Council last week following interviews with five of the six applicants for the post. The vacancy was created earlier this year by the resignation of Charlie Hendrickson, who is now working in the Valley. Those who sent letters of interest in serving on the coun-cil were Beverlee Kay, Larry D. Matyas, Roger L. Morgan, Don Ramsey, John Stewart and Whiting.
   Stewart was not present, but each of the other applicants was given three minutes to tell the council what they would like to do for the town.
   Councilman Dean Porter asked each prospective council member to outline what he or she sees as the town’s three most important needs and how they feel they can make a difference.
   Ramsey was raised in Snowflake, living here most of his younger days, and said he would bring a lot of experience to the position. “I feel like I have quite a bit that I could possibly contribute to the council and the town,” he said. Ramsey noted that he felt the most important need is the proposed consolidation with Taylor, feeling that it needs to be done very carefully, very judiciously and it should be a fair process. He said he didn’t have an agenda, and didn’t see any other big item that needs to be addressed other than eco-nomic. He explained that he is a fiscal conservative, but feels they need to meet the needs of the people. “I don’t have any big agenda to pursue, any great needs, except to stay abreast of the times, to meet the needs of the people as well as the town,” he concluded.
   Kay explained that she sent a letter of interest because she recently got a small taste of politics when a very educated man talked to her about the consolidation. She said, “He was very much against it; I was very much for it.” He told her she should do something about it and she agreed, feeling that she would be an asset because she is a high energy person, self-driven, determined, precise and not easily influenced. As a business owner she understands business and gets along well with people. “My success is the ability to bring people in,” said Kay, noting you can disagree, but not be disagreeable.
   “The reason I decided to run was kind of brought home the other day when getting a hair cut,” said Morgan, who previously served on the council. He explained that the barber told him that two days before, he hadn’t made enough money to cover overhead and keep the doors open. “The economy is striking Snowflake hard, harder than I anticipated,” said Morgan. He believes that it is possible to handle the situa-tion. He said he thought a lot about it and decided that the council and town manager have the ability to bring business to the town.
   Whiting said he feels passionately about tradition and that is why he came back to the area, because of the tradition and legacy, commenting that that would be his number one important need. He has been on the Snowflake-Taylor Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, serving as president for the past two years, so he felt he has a good idea of how the community is doing. He mentioned that when the paper towel company was looking at coming to Snowflake, the town had water, workforce and land available. The sec-ond important need would be to bring in businesses and the third would be the consolidation process. “I actually sit on the Consolidation Committee as an appointed member of you, the council,” he said, thanking them for that opportunity. “We were asked to look at all the facts and that’s what we did…I had the oppor-tunity to look at all those different things and in doing so I feel strongly that at least the people of our community have the opportunity to understand all the things we looked at.” He explained that now Snow-flake and Taylor compete for businesses, and if they consolidated they would compete with Show Low. He said he felt that consolidation would bring other communities to our stores to shop, and noted that a movie theater has land and is waiting for Walmart to build. He said, “I feel like I’m pretty passionate about this.”
   Matyas advised the council that his education is in criminal justice and business administration. He is a business owner in Snowflake and considers Snowflake as the hub of not only the White Mountains, but from Holbrook to Pinetop, from Heber to Springerville, always feeling that these communities would be drawn to this area.
   He sits on the Snowflake Planning and Zoning Commission, and put in his letter of interest because he was afraid that there might not be an interest, but noted, “I see there are many very interested people, very adept people looking into this position.” He said he feels the most important needs of Snowflake to accom-plish are flooding issues, both in Snowflake and Taylor, road improvements and consolidation.
   Mayor Kelly Willis said, “I think any of us would be very honored to be able to sit with all of you. I hope you realize, too, that we have a burden tonight as a council to elect with the majority, that we’re mi-nus one person to do that…“I’m speaking for myself and a few others, probably all of us. We’re not as thick skinned as we need to be. I’ve got a very soft heart. We don’t want to hurt feelings tonight. We love and respect all of you for the great people that you are. It’s just so refreshing to have all of you looking to be on the council.” He went on to explain that he wanted to go into executive session to discuss each can-didate but found that was not legal.
   “I would like to, at this time, take the burden and make a motion and let all of you know once again how much I appreciate you, but I’ll make the first motion that I would like to nominate Jason Whiting,” said the mayor. He then gave his reasons, first that he has known Whiting, as he has known all the others, but felt that Whiting has been an advocate for many years now in supporting Snowflake and Taylor.
   He continued, “I found him to be a person of integrity and a person of value. He also has a good head on his shoulder for business and finance. He’s served on the chamber and in the Consolidation Committee, and has a unique outlook and for lack of a better reason than just to say he’s young.” He then moved to make Whiting a part of the council.
   Porter said, “The people and their caliber are outstanding.” He thanked them for coming forth and for the great love they have for the community.
   Councilwoman Lorri Davis said she was glad they each had an opportunity to speak, even though they had letters from each candidate. She thanked them for their interest.
   The motion to appoint Whiting to the town council passed unanimously.
   Mayor Willis then noted that in two years there will be four seats up, and encouraged the remaining to consider running for council at that time.