Meet Your Ward 1 Arnold City Council Candidate

Patch sent all Arnold City Council candidates identical questionnaires in order to compile candidate profiles prior to the April election. Each candidate who returned the survey will be featured on the site this week alphabetically by ward.

Jason Fulbright, 39 (Candidate for Arnold City Council - Ward 1) 

• Address: 3443 Tenbrook Rd., Arnold, MO 
• Occupation: Project Management
• Education: AA – Jefferson College, MBA – Missouri Baptist University
• Family: Wife – Tammy. No children, but we have three Shih Tzu’s which we treat like our kids.
• Years lived in Arnold: 12 years within city limits, practically all my life in the Arnold area.
• Please provide a brief summary of your background, highlighting community involvement if applicable. I’ve lived in the Arnold area nearly my entire life. I am a graduate of Fox High School (class of 92) and completed most of my college education here as well by taking advantage of extension programs offered at Jefferson College. I served on the Board of Adjustment where I was able to help local citizens and business by listening to their needs when our codes created a unique hardship on their homes and lively hoods. I am also on the Arnold Farmers Market committee where we are trying to bring something new and unique to our community.
• Please provide a brief summary of your reasons for running: I enjoy working with other people to solve problems and I think that is what our city needs from its council. People need to put the needs of the city ahead of themselves and work for the people. Also, I think anyone elected to represent our city needs to remember that when dealing with other elected officials, city staff, and the public. Personal attacks are never appropriate in a professional forum.

Questions: 

1. What do you currently see as the biggest issue facing Arnold? 

The largest issue in Arnold is politics are played out at the expense of the citizens. Our city needs its elected officials to work together to keep our city growing in the right directions. We have to make Arnold work for the people and businesses that work here and not the other way around. Nothing can get done if people are not willing to listen to each other and work together to find the best solutions to problems.

2. How do you plan to ensure the best use of taxpayer dollars? 

I am fiscally conservative when it comes to spending tax dollars. I will always remember that the city’s money is not my mine to do with as I please. With that being said, I don’t think that means you should not spend money that improves the lives of our citizens. I support programs like free trash and the Jeffco Express for our city.

3. In what area does the Arnold need to improve? Are you satisfied with the way the city has been operating? 

We need to work on key infrastructure issues that have to be dealt with in a serious manner. We have many citizens in my ward with failing septic systems as well as much needed upgrades to our public sewer system. These things, not politics, should be our council’s priorities. I think our city is run efficiently.  Our streets are clean and well maintained. We have a very professional police force to control crime. Our city and council needs to work on maintaining these things and support those doing the work for our city.

4. Assume you win the election. What thing do you want to accomplish during your time on the council? 

First, our city needs to listen to the people of Arnold. Their issues need to be our issues. Also, I want to hear from people when they have ideas and champion those that will improve Arnold. Second, I would like to see more small businesses in Arnold and our city needs to find ways to work with business owners so they choose to come to Arnold and not open just one or two miles away. Finally, I will work with others to raise the level of professionalism by treating others the way I want to be treated.

5. Many in the community have expressed discourse over the manner in which the council recently has conducted business. Specifically, community members have asked councilmembers to stop "bickering" and "do the jobs they were elected to do." How to you plan to address this moving forward? 

I will treat others with respect. Even if I don’t agree with your opinion or views I will respect them. I will strive to find ways we can work together rather than foster an “us vs. them” attitude. I agree that our council needs work together, and I think I am the right person to do just that.