JP's ISSUES

J.P. HUGHES, M.D.

FOR SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR 2008

'CPR' IS A COMMON MEDICAL TERM REMINDING US TO ACT:
HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITUATION-
KNOW WHAT TO DO-THEN DO IT.
THE MEANING OF 'CPR' FOR
MY POLITICAL CAMPAIGN STANDS FOR:
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION RESTORATION

COMMUNITY I will work with a strong City Council to do what is best for the city and its people. Crime here is at a 14 year low. We need to support our law enforcement professionals in every possible way. We can help those who feel they need to hold cardboard instead of a job. We can consider expanding the city west of the Airport by creating affordable planned communities, utilizing TRAX transportation and bringing together great business and technological minds. We need to support our schools in the Salt Lake City School District who are teaching students that being multilungual is an advantage and learning English is empowering. We can create the opportunity for free health clinics, such as the Maliheh Free Clinic, here in the City. We all can have health insurance. I have taken care of hundreds of gay patients in my medical practice and I have universally treated them with the same respect as anyone else. Let's act like a community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. I will make sure everyone knows I am here to serve everybody in the community.

PRESERVATION We can preserve the integrity of our historic homes and neighborhoods by giving owners of potential sites a tax credit such as the National and Utah State Historical designation. Working with the Conservancy Board we can preserve our water resources by re-use and conservation and create an incentive for home owners to landscape with more arid foliage. We can work to create more successful environmental projects like the Salt Lake Landfill Project. It created lakes for thousands of birds, methane energy for 3000 homes, a center for a new golf courses and sports fields in the middle of planned business and homes. It has generated over 40 million dollars and is not costing the taxpayers a dime. As things change on the City's administrative level, the idea of preservation also extends to job security for our 1500 City employees. We can do more to preserve our land, our resources, our neighborhoods and the security of our future.

RESTORATION The City is the place where we live, work, and visit. It is a place where we find and join with others in community, in friendship and respect. This is done in business, religion, sports and celebration. Sixty thousand people travel here everyday to their places of employment. Mass transit funding helps all those who work, visit and live here. Keeping Delta Airlines here is important and we must support them in every way. We can have a kinder City. Political and social issues do not have to divide us. Let's restore civility. We must restore the feeling that voting is a privilege. Voter turnout is less than 30 percent. We need to do better. We all must act in our democracy and citizenship. The issues are exciting and resolution is possible. As Mayor, I will restore the idea that diverse backgrounds qualify people for public office.

               “THE SEAT OF MAYOR IS NOT ONE OF POWER.
              THE SEAT OF MAYOR IS ONE OF SERVICE."
               The power lies with the voters and together we will act
        in the best interest of the City and the great people who live here.

The links below relate to a few of the re-occuring ISSUES discussed at City and Community Council Meetings, Candidate Forums, City Festivals and through your email messages. In addition to these sites, links on UPCOMING EVENTS & EVENTS ARCHIVES pages provide information and positions through Community Interest Groups, Activists and Non-profit Organizations. With information, ideas and action - together we can make a difference.

Universal HEALTH CARE Coverage for the uninsured of the City is my #1 priority.
90% of Salt Lake City's unisured have jobs. 10% of the entire Salt Lake City workforce drops insurance coverage each year because it is too expensive. Insurance premiums go up 15% every year. This cannot last forever. San Francisco's plan covers 82,000 citizens and the cost is $200 a month. The money is available to cover SLC's uninsured and with expert management, effeciency and expertice we can do this.
"If I don't do it, who? If not now, when?"

In February, Vest Pocket Business Coalition conducted a survey asking my opinion on issues significant to locally-owned businesses and the citizens that patronize them.
Link above to their website to read my comments regarding locally-owned business.

Questionnaire Responses