CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Austin Garner and Jamie Murdoch, the two unopposed candidates to succeed Gabe Ingram and Christy Warner on Kimball City Council, both replied to questions from Observer reporter Daria Anderson-Faden for this report preceding the May 14 primary election. Their answers follow, with the candidates listed in alphabetical order of their last names.

AUSTIN GARNER

Please provide brief background info on yourself:

I grew up in Kimball and graduated in 2004, attended college and then joined the Army as a flight paramedic.  I was stationed in Germany and did two deployments to Afghanistan.  I moved back to Kimball to be close to family and joined the Wyoming National Guard.  I was medically separated from the guard after getting dropped from a helicopter.  I currently work as a firefighter/paramedic in Colorado for the last seven years and plan to continue to do so until I retire.  I live with my girlfriend Savannah who is the GM at Ace and our two dogs Jager and Sarge.

What qualities make you a desirable candidate?

I am not a yes man.  I believe in thorough vetting, a succinct and reasonable decision-making process that will benefit the most people.  I have a wide educational background and I am a forever student of life.  I feel as though I am approachable and can relate to most people regardless of heritage, ethnicity, age, beliefs, or socioeconomic status.  I am willing to listen however, I believe every complaint should be accompanied with a proposed solution.  Kimball has room for a lot of improvement however, I believe we have the ingredients to make it a special place to live.

How will you be able to commit to the time that it takes to be a council member?

My atypical work schedule affords me a significant amount of free time.   I recently sold all my cows to become a city slicker so that frees up a good 300 hours a month if I had to put an estimate on it.

What do you consider the most critical issues about the position you are seeking?

Every issue is going to have a varying degree of bias to everyone depending on what they believe is the most critical and impactful to them.  I believe it is my responsibility to understand what our constituency feels is a priority and implementing a way to address as much of those issues as possible while remaining fiscally responsible.  On a personal level I believe that updating aging infrastructure is a high priority.  We need to manage growth in a realistic and well thought out manner. Taking advantage of current construction plans I would like to see a park placed on the Southwest side of town, so pedestrians don’t have to cross Chestnut.  A dedicated paved walking trail would be safer and promote healthier lifestyles.  I would like to support our current businesses to maintain and hopefully grow on their hard work as well as foster an environment where new businesses can integrate and thrive in our community. Enhancing public spaces for people to enjoy during all seasons would provide a significant benefit.  I am in favor of a community center that takes advantage of all state and federal funding and provides a multigenerational gathering space with year-round activities.  I am an advocate for increased vocational/trade training in our school.  I would like to serve as a liaison to the hospital and work towards improving some of the billing and continuum of care issues many of our residents are facing.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?

Lots of coffee, conversations, relationship building and mentorship from our successful predecessors and future members in our community. 

JAMIE MURDOCH

Please provide brief background info on yourself:

I was raised in Kimball and am a proud Longhorn graduate. My first career was working as a 911 dispatcher/jailer and EMT on the local ambulance service. This is where I met my husband, Dwain. Together we have three daughters; Grace, Carlee, and Renee. After my children were born I was led to my second career as an elementary school teacher/librarian where I have been working for the last 10 years.

What qualities make you a desirable candidate?

One of the qualities that makes me a desirable candidate for city council is that I keep an open mind about all situations. I use the information available to me to make the best decisions that will benefit the majority, rather than just a few. I am not afraid to admit when I am wrong or when an idea I have is not viable. I also believe that treating others with kindness and respect, genuinely listening to their problem or complaint, and then getting them accurate information is critical to productive working relationships.

How will you be able to commit to the time that it takes to be a council member?

My youngest daughter will be graduating from high school in May of 2025. This is going to free up a lot of time for me that I will be able to dedicate to the position of councilperson.

What do you consider the most critical issues about the position you are seeking?

Our community is in a unique position that if handled properly will lead to growth and stability. We cannot afford to remain stagnant and must proactively seek new residents, new businesses, and new opportunities. These factors will result in spreading the financial responsibility of maintaining and improving our infrastructure among many, thus reducing the cost to individual residents and businesses. Risks must be carefully considered and taken to attract the attention of those who want to move here. In today’s society, people are much more willing to commute to their jobs than they were in decades past. The choice we are facing is do we want people to just work in Kimball, or do we want them to also live in Kimball. I choose the latter and will work within the allowances of the position to create a community that attracts those people. This includes developing recreational accessibility for all, enhancing property appearance, and increasing economic development.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?

Social media has helped citizens voice their opinions, whether positive or negative, about the workings of city government. I believe that through these posts we have the opportunity to build relationships, explain procedures, and lead people to be involved in the discussions and decision-making processes.

I was raised to believe that if you find fault in a system it is not simply okay to point out the flaw, but it is your responsibility to be part of the solution. Sometimes this is simply offering a suggestion that may not have been considered before, and other times it means stepping into a more involved role. Kimball already has opportunities for its citizens to be a part of these systems. Still, we must be more proactive in finding and listening to new voices and ideas with open minds, kindness, and professionalism.