Joel Aispuro
Age: 30
Years of residence in Sandpoint and Bonner County: Over 20 years.
Marital status/family: Happily married with three beautiful daughters.
How can the public contact you? E-mail [email protected] or Facebook.
Qualifications
Education: Sandpoint High School graduate
Recent or pertinent employment history: Joel’s Mexican Restaurant
Public offices held: None
Nonprofit groups, service or professional organizations to which you belong:
This will be my eighth year coaching a nonprofit varsity basketball team. I also coach the Kick Start Soccer program for 2 to 4 year olds.
Other experiences or skills that qualify you for office: I am friendly and available.
Candidate Positions
1. Among the myriad issues facing the city at present, what do you consider the most important issues, and why?
As a city, we should continue to focus on our roads, sewer system, water system and emergency services. We should be getting five stars in these areas.
2. The University of Idaho has announced that it intends to sell its undeveloped 77-acre property on North Boyer alongside Sand Creek. The city is currently conducting workshops and meetings to collect input on possible changes to the comprehensive plan to guide future development and use of the property. Do you have a position on the use of this property or the process the city has initiated?
The property is a beautify property and I hope that whoever purchases the property keeps it beautiful.
3. The new grandstands at Memorial Field were completed this year, but with the dedicated 5-year, 1-cent sales tax for their construction producing revenue for additional projects the city is now considering a replacement of the turf with either upgraded grass turf; artificial turf; or a hybrid. What is your position on the turf question?
As a former Sandpoint Bulldog athlete, I prefer natural grass.
4. A follow-up on parks: If additional funds are available for park projects, do you have projects you would want to pursue? The city is exploring a new master plan for City Beach; do you have a position or ideas for potential changes, additions or development of City Beach?
The city beach is a beautiful beach and great for families. At the very least, we should keep it clean and family friendly.
5. Jobs and the local economy are always an election issue. How would describe the economy of Sandpoint today? What role do you see for the City Council/Mayor to play in creating a healthy local economy to foster growth of living-wage jobs in Sandpoint?
Town was very busy this summer and we should continue seek to keep town busy all year round. The city should focus on the basics: making sure that the city has clean water, working sewers, nice streets. We should continue to cultivate a business friendly city.
6. The city has moved toward construction of fiber optic or high-speed Internet in Sandpoint in order to attract and retain companies as well as benefit residential users. Do you feel this is an important project for the city to undertake; if so, do you feel the process to launch the service is satisfactory?
I would like to see fiber optic in Sandpoint. I would like to see a private company come in and undertake this project. I would also like to see this private company pay back the city for the process they have already started.
7. Related to the economy is the matter of affordable workforce housing. Do you feel affordable housing is an issue; if so, do you have plans to address it?
I believe it is an issue and I would certainly like to look into the issue more.
8. Sandpoint's downtown has undergone a major realignment of traffic patterns to remove one-way streets and convert virtually all streets to two-way. A downtown redesign to widen sidewalks, add storm water swales and other changes carries on next summer starting with Cedar Street. What is your position on these changes to downtown? Corollary question: As downtown parking is a perennial issue; how do you view changes instituted by the city in the past year concerning the management and enforcement of parking? Do you have other ideas concerning parking issues?
In regards to the two-way streets, I will wait at least a whole year before I come to a final judgment. I would also like to see if the new layout presents any challenges in the winter.
9. Increasing train traffic, specifically trains transporting coal and volatile oil, has become an issue locally and regionally with citizens who identify environmental and public safety threats. Do you feel this is an important issue for city officials; if so, what actions to you advocate?
I would certainly like to look into this more. As a city we should always be aware of what’s being hauled through our city, whether by train or truck. Also, we should always have a plan in place for worst case scenarios.
10. Here's a final three-part question:
- How much time will you devote to your position? Whatever it takes.
- How many City Council meetings have you attended in the past two years? Quite a few.
- Why are you running for public office? Because it is time for me to serve.