City Council Candidates: Paul French Stands Up For Johnston

With city elections quickly approaching, Johnston Patch sent the six city council candidates questionnaires. Check back each day this week for candidate responses.Three seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 8 election.

Name: Paul French

Family: Wife, Kathy; son, John; grandson, Lazarus, and granddaughter, Larissa.

Previous elected offices or appointments: City Board of Adjustment, Johnston Senior Citizens Advisory Board National Association of Tax Professionals, National Society of Accountants, National Society of Tax Professionals, Government Accountants Association, Iowa State Reserve Law Officers Association, Blue Knights International, Lions Club International

Employment: Reserve police officer in Urbandale and owner of Paul French Tax Service

• Why did you choose to run for ?

I’m trying to do my part to solve what I can. Since I was in on the creation of this town and seeing issues like the water problems and our front door starting to look ratty, maybe I better while I’m still alive and capable to stand up and do something about it.

• What is the city’s best asset, besides the people?

I think it's location, we’re near Saylorville Lake and Des Moines. The school district, too, people with kids in the because it has a reputation of being an outstanding school. So, if you're pondering taking kids to Des Moines Public Schools, Urbandale or West Des Moines they do research and Johnston has been up there for always. If you think of recreation, it’s hard to beat the thought of being next to Saylorville.

• What is the biggest threat to the community?

The economy, maybe the word threat is appropriate, maybe to Johnston, or name the town is the American economy. That drives the money that allows the city to work. We're starting to see the empty houses and people that are unemployed. The absolute biggest threat to all of us is the economy.

• What areas of Johnston need development or redevelopment? How would you see this through?

Merle Hay Road. I don't think we've done enough for getting business along Merle Hay Road or enough to spur business. If you go down north on Merle Hay there are houses that look like they should be torn down. Meanwhile, 86th Street is developing nicely, you're seeing nice buildings and doctor’s offices.

• What do you see for the future of Merle Hay Road?

Merle Hay has always been the natural main road of Johnston. It's like our front door and we're not taking care of our front door. Simplest idea is attitude of how can we help you, the developer, achieve your plans. Maybe we need to modify something and take to the council or Board of Adjustment for a variance. Doesn't cost to have an attitude of how to help you accomplish business goals.

• If the city had a windfall of $100,000 that must be spent this year, what would you spend it on?

My immediate thought is what I kept hearing, which caused me to run for city council. There are a lot of water, standing water issue problems in Johnston. I hear of people complain there's water running down the ditch, the city doesn't remove it. There are branches, then the city says the branches don't stop water over by Beaver Creek and Lower Beaver Road. It wouldn't fix it but it would make a dent in fixing the standing water problems Johnston has.

• What should be done about the city’s storm water run-off issues?

The solution is the city staff, you have to take in mind how many there are and all the hours they work. The staff has got to be responsive, there’s a street west of Walgreens, they have standing water and it's getting into basements. They say they have contacted the city many times, and it doesn’t happen. One of the people living there is 70 some years old and out in the ditch to his knees in water trying to clear water. I don't thing that’s right.