City Council Day 4: Jacob Flamm, Crystal Hill, & Luke Walker Interviews

Quotes from Candidate Jacob Flamm: 

What challenges do you see in Rexburg that have you concerned? 

• “One of the hot topics recently seems to be the usage of the LIDs which is a Local Improvement District. It’s an opportunity for homeowners to come together and get some improvements made on their streets with the curbs and the gutters. Generally speaking, that’s something that the homeowners come together on and request financial assistance through the city to have a lower interest rate or to be able to pay it off through city utilities. Recently, most of those LIDs have been done with the city council making a decision to come in and strongarm that decision on the residents versus the residents coming to the city council requesting it, so that’s one of the concerns.” 

What is the most pressing issue you’d like to address if elected to city council? 

• “I think we need to make sure that we’re on firm financial footing first and foremost. Second, I think we need to make sure that we are listening to the constituents of Rexburg and understanding their concerns.” 

Why is Rexburg special to you? 

• “Well, I have probably a little bit different answer than most everyone else. My great-great-grandfather came with Thomas E. Ricks to settle Rexburg, so I have a family tie all the way back before Rexburg was Rexburg…I not only want to see Rexburg thrive and survive and develop in a responsible manner, but I also feel often times a duty that I have to my ancestors to build upon what they helped establish.” 

Quotes from Candidate Crystal Hill: 

What leadership experience do you have that you can use as a city council member? 

• “Oh gosh, I’m a mom. All I do is lead. Aside from that of course, I’ve been in multiple different situations and scenarios. I did do politics before and it was on a local level and on a state-wide level, and it was very interesting watching myself really integrate with the people, with the people that were the candidate hopefuls, and also with the people that had already been elected… After a while of getting to know them, I started to be listened to. So, the leadership in that where I would come up with a suggestion, I started having some merit behind me.” 

What challenges do you see in Rexburg that have you concerned? 

• “I would love to see more accountability, integrity, and unity within our municipality…I’ve heard people being dealt financially a difficult hand because policy and procedure weren’t always in place. I want everybody’s voice to feel like that they’re heard, and I want them to feel that they matter. It doesn’t matter what your last name is, it doesn’t matter who you know.” 

What is the most pressing issue you’d like to address if elected to city council? 

• “At the end of the day, I think we all have to remember that despite your choices, despite my choices, God loves you just the same as he loves me. And, I want people to be reminded of that in whatever way that I possibly can, and I will pray to know how to work that.” 

Quotes from Candidate Luke Walker: 

What sets you apart as a city council candidate? 

• “I’m extremely dedicated to principles of liberty. I’ve spent thousands of hours studying the writings of our nation’s founding fathers…And, a lot of people think, ‘You know, that’s too big, that doesn’t apply in the municipal level,’ but that’s not true because those principles start here at the grassroots municipal level and cascade upward. It’s the combination of all the communities in our country and their sort of willingness to act and engage in rhetoric and their attitude that affects the direction of our nation and our states of course, too.” 

Why is Rexburg special to you? 

• “Well, I’ve been here three years and it’s by far the happiest time in my life. I’ve had a pretty good life and I loved growing up in Montana, but there’s just a special spirit about Rexburg. Like I’ve said, our gospel and conservative roots are really endearing. It’s just a special place. I think a lot of people who live there really feel that. You know, there are plenty of complaints and stuff. You would see that in any community. I think it’s a pocket of light in a world that’s on a downward trajectory.” 

What challenges do you see in Rexburg that have you concerned? 

• “I’ll be upfront. I am against health mandates. That is not the proper role of government. It’s up to the citizenry to make those choices for themselves. It was debated last year between the city councilors, and had we not protested that twice, it is very likely that those mandates and things would have been enacted here in Rexburg. And, you know, I understand the importance of making wise health decisions but that’s not the proper role of government when it comes to bodily autonomy, and that was pretty concerning for me.”