Lee Price is running for the Rexburg City Council. In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, he explained why he is running, what he would bring to the position, what issues he would focus on and more if he is elected. Election Day is Nov. 4. Below is a transcript of the interview. It has been lightly edited for clarity
Hannah: Lee, can you tell me about your background and how it led you to running this year for City Council?
Lee Price: Sure. My background was the oil and gas business in Texas. I moved here to be near one of our daughters and got a job at the INL (Idaho National Laboratory) as a senior project manager and we have loved, fell in love with Rexburg, and moved away for one year and then retired and came back. We've now made this our home. Speaking with some friends of mine, they were talking about the city and the growth that we're experiencing and how they could impact perhaps the direction that the city takes, and they kind of talked me into running for City Council. I don't necessarily consider myself a politician, but I feel if I can make a difference as a retired guy, I have a little more time maybe than others and would love to see if I can make a positive impact on the city.
Hannah: What would you say makes you stand apart from other candidates running?
Lee Price: Well, I don't know that I do stand apart. I don't really know that much about the other candidates. I feel that I’m sure everyone cares about our city. I think I'm a little more kind of straightforward, common sense-type guy and feel my background with business and construction and growth in the facets of the oil and gas business I was in I think gives me a little bit of an interesting background for what I might be able to contribute and bring to the City Council.
Hannah: What would you say is Rexburg's biggest issue right now?
Lee Price: Growth. I think there are aspects of that, that I’m specifically interested in getting involved with. I think the mayor actually appoints you to certain department oversight. But I hope that I can be involved on the police side with the infrastructure and the utility side and perhaps a little bit on the zoning side. I feel like as we grow, we're going to maybe not feel like a little small town anymore. And I feel that we need to make sure that we maintain the safe feeling that we all have felt for such a long time here. And I want to make sure probably more focused on the police department that they get what they need to help us continue the safe feeling that we felt in America's Family Community.
Hannah: You mentioned all of this growth. How would you address the current housing crisis in Rexburg?
Lee Price: I actually didn't know there was a housing crisis. I know that the prices have gone up. I think that's commensurate with the cost of materials as well as the supply and demand. I'm very big about supply and demand, the way it has to work, perhaps the zoning needs to allow more room for housing communities as opposed to apartments. I'm actually interested in finding out a little bit more about that and see how the City Council can impact the housing crisis if as you stated. I'm not sure how a City Council can necessarily dictate how many houses are built, for example, but we could certainly look at the zoning requirements.
Hannah: There’s been some conversation about extending 5th West to allow for another exit out of Rexburg. What are your thoughts on that?
Lee Price: I actually don't have thoughts on that at this time. I've heard a little bit about it, but I don’t know how it would impact the areas that are to be impacted. I've heard both positive and negative from friends I've spoken to about it. But to take a position at this point, I really don't know that much about it.
Hannah: What message do you have for voters as we approach Election Day?
Lee Price: That's a good question. Certainly I'm running because I want to be elected. I feel I can bring maybe a different viewpoint to the City Council than there's been before. But I think if we all vote what we feel is best for the city, then I think we'll elect the right people.
For more information on Price and his campaign, visit East Idaho New’s interview with him.