WestFest Unveiling

This past weekend was the annual WestFest celebration. In addition to the crafts, food, and carnival Saturday mornings festivities was kicked off by a family 5k run followed by a parade. After nearly a month of cool and wet weather, the skies were clear, blue, and sunny for the fun. I waited at the finish line for Emily to complete the race and was proud to see her finish a full five minutes ahead of her self-projected time. Afterward I pulled together a makeshift pioneer outfit and climbed aboard the brand new West Valley City parade float that celebrates the wagon train heritage to our Trax train future. It is difficult for me to imagine what life was like for my Rushton and Moesser ancestors that decided to make this part of the valley their home years and years ago. The float will also be showcase at the upcoming annual 24th of July parade in Salt Lake City. The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the ten o'clock night sky.

Update Op-Ed

Recently I wrote the "Update" message for the West Valley Journal. There were a number of items and issues that I would have loved to address, but due to space limitations I wrote the following that was themed towards the challenges of a maturing urban city. It also encompasses my thoughts towards many eminent policy decisions from Animals to Zone Changes:

Progress as Promised

A message from Councilmember Corey Rushton

As you take a look around West Valley City you may have noticed the increasing blooming of orange construction cones and fences. The amount of growth and development in this once desolate and lonely region of the valley has been remarkable. It is hard to believe that over fifty years ago it was extremely difficult to obtain a home loan in this area because lenders thought that it was too remote of a location and would eventually be abandoned. However, it has been said many times and in many different ways that change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacably requires change. Progress and change is at the root of most issues and challenges we face as we continue to grow and mature as a city with its own identity.

I would like to point out three significant ways in which West Valley City is maintaining a small town sense of community and responsibility in the midst of a rapidly growing urbanized region. First, unlike many government entities, we have a balanced budget and have been consistently paying down city debt. Second, our city has done a great job in attracting and retaining businesses, in addition to having major employment centers. We are fortunate to have roughly the same number of jobs in West Valley City as we have working age adults. Finally, the FBI released crime statistics last week for major U.S. cities, and I was pleased to see that we experienced a decline in violent crimes last year. Considering the state of current economic challenges, I feel that we as a city are in a strong position to make continual strides of improvement.

In addition to all of this, I am thrilled at our city’s unmatched efforts in bringing people and communities together. The great inventor and innovator Henry Ford once noted that, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” I also invite everyone to take inventory and reflect on how we can continue to bring our community together and enjoy the progress within your own lives and within West Valley City.

Anniversary

This past week Emily and I celebrated the anniversary of our wedding. For the Opening Ceremony of our City Council Meeting I made the following remarks about achieving marital bliss:

Because this is wedding anniversary I have reflected on the importance of having a good marriage and since the Mayor has been such a good example in being in a successful marriage I asked his wife about their secret to having a long and happy marriage.

She told me that, “It all dates back to an experience on our honeymoon”, explained Mrs. Nordfelt. “We visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by pack mule. We hadn't gone too far when my husband's mule stumbled. I heard my husband quietly say 'That's once.'

We proceeded a little farther when the mule stumbled again. This time my husband the Mayor quietly said, 'That's twice.'

We made it to the bottom of the canyon when the mule stumbled and they fell to the ground. My husband promptly removed a revolver from his pocket and shot the mule.

I stood there shocked at what my husband had done and then started to protest over his treatment of the mule when he looked at me and quietly said 'That's once.'"

This little story garnished a few bits of laughter and was of course a joke, but it is very true that Mayor Nordfelt is a great example of how to be an effective elected official as well as beloved family man.