Troy City Council Candidate Survey: Scott Welborn

Could you tell us about your education, relevant to this position?

My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Science in Education from Western Oregon University.  My major was History, which included classes in political science. 

Could you tell us about your personal or professional background, relevant to this position?

I have been teaching government classes for the past 20 years.  While in college, I served as a dorm President and was elected Chairman of the Residence Hall Council.  As a part of the Ferndale Education Association, I have served as a Building Representative, Secondary Director, and as a Bargaining Team Member.

For how long have you lived in Troy?

My wife and I bought our home and moved our family to this wonderful city in 2004. 

Do you have an activity relevant to this position or an endorsement which you would like readers to know of?

I am a concerned citizen of the city, and I hope to be endorsed by the other concerned citizens on election day.

Could you summarize why you are running for city council?

Troy has undergone some changes since my family moved here, not all of them for the better, due to various problems that have faced the city.  I hope to be a part of the City Council in order to help find solutions to these problems and take Troy beyond where it once was.

What do you think are the greatest issues facing the city? How would you handle them?

While many of the services of Troy have been cut back or privatized over the past few years, I feel that it is important to maintain and improve our city’s services, including public safety, the library, and the infrastructure of the city (roads, sewers, etc…).  This takes tax revenues, which I feel can be gathered without increasing tax rates on our families.  The key to increasing our tax revenues is increasing the occupancy rates of our business properties.  According to a story in the Sept. 15th Oakland Press, Troy has a higher office vacancy rate (28.8%) than the recently bankrupt city of Detroit (27.1%).  This is unacceptable.  As a City Council member, I intend to work to aggressively recruit businesses to set up shop here in Troy.  I will also work to encourage redevelopment of currently owned business properties that are vacant…and have been for some time.  As an educator, maintaining an excellent education system here in Troy is a top priority.  I feel the City Council needs to do all it can to assist the school district and recognize the successes of our students and teachers.