Welcome to My Campaign Blogsite

Welcome to my campaaign blogsite!

I am seeking re-election to Ogden’s Municipal Ward 1 because I believe that now, more than ever, residents in Central and West Ogden need a council representative who will not only listen to them, but who will courageously advocate for them.

Ogden’s City government must serve all its residents: old and young, families and businesses, tenants and landlords. We must have parks and recreation, and facilities like the Marshall White Center, with positive programs for our children and their families. Investment must target need, and our intercity neighborhoods need development most critically. We also have to protect our community’s unique resources, such as our parks and foothills. They enrich us all!

With these needs and a challenging economic climate, it is more important than ever to develop budgets that minimize waste, and use tax dollars wisely. We must put safety, health and other basic services above luxuries and adventures.

I will work with all diligence to ensure that the proposals we pass through the City Council meet these goals. Your support is key to our success and is my most cherished reward.

To learn more, click on any of the 'links" on the right-hand side of this page to read my positions on issues facing our community. Or simply "scroll down" to read these articles in sequence. And don’t hesitate to click on the “contact us” link if you have additional questions or comments. Navigate to my campaign website if you'd like to contribute to my campaign; or join us as a volunteer.

Thanks, and please know that I would be honored to have your support and your vote November 3.

-Jesse Garcia
Councilman, Ogden Ward 1

Parks & Recreation

We live in one of the most beautiful settings in the Country. Ogden has the natural and community assets to provide recreational opportunities as diverse as the people who live here.

We have two magnificent rivers that provide an idyllic place for fishing, kayaking, or just relaxing and enjoying their natural beauty. We have miles of urban and foothill trails used by families, bikers, skateboarders, strollers, runners, and pets.

The Mount Ogden Park complex has been described as the city’s “Crown Jewel” and “Ogden’s Central Park”. I agree, and I promise to do all I can to maintain public ownership of this treasure including the 18-hole golf course, soccer fields, tennis courts, playgounds, and picnic pavilions, along with the trails and open space in and around Strong’s Canyon.

Our park and recreation venues aren't intended to pay for themselves. We should be grateful for the outstanding recreational assets we have and promote them both within and outside of our community. Cities and Counties across our State are borrowing money to buy the kind of open space we already have in Ogden.

I have worked to protect the Marshall White Center because it provides the community with recreational opportunities, programs for residents and seniors, and, for our youth, positive programs like the Boys and Girls Club. If there is a better way to administer the facility and its programs, I am open to consider it, but we need the assurance they will continue serving the neighborhood and the City.

I support Ogden City’s youth recreation programs where young people learn the value of working as a team, the satisfaction of personal fitness, and the thrill of hitting a ball over the outfield or swinging a golf club. These programs help keep our kids out of gangs and away from crime.

Our city faces many challenges not the least of which is funding. But, let’s stop trying to sell off our parks and eliminate recreation programs. We must work together to protect our God-given, natural resources and provide recreational opportunities for all of Ogden.

Public Safety

The safety of the people of Ogden is one of my highest priorities.

I believe that prevention is a key component in fighting crime, and as a council member I have supported budgets that include funding for these kinds of programs because investing in our youth now is much better, and cheaper than incarcerating them later.

Among the youth programs I have supported:

• Funding for Colors of Success a program endorsed by the FBI as one of the most effective programs to prevent gangs.

• Protecting the Marshall White Center where included among outreach community programs is the highly acclaimed Boys and Girls Club, which provides a positive place for kids with mentoring programs, help with homework, and summer programs.

• D.A.R.E. a program in the Ogden City Schools designed to prevent substance abuse among kids.

I have a record of supporting the police officers and firefighters who have devoted their careers to protecting our homes and neighborhoods, including:

• Voting 100% of the time for budgets that increase salaries and benefits for our public safety workers.

• Supporting matching funding for federal grants to give officers the tools they need to do their jobs.

• Helping facilitate “Interest Based Problem Solving” (IBPS), which uses innovative approaches to compensate public safety workers.

Strengthening neighborhoods is another very important key to fighting crime. Families deserve to feel safe in their homes and their neighborhoods. To this end I have supported:

• Home ownership programs to provide stability to neighborhoods.

• Re-zoning to increase single-family residential lots.

• Funding community policing so that residents know the officers patrolling their neighborhoods and feel safe talking with them and sharing information.

In the next 4 years as your representative in Municipal Ward One, I promise to continue to support prevention programs for youth, advocate for our public safety officers and work to make our neighborhoods safer and more stable.

Fiscal Responsibility

My 16 years of experience in helping to develop Ogden City’s budget provides me with the unique ability to scrutinize line items and funding requests from the various city departments. I have a very good sense of what is meat – and what is fat.

I also understand that to provide quality services, we have to invest in infrastructure, equipment, tools, and a fair wage for city employees. It all costs money – your tax dollars.

With our current economic climate, I am more committed than ever to taking a hard look at any new project that is not within what most of us would consider basic municipal services.

Right now we have several city-started projects, like the River Project that haven’t been completed or even fairly begun. We should not provide funding for projects like ice towers or velodromes until we can afford to hire enough police officers and contain rising utility costs.

More than 95% of the time, the council has been able to work out a compromise on budget issues. I have supported budgets that contained funding for projects that I didn't necessarily support, because negotiation and compromise are needed to move forward.

I will continue to work with my fellow council members and Ogden's administration while representing the residents of Ward 1 and the City at large.

Let’s tighten our belts, focus on providing safety and services, and protecting the amenities that benefit our residents and attract visitors.

Economic Development

During my tenure as a City Council and Redevelopment Agency member, I am proud to have voted for tax incentives to businesses that bring jobs and tax revenue to Ogden.

Investment in our downtown is critical to our success as a city, because it’s Ogden’s collective neighborhood. Historic 25th Street is one of our greatest assets and we must support existing businesses, recruit new businesses from regional rather than national markets, and enforce ordinances that protect the historic integrity of the buildings there.

Branding Ogden as an outstanding recreational destination is something I have always supported. But not all recreation has to be “high-adventure.” Many of Ogden’s residents enjoy a quiet walk on the trails, an afternoon of fishing on the river, or just quiet contemplation in one of our many beautiful canyons.

Among the many projects that I have voted to support:

• Business Depot Ogden
• Redevelopment and investment on Historic 25th
• Ogden Eccles Conference Center
• Kemp Development
• Fresenius Medical
• Williams International
• The Junction
• The American Can Development.

Most of these have been good investments on behalf of the citizens of Ogden. However, as a council and RDA member, I rely on accurate and complete information from Ogden’s Administration and sadly we don’t always get that.

The administration’s estimates for revenues from the Junction are a good example and unfortunately, now lease revenues from BDO are going to pay off the bonds that helped finance the Junction; and tax revenues that should have been going to our schools have been delayed until 2027.

Future tax investment in economic development projects must be done in the open – not behind closed doors and with an eye on reality, not pie-in-the-sky, wishful thinking. Let’s tighten our belts, focus on completing projects that are in progress and work to recruit companies that bring good jobs at a fair wage.