Deborah A. Rauth - Moyie City Council

Background

• Profession: Caregiver and retired

• Educational background: 3 years of college, First Aid Training, ADA Coordinator

• How many years as a Boundary County resident? 26 years

• Marital status: Married

• Family: 6 kids each married, 23 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren

Questions:

1. What will be your major initiatives in your first 100 days in office?

Continue to be on the sewer committee and attend meetings with the engineers to be kept updated. Work on the ordinances to update them as needed. Attend quarterly meetings with the Commissioners and Bonners Ferry City council members.

2. What are the three most significant issues facing the board for which you are running? Why are they the most significant? (Please be specific.) Sewer plant project-with everything approved and bid awarded oversight needs to be done. Updating the current ordinances-we need to do this responsibly for the future with our growth. To be financial wise-to be careful with our money.

3. What are your solutions to those issues? (Again, please be specific.)

Sewer plant project-get timely, regular updates. Keep all involved accountable. Attend the meetings. Update the current ordinances-attend workshops to review and update as needed.

Financially wise-apply for grants, think before you spend.

4. How do you plan to make residents feel not only heard but understood when they bring their issues to youl Encourage our residents to be involved at our workshops and attend our monthly and special meetings. Talk with them and meet with them in person.

5. Do you think the board you are seeking a seat on is going in the right direction? Why or why not?

Yes, All the city council members want to grow permanently and to do that we have to face our future and be smart about how to encourage growth taking into effect all our residents.

6. What is the most critical issue in your race and how do you plan to address it?

Sewer treatment project - pay close attention to the progress.

7. What issue is not being given enough exposure in your race? What is it and why is it important? Tackling the financial needs of the city: We are a very special small town that must be kept updated; federal, state, and county rules apply. DEQ tells us we are out of compliance, and so we are building a treatment plant which will bring us back into compliance.

8. There has been a lot of tension in the county lately. What plans do you have to reinstate a strong sense of community between residents? Let all residents have a seat at meetings and encourage everyone to get involved We all have a common bond— we love where we live. That is a great beginning that can be built on, face-to-face at a table gathering.

9. What is your favorite thing about the community? (Places to go, things to do, what makes you feel connected to the area?) friendliness: Going into any store. I love talking with people, and it is so easy to smile, and the smile you get in return is priceless. Everyone here loves to volunteer and help.

10. What do you like to do in your spare time? I bake and love to work in the kitchen. I also sew baby blankets and quilts to be given away. I crochet all the time.

11. How will you balance the needs of the city while keeping up with the costs of inflation and not overburdening the taxpayers? By looking for the best deals and tightening our spending. Going over the paperwork and getting bids.

12. Who has been the biggest influence in your life, and why? My grandmother. She would say to me, "You must meet in the middle and find common ground to start with. Always be willing to take a seat at the table and work it out."

13. What is the most important characteristic for someone holding office to have? You must be willing to be involved. You must be willing to compromise.

14. With developments coming in and Moyie Springs growing, what will you do to ensure services will be available to the standard residents are used to? Try for grants whenever possible to keep costs down for our residents and yet meet standards for growth. Try to stay updated as new rules affect our city.

15. Give voters your best pitch: Why should they choose you?

Being retired, I have time to attend meetings as needed.

At the ITO meeting, I was nervous but determined to learn. I kept notes and turned them into the office. At the next meeting, I relayed my notes to the other members.

Information is key. I read all I can so that the information I gather is accurate.

I am the ADA coordinator, and I volunteer to try to attend day meetings while the others work. Our city is very special and only deserves the best.