City Council Election: Thomas Voss

NLJ: Please tell us why you want to hold this office, and what you intend to accomplish if elected. Please be specific about your goals and objectives, so our readers can measure your progress over the course of the term. Also tell us what qualifications and characteristics you possess that will help ensure that your stated goals can be achieved. (The same question was posed to all candidates for the General Election.)

I’m a graduate of Newcastle High School and the University of Wyoming. I bring to the Newcastle City Council 30 years of experience in hospitality and tourism. While being a general manager for Best Western and Sheraton Hotels, I was also a partner in an oil and gas production firm. For six years my construction company built single-family homes, multiplex apartments, hotel/motel rooms and industrial buildings in Douglas, Gillette, and Newcastle. I have served on the Weston County Zoning and Planning Commission. I was a precinct committeeman and vice-chairman of the Weston County Republican Party.
Along with working to maintain efficient daily operations, I will spend my four-year term using the experience I gained as an “appointed” councilman to address the ideas below.
• I will continue to maintain my contact with citizens gathering your views and ideas regarding the city, much like we did with the mixer on Oct. 20, “Your Voice – Your City.” I will be encouraging participation from the people to be a part of what we do.
• I will promote a “pro-business” attitude for our city. I will work for the development of teams such as joint ventures, improvement districts, and partnerships with citizen organizations for the development of core business plans to create credible business models for our area. 
• The city council needs to lead the efforts in reorganizing and revamping the industrial park to prepare it for 21st century business. New businesses need places to work.
• We must research and develop new uses for present resources to gain revenue. One idea is to process sewage and food garbage to make gas then burn the bio-gas to generate electricity. The city can sell or use the electricity, either way we win. 
I ask readers to please help me keep my seat on the city council because in being there for the last 10 months I’ve learned how much there is to do and I am committed to doing it for you, for me, for our city. Your vote is greatly appreciated, T. A. Voss.