Kevin Hogan - Candidate for Homer City Council </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 9:23 PM on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Kevin Hogan - Candidate for Homer City Council

Hogan believes city needs to tighten its belt, live within its means

BY McKibben Jackinsky
STAFF WRITER

Kevin Hogan candidate for Homer City council

Wanting to see the city do more with less is behind Kevin Hogan's decision to run for one of two seats on Homer City Council. Each seat is a three-year term.

"I've been following the working of city government and am concerned about the amount of money being spent and what we're getting in return," Hogan said, pointing to a budget for the city's 5,400 population and what he sees as the area's declining job base. "My feeling is that we need to start tightening our belt and living within our means."

Although he favors no tax on non-prepared foods year-round, he said, "I know we can't move to that immediately, but it's where we need to go because it places a huge burden on people that can afford it the least."

His knowledge of city government is what sets him apart from other candidates for the council," Hogan said. It allows him "to see some of the problems and I think I've done my homework and have some ideas."

From his observations, Hogan said he would like to see the council assert itself in a leadership and policy-setting role.

"The council is somewhat reactionary to the leadership of the (city's) administration," he said. "The administration is supposed to enact the policies of the council, not the other way around."

Cutting the budget is Hogan's number one priority.

Age: 57

Occupation: Seafood Industry

Family: Wife: Bronwyn Kennedy

Education: Willamette University/Evergreen State/ UAF undergraduate studies

Organizations and special interests: United Fishermen of Alaska, United Cook Inlet Drift Association,

Previously held elected office and experience: Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council; Port and Harbor Commission; Economic Development Commission

Ways for voters to contact you: 399-8090 or fishbid@xyz.net

"Cutting spending, particularly," he said. "The council has spent a lot of time in the last few years especially on the water rate issue, looking at revenue sources and refusing to look at the spending side. That's where the problem is."

Accountability also is one of Hogan's priorities. Toward that end, he suggested turning to the state's ombudsman program to review complaints against the city as a possible alternative to court. Other priorities include diversifying the city's economy, outsourcing some city services to private enterprise and re-evaluating the city's land holdings.

"I think the city's land portfolio is extensive and needs to be utilized for productive purposes or disposed of and put in private hands and put back in tax rolls," he said.

Using repair of local roads as an example, Hogan said he also supported consolidating services currently addressed by more than one governmental agency.

"People don't care if it belongs to the city or the state," he said. "They just want it fixed."

Asked what principle he would use to make budget decisions, Hogan said it's "pretty much leadership."

"I think rather than negotiate with our administration, we need to tell them what we expect as far as budget levels," he said. "We need to be setting policy at the council level, not having our staff and administration driving the bus."