MOSES LAKE — Candidate Darrin Jackson is running for election to Moses Lake City Council because he wants to give back to his community.

He explained his experience in the U.S. Army, National Guard and as a business owner will help him with the position.

“(It) taught me how to deal with people and solve problems on a daily (basis) and at times, minute to minute,” Jackson stated. “I’ve learned to make decisions based on good old common sense, to see beyond the narrow interest of the moment to what makes sense for the long term.”

He explained his goal for the position is to make the people around him successful.

“My goal will be simply to make the citizens and city successful, to create and foster a balance of what is good for the individual citizen and the total community,” he stated.

Jackson explained a challenge facing the position is making decisions that will please everyone.

“Carrying out the wishes of the citizens is number one,” he stated. “The other big challenge is just getting everyone to work together. We should never forget who we work for, who put us on the council and who we are responsible to and for how we lead the community into the future.”

Jackson explained often times candidates make promises to citizens to get elected.

“All I can do is ask you to listen. When you’re tired of hearing it, (I’ll) ask you to believe I will work my hardest for what you want in your community when I know you’ve been told that before,” he stated. “All I can ask is for you to give me the chance to prove my sincerity to the whole community.”

He explained his views related to several city issues including posting signs on city property.

“I don’t think this should be stopped,” he stated. “First the city property is managed by the city government but belongs to the people. Second, where else can you put signs where they will be seen most by the citizens? I realize some people see them as somewhat of an eye sore but to deny the practice gets close to an abridgement of first amendment rights.”

Jackson stated he does not support breed specific laws regulating certain dogs because any dog can be hazardous.

“One of the meanest dogs I’ve ever seen was a small poodle that my wife owned. Will we ban that breed?” he asked. “Let’s try some common sense here. If you have a gun, you’re responsible to keep it from endangering anyone. A dog trained in certain ways and let loose can endanger the public but the breed of dog isn’t at fault. The problem is with the owner and trainer of that specific dog. The owner should be held not only morally but legally responsible for the behavior of any pet he owns.”

He supports the use of photo enforced intersections to monitor speeding and drivers who fail to stop at stop lights.

“I’ve known people who habitually speed in school zones,” Jackson explained. “They may get away with it 1,000 times but it only takes once for a child to dart from behind a car or sign and their excessive speed could be fatal.”

He supports code enforcement on private property.

“When you look out your window or walk out your door it’s nice to see a neat and reasonably clean world,” he stated. “Heavy weed growth, cars obviously parked for months that likely don’t run anymore and those loose pets frightening people and messing on your lawn all tend to steal some of the joy of living in a community.”

In order to fund the federally mandated stormwater plan he explained he would first look for state funding, then for funds in the water and sewer funds. Jackson stated if there is still more money needed to pay for the program, the cost should be taken from the general fund.