Incumbent Bryanna Johnson defends council seat in upcoming Rexburg election

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is the third of three stories on candidates running for Rexburg City Council in November 2023. The first article can be read here. The second article can be read here.

REXBURG — Six candidates are vying for three open City Council seats in Rexburg. Incumbent Bryanna Johnson is defending her council seat, while Tisha Flora and Jordan Busby are not running for re-election.

These are the other five candidates: Rob Woodall, David Reeser, Brian Thackeray, Eric Erickson and Nathan Martin.

EastIdahoNews.com sent the same eight questions to each candidate. Their responses, listed below, were required to be 250 words or less. EastIdahoNews.com is publishing the answers in their entirety and without any grammatical or style editing.

The general election is on Nov. 7.

LIVE: Rexburg Mayor and City Council candidates debate

Tell us about yourself — include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work and any prior experience in public office.

Johnson: My husband and I have three sons, ages 18, 15, and 11. We moved to Rexburg in 2010 when my husband began teaching physics at BYU-Idaho. He loves that and we love living here. I teach child development as an adjunct faculty member at BYU-Idaho, as well. I love working with children and teaching others how to help raise happy, healthy children. I have really enjoyed serving on the Rexburg city council for the past four years and I have more to contribute if elected to another term.

Martin: I moved to Rexburg, Idaho at the age of 18, all by myself, with a strong desire to build a life in this welcoming community. Although I didn’t have the advantage of a family history here, I quickly became a part of the fabric of Rexburg.

I moved to Rexburg, Idaho at the age of 18, all by myself, with a strong desire to build a life in this welcoming community. Although I didn’t have the advantage of a degree, I quickly became a part of the fabric of Rexburg. Professionally, I am the proud owner of a small business here in Rexburg, which has given me firsthand experience in the challenges and opportunities faced by our local entrepreneurs.

In addition to my business, I run a website called Rexburg Patriots, dedicated to catering to the local community and reinforcing the idea that Rexburg is America’s Family Town. I have also been actively involved in various volunteer initiatives, including organizing community cleanup events and supporting local charities.

While I may not have prior experience in public office or a formal degree, my dedication to Rexburg and its residents has motivated me to step up and serve our community as a City Council Member.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Johnson: My husband and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, and I am so thankful for my marriage and what we’ve built together. Our oldest son just started college, and I am so happy we’ve made it to this point with one of our children! My proudest accomplishment is my family/motherhood.

Martin: My proudest accomplishment is starting and growing my small business right here in Rexburg, all on my own. It’s been a challenging journey, but it has allowed me to create job opportunities for our community, contribute to the local economy, and
give back through charitable initiatives.

Why are you seeking political office within your community? Briefly explain your political platform.

Johnson: When I ran four years ago, I knew I felt passionate about some things that affect our community. During the four years I’ve served, I have come to realize I care about all of the decisions made that impact the community. I care about our first responders and have loved the opportunity to support our police and fire departments. I care deeply about land use issues and preserving neighborhoods where families can have stability and space for children to play and thrive.

I believe in planning for and building infrastructure that provides for residents’ needs without compromising safety. I love having the ability to effect change even in small ways. I really appreciate knowing that I don’t have to come up with all the solutions myself – our city is filled with residents with great ideas that contribute to solutions.

Martin: I’m seeking political office because I believe in the potential of Rexburg and its residents. My platform is built on three key pillars:

• Economic Growth: I want to promote policies that attract new businesses to Rexburg, support existing ones, and ensure economic prosperity for all.
• Community Engagement: I’m committed to fostering a sense of unity and cooperation among residents, regardless of their political views. I believe in open dialogue and transparency.
• Infrastructure and Sustainability: We need to address our infrastructure needs, particularly in terms of road maintenance and sustainable development.

What are the greatest challenges facing people in your community? What is your plan to meet those challenges?

Johnson: I think land use issues and maintaining adequate infrastructure are two big challenges for a city like ours that is still developing. With input from residents, plans for the future can and should be updated. Snow removal and road maintenance are other issues that can still be improved. Another challenge is to make sure that residents feel heard by their elected officials and by city staff. I feel strongly about continuing to try and improve that process.

Martin: The greatest challenges facing our community include affordable housing, traffic congestion, and maintaining our unique small-town charm. To address these challenges, I will work to collaborate with local developers to create more affordable housing options, explore traffic management solutions, and preserve our community’s character through responsible zoning and development policies.

How will you best represent the views of your constituents – even those with differing political views? How will you communicate directly with constituents?

Johnson: One of the things I have loved most about being on the city council is the opportunity to hear from residents. I can think of many times when they had input that changed how I viewed a situation and how I voted. We need opposing views and all should be respectfully considered.

In addition to listening to residents in council meetings, I have met with residents in my home or at their homes to hear what they had to say. I have listened to issues when I’ve met residents at the grocery store. And I have read every email I’ve ever received from a resident. I have tried my best to listen and will try to keep that up.

Martin: I believe in representing all constituents, regardless of their political views. I’ll hold regular town hall meetings, engage through social media, and actively seek feedback to ensure everyone’s voices are heard. I’m committed to finding common ground and working collaboratively to address the issues that matter most to our residents.

What areas in your community need immediate improvement? What actions will you take to address those needs?

Johnson: There is room for improvement in many areas. One example is that I would like to see some updates to our transportation plan in order to keep residential communities safe. I’m working with city staff to organize meetings to help this happen.

Martin: Immediate improvement is needed in our infrastructure, specifically regarding road maintenance and safety. I will work with city departments to prioritize necessary repairs and invest in long-term solutions to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety.

What parts of the city budget could use more funding? Where are places in the budget that cuts could be made?

Johnson:I would like to see more money allocated for things that residents have expressed bring them joy, such as pickleball courts, parks, and cultural art events. I would like to see more money put toward snow removal. I believe spending money on road maintenance now saves extra cost in the future. I always wish for more money to give to our police department to meet their needs. I think we’ve tried very hard as a council to be good stewards of our finances and would find it hard to cut back in many places.

Martin: Our budget should prioritize areas like education, public safety, and infrastructure. While it’s essential to ensure adequate funding for these vital services, I believe we should also explore opportunities to reduce waste and inefficiencies in other areas of the budget.

What is the role of local media in your community? How can city officials work to have a better relationship with the media?

Johnson:I feel the media plays a vital role in keeping residents informed. I’ve never turned down a media interview and enjoy being asked by media outlets about issues facing the community. I would welcome more media coverage of local issues and would do what I can to facilitate it.

Martin: Local media plays a critical role in keeping residents informed about city affairs. City officials should maintain open and transparent communication with the media, providing accurate information and being responsive to inquiries. Regular press conferences, updates, and briefings can help improve the relationship and ensure the public stays informed about important issues.