News : All candidates endorse a yes vote on telecom utility

John Watson

Bud Maynard

iVinton campaign button

At the candidate night on Tuesday the 21st held at the US Bank community room, every candidate for city council and mayor encouraged voters to approve the telecommunication initiative on the November ballot.

Click here to see a video of each candidate explaining their position.

John Watson, running for re-election as mayor recently shared his thoughts by saying, “We have to be as smart as the next guy or we’re already behind. Whatever we can do to make sure our young people can compete….to make sure our local businesses can compete - that’s what we’d better be doing. We also have to keep up with other communities or we won’t be successful in attracting new families to live here.”

His opponent, Bud Maynard, responded by email and wrote, “If we are going to be a stronger and better Vinton this is one of the resources we need in place. As mayor I would support these initiatives and work with the council and VMEU to further their development. I believe it important to let Vinton decide what’s best for Vinton and not let outside entities choose the path they think is right for us. “

A group of citizens under the banner iVinton have been encouraging a Yes vote for several months, though the issue stretches back more than ten years.

Vinton has held three previous elections about establishing a local telecommunications utility. The last time the issue came to a vote was in 2005. According to Jason Hicok, an iVinton volunteer, a lot has changed since the last vote.

“I can understand how 10 years ago voters might not have felt motivated to approve the measure,” said Jason. “Today, though, every business depends on telecommunications through the internet and most homes consume a lot of data content through both cable and internet connections.”

In the ten years that have passed since Vinton’s last vote, the community now finds itself to be only one of four Benton county communities without extremely fast and reliable service that is locally controlled. The other communities without service in place or planned for construction are Belle Plaine, Blairstown, and Luzerne. Independence, a community of similar size has been in the local telecommunications business for sixteen years.

You can learn more about the telecommunications vote at www.iVinton.com On that site you can also pose questions and an iVinton volunteer will respond within 24 horus. iVinton also has a Facebook page with more information and videos.