In the Verde Independent's Yavapai County Board of Supervisors questionnaire for district 3 candidates, Nikki sets herself apart from Incumbent Donna Michaels and Republican challenger Lori Drake as the clear choice for collaborative and responsive leadership in Yavapai County.
Below are Nikki's answers. Find the full article in the Verde Independent here. Answers were limited to 100 words for each question.
Name: Elect Nikki Check
Email: electnikkicheck@gmail.com
Phone Number: 928-365-6651
Age: 39
Occupation: Conservation Consultant
Education: Prescott High School, Yavapai College (Associates of Applied Science in Agriculture), Prescott College (Bachelors of Arts in Agroecology)
Q. How long have you lived in District 3?
A. 16 years
Q. What made you decide to run and what strengths can you bring to the office?
A. Lack of fiscal representation in the county budget process is the main issue that made me decide to run. District 3 provides the most in property taxes to Yavapai County and we aren’t seeing those dollars reinvested in our district equitably. Although the role of County Supervisor can be demanding, it’s an office that can produce a lot of meaningful, positive impacts for people locally. As a former Mayor, I bring the strength of good working relationships and a willingness to be a consensus builder in order to get our priorities actualized in the Verde Valley.
Q. What are your top 3 goals, if elected, and/or what is your top priority for your constituents?
A. First, I will work to reinvest our tax dollars here in District 3. Second, I will balance economic and housing development with open space and conservation. Third, I will protect the Verde River and work to develop regional water policy collaboratively. My priorities are county focused, but I will partner with municipalities on mutually beneficial projects and advocate for our communities at the state legislature when appropriate. My top priority is to keep government accountable to the people by upholding the public process. This means following open meeting law and campaign laws to ensure that public resources are not misused.
Q. How do you plan to respond to constituent concerns – your plan for keeping a presence in the communities you would represent?
A. District 3 includes Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Perkinsville, Quail Springs, Verde Santa Fe, Verde Villages, and Village of Oak Creek. These are all distinctly different communities with distinctly different needs and goals. Most of these communities have councils or organizations which I plan to proactively meet with quarterly. I will communicate directly with elected officials and community leaders when proposed county policies impact them or their constituents. I will attend scheduled Board of Supervisor meetings in person whenever possible. I will keep office hours and phone lines open and respond to individuals directly in a timely manner.
Q. Describe your leadership style.
A. I am an on-the-ground leader who likes to understand the details behind issues before I make decisions about them. I am dedicated to solving problems, resolving conflicts, and building consensus so that our communities can keep moving forward toward the achievement of our common goals. I am endorsed by many local leaders, not because we align perfectly on issues, but because of my willingness to listen to their needs and perspectives.
Q. What changes/improvements would you propose making if elected to improve efficiencies, etc.?
A. The most important efficiency to improve right now is getting our money back into our district. Aside from that, I will increase communication to reduce redundancy and facilitate truly regional thinking between Yavapai County, cities and towns, the state, and important federal entities such as the U.S. Forest Service. It is essential that policy making at all levels be informed and I am willing to be a connector to make that process more efficient and more effective in serving the public.
Q. Elected positions are understandably held to a high standard by the public. Residents expect candidates to govern themselves with a certain level of character and integrity. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with or convicted of a crime, and what would you tell voters to explain and reassure them of your ability to hold this office?
A. I have not been charged with or convicted of any crimes. I have never received any citations. I have never violated open meeting law, campaign laws, or misused taxpayer resources while holding elected office. Integrity is important to me personally and is essential in upholding people’s trust of the public process. I do my best to follow rules in my personal life and as an elected official. If I have a conflict of interest, I am transparent about it and recuse myself from voting when appropriate. I avoid using the public process to benefit special interests, donors, or friends unduly.
Q. Is there a question we didn't ask that you'd like to answer?
Q. What qualifies you to be an effective Supervisor for Yavapai County’s third district?
A. I am a Yavapai County native, a former Mayor of Jerome, and was the founding Director of the Southwest Wine Center at Yavapai College. I helped build a wine industry that is now a major employer. I have good executive skills and a love for crafting effective public policy. I was chosen to attend the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy which trains leaders in key policy areas such as healthcare, education, water, and growth management. I have met with dozens of local officials and citizen groups to understand their priorities so that I will be ready to lead when I’m elected.
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