Monday, August 2, 2021

Quick Hits - FAQ Sheet

I've been getting emails daily from citizens engaged in the voting process and trying to learn where candidates lie on certain issues. I want to address some of the most brought up topics even though as Mayor I may not have any kind of ability to change some of these things, people want to know where I stand.

1. Covid: I don't believe covid is fake. I got it in December and thankfully recovered quickly. It is a strange disease. Some people it takes ahold of and others just blows a little kiss on the way by. I don't get it but I understand that people will approach prevention in different ways. My stance is and has been that people should do what they feel they need to in order to be safe. And at the same time allow others to do the same. For some that may mean getting the vaccine, quarantine, shopping at lower traffic hours, physical distancing, or wearing a mask. Great! For others, they may not want the vaccine for one reason or another, they don't want to wear a mask, and will live their life similar to what it was like before Covid-19. Fine! There is room enough in this world for both extremes to coexist. It doesn't have to make sense to you to respect another's space and decisions. 

2. Mandates: I am opposed to mask mandates for the reason above. People can act in a way that is best for them. I don't think the government needs to be involved. If businesses want to require masks or not, that is up to them. People need to respect that decision and can shop elsewhere if it goes against their ideals.

3. 2nd Amendment: I once owned some guns but lost them all in a tragic boating accident. I believe in the people's right to keep and bear arms, and that it shall not be infringed. I preach responsibility and proficiency along side that right. We need to respect the power and danger they pose. I wish our federal government and agencies did a better job of maintaining, updating, and sharing their database and information with the agencies that need it so they can run effective background checks. The laws around SBRs are kinda dumb, what is a pistol and what is a rifle seems arbitrary. I have a Conceal Carry Permit. If all my guns weren't at the bottom of a deep lake I would probably do that.

4. Abortion: I am pro-life. It's fairly easy these days to not get pregnant. There are plenty of affordable, protective options. While I think it is a tragedy that not every baby will be born I also don't feel it is my place to decide who can and cannot have an abortion. I don't have the right to take away that decision. So I wouldn't support overturning Roe v Wade. My one caveat is that I don't think tax money should be used to perform abortions. So I'm kinda pro-choice as well.

5. LGBTQIA+: Who you want to have sex with isn't my business as long as it is legal and consensual. Who you love doesn't determine your worth as a human being or what kind of person you are. It is not my place to condemn someone's lifestyle because it isn't in line with my beliefs. I've said the word RESPECT a lot in this post, I think it is vital in having a city that is welcoming and can feel like home, a haven. People should be able to come to Provo and feel safe and loved and accepted regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, sexual identity, political belief, level of education, or age. One of my roommates of 4 years is black, gay, and not LDS!!! And he is an awesome person and I'm glad he lives with me. 

6. Trump: He is a decisive man. I didn't vote for him either time, I voted 3rd party. I didn't find him to be a bad president in the administrative sense as much as he was just a bad person. I thought he did a lot to help the country. The economy boomed, he didn't start any wars, he forged peace treaties in the middle east, the vaccine was made in record time, we were an energy exporter for the first time ever, gas prices stayed low. But he was also a self-serving, ego driven, pig headed, a-hole. And he chose to be those things. He was mean just to be mean. He alienated too many people and it lost him the election.

7. Political Affiliation: I'm registered as unaffiliated. I call myself an Independent Centrist.  I don't like the 2 party system and it is only getting worse and more devisive. There is so much space in the middle. It feels great! I did register as a republican so I could vote in last year's gubernatorial primary election.

Monday, July 19, 2021

"Do Your Job"

If you were to go back and talk to every one of my former employers (and current) I think you'd find a common theme: I was reliable, loyal, and did what I was supposed to. This is the mentality and focus I bring to the table as a potential future mayor.

I spent years 1-11 of my life growing up about 20 miles southwest of Boston. My Massachusetts roots had me end up a fan of the New England Patriots. For the first 20 years of my life it wasn't great but the last 20 were a tad bit better. During that Patriots historic dynasty a theme appeared, DO YOUR JOB. It was a simple idea, as a football player you have a position, a duty, a roll to play. In that roll you needed to do what you were asked to do. 

That's my plan. As Mayor of Provo you will find me in Provo, advocating for Provo, shopping in Provo, trying to build a better Provo. I won't go missing. The citizens and employees of Provo will see me doing my job. 



But building Provo isn't only my job to do alone. I'll do what I can but Provo won't become a better place for everyone without an investment from everyone. 

One of those duties, one of our jobs, we have as citizens, is to vote. Don't go blindly. Local elections will affect you more than any other type of election. I've said this before and I will again, I may not be the right candidate for you. That's fine. But come to that conclusion because you put in the effort to know one way or the other. If you've ever asked a question like: Who is our Mayor? Or what has our current mayor done? There's an election? Please, I beg you, do some research and find out who is the right person for you.

Here is a link to the candidates running:



Here is a link to register to vote if you are not currently registered or want to make sure your information is correct. 

Ballots are being put in the mail. You'll get them this week. Be ready. Be a part of the process. Be informed. VOTE.

Saturday, July 10, 2021

What's the Big Idea?

I don't have a monopoly on ideas. I mean, I have some good ones here and there but I'm not going to act like I know everything or that just because I'm trying to become the mayor means my ideas are better than someone else's idea. So a quick qualifier to you know this isn't all brand new to me and then some ways I'm looking to invest my time, money, and ideas into Provo. 

I joined my HOA board about 5 years ago because I wanted to know where my money was going. My mom had bought some rental properties and I was managing them and I wanted to make sure that the  money wasn't being wasted. Since I've joined we've made many improvements to the neighborhood, reduced spending where we found opportunities, while at the same time saving money for the larger capital investments we will need to make in the next several years. And while a lot of people have a distaste for HOAs, I feel like ours is pretty alright.

In that same vein I'd like to try and reduce the city budget by 10% while not losing any of the quality of life we currently have. In order to achieve this I need to meet with every city department individually and see where we are succeeding, where we are falling short, and where we can improve. I want to find ways for government to be more helpful but less intrusive. Is it possible? I want to try.

I want to be among my fellow residents. My goal is to eat at every restaurant in Provo during my 4 years in office. I'd like to have weekly or biweekly lunches at some of these places and we can sit down together and talk about our city. All this eating means I'll need to visit the Rec Center more! Look for me there! 

I want to be at every groundbreaking and new business opening. If it is an important event to you and happening in Provo, I want to be there. I will actively seek out these opportunities. 

As I said in an earlier post, I plan to donate 10% of my salary back into Provo in some way. I think that's about $1,000 per month. I want to help where I can so I'll be looking for good causes, good people, good ideas so I can give back some of what I've been given.

I recognize that it's not part of my job as Mayor to go out and personally recruit businesses to come here. I'll leave that to the developers so I can focus on the businesses that already call Provo home. But I can make that recruitment process easier if Provo is a business friendly, easy to develop in and then grow in kind of city. And if that can help me find a way to get a Waffle House here, that would be awesome.

I also have far fetched ideas, like asking billionaires for money! There's over 500 of them throughout the country and they need tax write offs. Why not spend some of that money here in Provo? Maybe they help pay for the new water treatment plant expansion. Maybe one can pay off some of the City Center Bond. Maybe one can sponsor every playable round at Timponogos Golf Club or a membership to the Rec Center for every resident for a year. Maybe someone builds us a new school. It's a crazy idea, wild and outlandish but if even one person wants to invest in Provo, then it's a win for us. And if each of them gave Provo a million dollars we'd be out of debt! Can't hurt to ask.

What are some of your ideas? I'd love to hear them.

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Investing in Provo

There's something about ownership that changes you in a good way. When a thing becomes yours, it somehow has more intrinsic value than it did before even if it's worth the same as it was before, you care about it more. It's happened to me on several occasions.  

When I became a season ticket holder for Real Salt Lake in 2010, I went from fan to fam. I felt like I became a part of the team in some weird way, part of the culture. I went from a causal observing sports fan to suddenly having a vested interest in the club. I didn't expect it at all. Now, at the beginning of each season I greet the other long time season ticket holders that sit around me, catch up with them, celebrate being back. It really is like seeing family again!  

I was golfing at Timponogos Golf Club a couple of weeks ago talking to a couple of guys I was paired with about this concept. One of them grew up in Springville but has a business in Provo and moved here a while back. He agreed that he needed to invest in Provo now that he has a house and business here. This was a concept that rang true to him.


I feel like this principle needs to be applied in our city. We may not all be able to own a house or a car or a business within Provo but we can still invest in Provo. We can take ownership of where we choose to call Home.

I think this will be a transformative process for Provo. No matter what we choose to invest in, whether it be a favorite restaurant, getting to know your neighbors better, a flower shop, music venue, a specific park you like to visit, a bike route, we can take ownership of those things and care for and about them in a way we didn't before. 

If we all find a piece of Provo that we can make our own and care for it in a way we haven't in the past, you will see Provo change. When you pick up some trash on the river trail, lend a helping hand, stow a random grocery cart in the parking lot, hold a door open, treat a stranger with dignity and kindness, Provo truly will be a place where we can say, Welcome Home, and it will feel that way.

This is something that I am going to try to do and improve upon whether I am elected or not. It needs to happen. I hope to lead by example. I will be vocal, I will advocate for taking ownership in our city in a way that hasn't been done before. We all need to feel at home here. I pledge to work for all of Provo. If you have an idea on how to make Provo a better place to live, I want to hear about it. I promise to be available. 

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Artwork Shareables

***Update***

If you'd like a yard sign they are $5 each at Fast Signs in Provo. 142@fastsigns.com or call 801.373.0600. You will need to report your purchase to me so I can report it as an in-kind donation on my campaign finance reports.

_______________________

I want you to be able to have access to these files in case you want to use them to spread the word. (Which I hope you will!) I will update again once I have the particular businesses that are willing to provide their services for sign magnets, stickers, etc.

I've never thought the act of "endorsements" was truly meaningful. Just because Celebrity XYZ says they support a certain candidate doesn't mean I should support them. Encourage people to do their research and to make a choice that they see fit. So if you see me on some socials my messaging will reflect that.

Campaign Paraphernalia






Saturday, June 19, 2021

Campaign Finances


Politics today seems to be reserved for the people that can afford it. It is prohibitively expensive. The barriers to break into the game are too high. How can The People be represented if one of their own can't afford it?

Running a campaign effectively these days requires me to hire a campaign manager, a financial accountant, and a promotional advisor.

Now, if I'm doing what I'm supposed to, I have to buy all sorts of email and address lists from companies that are only in business because campaigns are big business. The other option is I to find some rich person or business with an agenda or a favor that they will expect to be returned when I win.

I have a job, I can't quit it to run for Mayor. But if I don't go after this full time people won't think I'm a serious candidate. Or maybe people think that I'm not qualified because I can't go after it full time.

I think that's a problem. I shouldn't have to start a "business" in order to run for office. It's time to let The People back into the game. 

My pledge to you is that I won't ask you for your money, I don't want it. I don't want you to donate to my campaign. I'll have some promotional materials available soon that you can download and use, or you go get it printed and made from a business in Provo so you can support them. I ask for a social media post, a referral, a conversation. If I'm worthy of your vote let me be worthy of your voice on my behalf.

This is something I plan to take with me into office. I want Provoans to keep their money so they can spend it how they see fit. If I can find ways to save money, reduce spending while still providing the same quality of city services, I will do that. I'll go as far and commit that I will donate 10% of my Mayoral salary each year to local causes. It's your money. 

Monday, June 7, 2021

Caleb Who, for the What?

You've probably never heard of me. That's okay. You're here. That's a start. 

Why do I want to be the Mayor of Provo? The simplest answer is: Because I love Provo.

Maybe that same love is why you're here reading this. You want to make a decision that is going to be best for you and your city. I think this is a great place. It is a fun city. It's big and small. You can drive 10 minutes in any direction and it's totally different. But you know that, you live here!

So then, why Caleb Reeve for Mayor? I believe in myself and I think I would be good at it. That's it! 


Here are a few reasons I think I would make a great Mayor:

  • I'm not a politician. I don't want to be one. I would bring a fresh take on the whole system, a new perspective, a different approach. 
  • I understand what it is to just be a normal citizen. I have a job. I work hard. I'm frustrated that the electricity bill keeps going up, the water bills go up, the fees go up. But what am I getting in return?
  • I'm not in anyone's pocket. No one owns me and I don't want their money.
  • Availability. My desire is to be among the other citizens of Provo and hear their stories. I plan to make time to meet with everyone who wants to share.
  • I'm a reasonable person. I am teachable. I'm open to having my mind changed. I recognize that I'm not going to be the smartest person in the room, and I'm fine with that! I'm willing to listen to ideas, learn and research, and then make informed decisions.
  • I won't tell you what you want to hear just because I thinks it's what you want to hear. 

That's probably a good starting point. Stay tuned because I will be addressing more topics as the campaign goes on. In the mean time, feel free to contact me on the socials, email, or phone. I have a job so sit tight as I do my best to balance work/life/politics!