Rubin: Service and community involvement
POST FALLS — A combination of military experience and community involvement is what Barry Rubin believes makes him the ideal candidate for city council.
Before retiring, Rubin, 64, secured his bachelor’s degree in political science and served as a U.S. Navy officer at the age of 22.
“I bring a lifetime of experience in leadership and decision making,” He said. “I have developed the ability to analyze an issue and — using the relevant facts and figures — come to the appropriate conclusion and decision.
“I make decisions on what is best for the group as a whole, and not any particular interest.”
Some of his career accomplishments include being selected for Naval Flight Officer training and preparing a position paper for the Federal Aviation Administration on the sale of advanced air traffic control equipment to the then-Soviet Union.
He said he is also proud of his community involvement in Post Falls.
“I was a volunteer with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue for approximately three and a half years,” Rubin said. “Additionally, I served on the city of Post Falls Historic Preservation Commission.”
Rubin said he is a regular at the Post Falls City Council meetings, which he has attended for more than nine years. Rubin said he has addressed the council on a broad range of issues from the budget and new housing developments to procedural changes.
“I believe I can bring a high level of analytical problem solving and the ability to ask the question ‘why?’ at the proper time,” he said. “I am able to see the heart of an issue and act on the facts and not the emotion of the moment. I can be a positive factor for the greater good.”
When asked what his top three issues are, Rubin said No. 1 would be to bring modern, high-paying manufacturing jobs to the city. Second would be correcting the imbalance in the tax base, and third would be determining a realistic and positive policy with regard to city growth and expansion.
“Numbers one and two are related,” Rubin explained. “In order to reduce the burden on property taxpayers, more manufacturing jobs, which produce wealth, need to be brought to the city with the ultimate goal of reducing property taxes and giving taxpayers more disposable income.”
Rubin said growth policy is important because it will determine the city’s character both physically and psychologically in the future.
“I would like to see a professional recruiter, part time, working within city hall and in conjunction with Jobs Plus and the Chamber of Commerce to bring modern, good paying manufacturing jobs to Post Falls,” he said. “Additionally, working with the relevant educational institutions is a must.”
Rubin, who is running against Lynn Borders for council seat five, said he believes his experience sets him apart from his opponent.
“I believe that the biggest difference between myself and my opponent is the difference in the breadth and variety of our experience,” Rubin said. “My experience encompasses management and administrative positions, including military service, in a variety of environments, enabling me to have the broadest range of approaches and ideas to issues.”
He said he has been speaking publicly at city council meetings for many years on a broad range of issues.
“I have made my position on various issues clear,” Rubin said.