Place 4 Murphy City Council candidate Chris Stout says residents should be able to vote on two referendums regarding medical decisions.

One referendum would give Murphy citizens aged 18 and older the right to make all medical decisions for themselves.

“No government entity has the right to interfere with that right,” Stout said.

The second referendum would allow doctors practicing in the city to provide any medical treatment requested by patients and shield them from laws preventing them from providing such care.

Stout said he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science with a minor in business and has more than 30 years of experience in information technology.

He said he has solved many problems as an IT consultant and leader by “listening, understanding, forming consensus and following through on agreed-to plans.”

Believing that communications is the most pressing issue facing the council, Stout would create an online forum for residents to have a dialog with their elected representatives.

“A social media platform is more immediate and allows more discourse and further discussions than can be possible during a bimonthly two-hour — or less — council meeting,” he said. “Discussions over social media can increase our residents understanding of public concern, allow the council a better understanding of  how those concerns are viewed by our residents and can make the council meetings more efficient.”

Stout’s opponent in the Saturday, May 3, general election is Place 4 incumbent Ken Oltmann.

Early voting will be April 22-29 at the Murphy Activity Center, with the exception of Sunday, April 27.

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