Why do you want to be part of the Town Council?
I have always been drawn to public service. Since moving here from Pennsylvania 13 years ago, where I served on my local town's Planning Commission, it has become very clear that even a small voice can make a big difference in the quality of life of our community. I served under the last three Springdale Mayors on the Planning Commission, and chaired the commission for the last two years of my service. Simultaneously, I served as a board member and Chair of the Rockville/Springdale Fire Protection District for five years. These volunteer positions heightened my awareness and gave opportunity to develop keen skill sets. It is only appropriate that I continue to give back to the community that has helped me grow as a businessman, father, and husband. For me, giving is not work, it is joy.
What are the three best things about your town?
This was a great exercise. There are many things I love about Springdale, and prioritizing them put a big smile on my face:
1) Location, Location, Location - Springdale's unique location at the gate of Zion National Park brought me to it, and after traveling much of the globe, this is still the place I want to live, raise my son, and grow old with my wife. No matter how complicated the politics have been in Springdale over the past 13 years, I still feel very light and energized, as the sandstone castle which surrounds us keeps me in perspective, while inspiring me toward greatness.
2) Time - Over time Springdale has become a better and better town. Unlike many gateway towns which grew too fast, disconnecting the physical attributes of the townscape and community from the surrounding resources, Springdale has held steadfast with the vision of its pioneer settlers and the conservative environmentalists who have shaped our town as we know it today. Their vision is a gift to our future. As a town council member, we have the unique opportunity to truly grow Springdale in a sustainable way, from both a resource and social perspective, without having to undo grave errors of the past.
3) Openness - Springdale hosts an eclectic and alternative population of townspeople with room for everyone's views and perspectives. Truly, we must be the most unique and varied population in Utah. I have always felt the social atmosphere of Springdale to be open and interested in diversity and change. This openness enables everyone to pursue their potential. As a government we benefit from this with negligible crime, immense volunteerism, creative community members, and vibrant businesses.
Please state your top two priorities if elected to the Town Council; why are they important and what will you do about them?
1) As a lifetime entrepreneur, I am deeply committed to learning and growing. Not a day goes by where I do not push myself to learn something new and be more thoughtful with my words and actions. My number one priority is to be a thoughtful, mindful, and balanced conduit for the townspeople's needs. This includes working with residents, business owners, developers, our planning commission, fire district, community volunteers, Zion National Park, and sister communities to maintain and build the best Springdale possible.
2) Managing public budgets is sometimes tricky, balancing current needs with future costs. In Springdale, we have spent a great deal of money in the last five years for infrastructure and community services, leveraging our communal sales tax. As a budget manager, I am progressive, yet hesitant, being sagacious and creative so I can vote for improvement without us having to incur debt. It would be my desire to help the town of Springdale operate without large debt while developing realizable incentives for our business community to continue to work as aggressively as they do to earn sales tax for the town.
What’s your opinion about the Lake Powell Pipeline?
I truly believe the Lake Powell Pipeline is analogous to the creative lending which has crippled much of our economy. Supporting this project looks favorable only in the short-term, and the only valid reason to do it is to protect our water rights. There are many powerful reasons not to do the project. It is an example of our entire region living beyond its means, ultimately driving our communities into a fiscal troubles, promoting development beyond the resources natural ability to support it, without ever guaranteeing the benefits of the promised water. Lake Powell water levels are consistently diminishing, but the costs of this project are rising, both financially and politically. As a taxpayer, I am strong opponent to this project. As a council member, I am open to yield to the voice of Springdale and press our regional governments to do so as well.
What, if any, Vision Dixie Priorities would you support and encourage? How?
The ten guiding principles of Vision Dixie all have immense value. Within this program Springdale is obligated to continue to speak clearly and profoundly with outlying communities and the county commissioners. Often perceived as a liberal community, Springdale's voice is essential to help balance development in southern Utah, in particularly to the Route 9 corridor. As a gateway community, Principles 4 (Provide Rich, Connected Natural Recreation and Open Space) and 10 (Focused Public Land Conversion Should Sustain Community Goals And Preserve Critical Lands.) are at the core of our land-use ordinance. We need to continue to encourage sustainable cutting-edge development or renovations such that the resource is never diminished, not just in Springdale, but as far as the eye can see from our mountain summits.
By far, Principle 7 (Direct Growth Inward) strikes me deeply. Spending the last 15 years of my life as an educator, it is very clear that healthy mind yields healthy body, which in practice becomes the mindful body. It is the mindful body at the core of community. Great leaders do no take people, they give people the tools to take themselves. They help them learn how to give without depletion. They help create a community of mindful bodies, where every"body" gives, and thus no one has to take. I dream of this, I believe in this, and being a component of the town council is one small step toward being capable of this.
Do you like/support voting by mail in your town?
This strikes a cord with me, mostly in the wallet. It is simply the most fiscally sound practice for small towns to adopt and I hope Springdale will continue to set precedent for the county by delivering an even higher count of ballots to the Post Office than they did for the primary.
7. How do you see the Town Council’s elected role in enforcing ordinances such as the recently adopted ‘Dark Sky’ ordinance?
Ever since I have lived here, and especially during our 2 year process crafting the current General Management Plan, I have been a proponent for the Night Sky ordinance. It is a critical piece of legislation for our town, enabling us to stay on track as a resource conserving community. I would venture to say that a great proportion of townspeople are already voluntarily bringing their household and business lighting into conformance with the ordinance. The liberal 7 year conformity period adopted is designed to help those larger businesses and the town itself to become Night Sky compliant. During this time period we have a great opportunity to work with these businesses and our streets department to integrate lighting plans which are energy efficient as well as economical to implement. If we do a good job educating the public, offering creative and economical solutions, and utilizing the resources other communities have already found effective around the globe, August 2016 conformance will be seamless.
Parking has become a problem in Springdale – How would you deal with this issue?
I believe the institution of the park shuttle system has been a blessing on the town and its visitors. Helping manage the visitor experience and reduce congestion inside the park has provoked visitors to better prepare for their trip and spend more time in Springdale. Though some proprietors have noticed a decrease in lunch-time traffic, I have heard them say that dinner-time service has continued to grow. Hoteliers who once fretted of parking congestion within their establishments between check-out and check-in have had minimal problems with overlap, even as hotel stays increased through 2008. The parking issue is before us, but is not an unsolvable problem. In recent ordinance revisions to the Central Commercial zone, and pending changes to the Village Commercial zone, allowances have been made which will promote modification and development of properties for better visitor parking. I especially advocate specific projects which utilize underground parking. This type of building will become the cutting edge in Springdale. Additionally, the town has opportunity to work with pending developments on Lion Blvd. to obtain perpetual public parking at no cost. Combining these ideas with a more cooperative Utah Department of Transportation effort to implement cross walks, and Zion National Park's upcoming revisions and signage for shuttle parking, the needed change for better parking is of nominal cost and eminent.
Why should a person vote for you?
This is an unusual election, where the 4 town council candidates are all a great choice, and everyone in the town will benefit either John, Colin, Donna, or myself working with the incumbent council. As a candidate I offer long term experience working in many volunteer positions within the Town of Springdale, Fire District, and managing a thriving small business. I have many successful years managing employees, million dollar budgets, and completing difficult and ominous tasks. But I believe it is my mindful approach and ability to discern critical areas of need by listening, teaching, and constantly invoking the opinions of others with respect and grace that can help the town continue to succeed as the nation's leading gateway community.
What is the best way for people to learn more about you?
Living and working right in Springdale, I am available most days for one-on-one talks. But can often be found at work at Zion Adventure Company, and nearly every town hall meeting. Both are great places to obtain a sense of who I am as a citizen and leader. Zion Adventure Company(ZAC) is largely the outpouring of who I am as a man, representing my strongest ideals. But stopping by ZAC when I am not there and speaking with one of our 28 staff members could be the best way to learn about the man, his mission, and why he works so hard everyday.
