CANDIDATE INFORMATION

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HURRICANE CANDIDATES

To help voters make informed decisions, SaveUtah.org sent a questionnaire to all declared municipal candidates running for Mayor and City Council in St. George and Hurricane.

All candidates received the same set of questions, and their responses are presented exactly as submitted, unedited and in their own words.

We sincerely thank each candidate who took the time to respond. Our goal is to provide voters with a clear, unbiased opportunity to learn more about where each candidate stands on key issues.

Please note:

None of the candidates had input in developing the questions.
All candidates received the same email on the same day.
Follow-up efforts were made through a second email, phone calls, and/or text messages to ensure they had the opportunity to participate.

We hope this resource empowers you to vote confidently and stay engaged in your local government.

HURRICANE CANDIDATES:

Click for St George Candidates

MAYOR (1seat):

(Click to skip to named candidate)

NANETTE (DUTTON) BILLINGS

CLARK FAWCETT

CITY COUNCIL (2 seats):

(Click to skip to named candidate)
LYNN L EXCELL **(did NOT answer)**
KEVIN THOMAS

MICHAEL C. HIRSCHI
DAVID B IMLAY

Mayor:

1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?

Nanette Billings Hurricane City Mayor

2) What are the top two challenges facing our city right now, and what specific actions would you take in your first year to address them?

1. Managing Rapid Growth and Development

The Challenge: Hurricane has experienced explosive growth in recent years, with rising housing demands and increasing pressure on infrastructure, roads, water, and public services. Residents are concerned about high-density developments changing the character of the community and straining resources.

How to Fix It:

• Follow the Master Plan: Uphold zoning standards that reflect long-term community goals, especially preserving low-density and rural areas. I have led out on voting no to change zones.

• Smart Infrastructure Planning: Ensure new development pays its fair share for roads, water, sewer, and utilities—so current taxpayers aren’t burdened. We have passed impact fees in power and water. And we have been developing our water rights. We have 3 new wells started and the irrigation expansion project.

• Transparency with the Public: Involve residents in land use decisions early.

• Traffic and Road Improvements: Prioritize key corridors and intersections for upgrades to keep pace with growth without sacrificing safety.

2. Securing and Managing Water Resources

The Challenge: Hurricane is a desert community, and long-term water availability is a top concern. With limited rainfall and reliance on wells, springs, and allocations from the Virgin River system, water management is critical for future development.

How to Fix It:

• Access, Retain, and Deliver: Proactively secure future water rights, expand storage capacity (like tanks and recharge ponds), and modernize delivery systems.

• Conservation Incentives: Encourage landscaping and irrigation practices that reduce water use without sacrificing quality of life.

• Regional Cooperation: Work with Washington County Water Conservancy District and neighboring cities to share resources and plan for long-term sustainability.

• Change the use: perfectly great spring water inside and change that use from perfectly good spring water from outdoor use to reused water.

3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?

I work the hardest.

Study out ever issue

I ask questions

I go to the site and see if for myself

I ask citizens and get other views

I know how to budget

I know how to say: No

I have learned an elected official role

I am forward thinking and do it

I have and will continue filing for grants.

I show up, stand up and listen to you

4) How would you describe your approach to growth, both residential and commercial? Do you see yourself as pro-growth, controlled-growth, or growth-resistant, and why?

I follow the master plan concerning growth. The constitution gives you and anyone that owns property the right to develop that property. It really does not matter if it is 1906 or 2026 when you develop. As long as you build within the zoning guidelines you have the entitlements. If you stay within the master plan your commercial is in the commercial and you have areas where you will have good connections, and city neighborhood parks and stores. All are essential to a growing city. I am not smarter than the planner that we hired and paid 90,000 to build a master plan for the city to follow. I know how to ask questions to make sure we are following the plan and not increasing density.

5) Many residents are concerned about transparency, especially when it comes to accessing Council voting records and understanding decisions made in closed-door meetings. How do you view the current level of transparency in local government, and what role should elected officials play in improving public access to information and accountability?

Transparency is not a goal. I make it happen. Everything is open to the public to attend. The minutes, agendas, meeting recordings are placed on the city and public notice website.

You can only hold a closed meeting for 3 reasons:

1-Eminent or ongoing litigation

2- purchase of real property

3- The competence of an employee

No decisions can be made and no discussions can be had without a quorum. That is 3 council members can not gather or meet and discuss city business.

I have followed the open and public meetings act 100%

I believe if an item is requested by GRAMA. If it is available on the website we direct the person to the website. If an item that is not for public viewing you make it available to the public. I believe that small fee has not and does not cover staff time to redact the information. But I feel if the person wants the information you provide it for them.

6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?

Great budgeting decisions for Hurricane should be rooted in a few key principles that balance responsibility, growth, and the needs of residents. Here are six good ways I guide my decision-making:

1. Prioritize Essential Services First

Always fund critical infrastructure and services first such as water, power, roads, emergency services, and public safety. These are the backbone of a Hurricane city.

2. Follow the Master Plan

Align spending with the city’s long-term vision. The General Plan reflects community values using it as a guide to ensure that resources go toward projects that protect small-town character and prepare for our future needs.

3. Listen to the Public

Hold regular budget hearings, town halls, and surveys. Make sure taxpayer dollars reflect the priorities of residents. If it is a parks, trails, infrastructure, or public safety.

4. Invest in Long-Term Sustainability

Choose projects that may cost more now but save money later. Water development, irrigation expansion systems, durable road materials, or energy-efficient city buildings.

5. Keep Debt Low and Reserves Healthy

Avoid over-leveraging the city. Maintain healthy reserves for emergencies and plan projects in phases if full funding isn’t immediately available. Reserves need to be about 10 months of running capital to be healthy.

6. Make Development Pay Its Way

Ensure new developments contribute fairly to the cost of infrastructure they require. Use impact fees responsibly to avoid shifting the burden to current taxpayers.

7. Stay and live within our budget.

Never let here and now influence a decision. Unless you have the saved resources. Bright stars and rainbows do not guide good choices. Steady and slow wins the race with budgeting.

------------------------END -NANETTE BILLINGS-----------------------------

Nanette Billings

1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?

Clark Fawcett Hurricane City Mayor

2) What are the top two challenges facing our city right now, and what specific actions would you take in your first year to address them?

Water and growth.

These two are kind of connected. We are dependent on water produced from projects by the Water Conservancy District. Currently there is a twenty year plan for water that looks good. The problem is water is only committed when a building permit is issued. I believe we have enough projects and approved developed lots to use all the water we have. I am concerned that sometime in the future we will run out of water with many lots developed without water.

Growth is too fast for the city to keep up with. Many developments do t have all the utilities and services. Planning and building the infrastructure takes the staff a great deal of time. We need to hold approval if these developments until services are available so the staff has the time to provide services to the existing residents.

3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?

I was employed at Hurricane City for 37 1/2 years as City Manager. I now serve on the city council. I am a certified public accountant and have been for 44 years. I am very knowledgeable about operations of he city and the finances. I’ve lived in Hurricane all my life and have a great love for Hurricane. I serve in the Washington County Water Conservancy Board and the Ash Creek Sewer district board. I have been involved in the community in other capacities since 1983.

4) How would you describe your approach to growth, both residential and commercial? Do you see yourself as pro-growth, controlled-growth, or growth-resistant, and why?

I would consider myself a controlled growth candidate. I know we need growth for a good economy. If developments come in and use the current zone and follow the city standards I am happy for the developments. If changes are requested, especially zone changes then this is the place to control the growth. These should be looked at carefully to make sure they are good for the community. Developments proposed on the extreme ends of the community where utilities and services are not currently available should be put off until all services can be provided

I like transparency. I favor more public hearings and neighborhood meetings for major issues. I believe Hurricane has tried to keep an open policy and keep citizens involved. It is a difficult issue since some work has to be done by staff to even have an idea to present. Some issues presented to the public without enough information can result in not a good response from the public since questions they have can not yet be answered without further work. I would like to have a city blog that can be followed by any one interested

6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?

I believe in saving for and purchasing items without debt whenever possible. Some big projects will have to be borrowed for but equipment and vehicles should always be bought outright. If we do proper planning then projects are know in advance so proper financial planning can be done. Sometimes projects and expenditures need to wait until funds are available. B

---------------------END -CLARK FAWCETT------------------

Clark Fawcett

HURRICANE Candidates - CITY COUNCIL

1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?

"Kevin Thomas - Hurricane City Council"

2) What are the top two challenges facing our city right now, and what specific actions would you take in your first year to address them?

"This one was the hardest question for me to answer and I saved it for last. There are so many challenges that we face that it’s hard to prioritize them into a simple box. Further, there are so many things coming our way all at once that it’s tough to focus on one or two priorities and what actions that I will specifically take to address them in the first year it is a complex answer that I will have to ponder and get back to you on."

3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?

"I have served two terms (Not Consecutively) including the rest of this term which ends December 31st. I think it took most of my first term just to settle in and learn the process and how to get things done. It’s not something that just comes natural. To me, besides accumulating a vast amount of knowledge that is required to make good decisions, learning how to vote independently of the other council members and independently of peer, family, friends, Facebook and other sources of pressure is the hardest thing to accomplish. It’s easy to sit in the audience and say “I would vote this way or that way”. It is completely different once you get elected and you are actually sitting behind the rostrum with everyone else watching you and criticizing you for ever thing you say or do. Feeling confident in your own thinking and confident in defending your position is no easy task. It’s so easy to just see how everyone else is voting and go along to get along. Unless you are there to cause trouble then you just vote against what everyone else is voting. Just kidding. I hope that doesn’t ever happen. But it could. But seriously, acquiring the wisdom to vote for what is right is the hardest thing to do. There are very few times when there is a black and white issue to vote on. Those aren’t always easy votes to cast either. But they are much easier than the votes that are full of grey areas where there is not a wrong or right answer. Rather, there are various ways of looking at things and varying opinions on how things should be done. And then there are things that you seriously will never know what was the right decision until you are looking back in time from the future to see how it turned out. Everything we vote on will play out in the future. Since none of us have a crystal ball, that makes some decisions very difficult to make. Sorry, long answer for such a short question."

4) How would you describe your approach to growth, both residential and commercial? Do you see yourself as pro-growth, controlled-growth, or growth-resistant, and why?

"I am in favor on Controlled Growth. It is unrealistic to be anti-growth. If a city isn’t growing, it is dying. That is not helpful for anyone. But uncontrolled growth will lead to Hurricane becoming a big city which is the antithesis of why most of us live here. We like the small town feel, charm and safety. Controlling growth is the tricky part. Big money and people in high position in power want high density growth and skyrise apartments. I am not opposed to apartments, but I think they should be limited to 2 or 3 stories max. We should also not exceed our current zoning of RM-3. I also don’t want to see all of our land becoming apartments. We need to control our approvals of zone changes to not allow everything becoming high density. We need lower density housing as well as agricultural preservation. Commercial growth is what brings the biggest tax dollars into the city’s revenue. With that revenue, we can repair our roads and infrastructure and keep things maintained and running smoothly. We can also keep up with the needs of our police department and first responders. We can also develop the things that citizens want inside our community without increasing taxes on the citizens. That commercial growth also provides the job base so jobs are available. Maintaining a more moderate rate of growth in residential areas will naturally keep the commercial growth from growing too fast as well."

"I believe that this is a perception problem. Closed door meetings are not allowed except when the city is looking at purchasing real property, where price gouging could occur if it were known where we were wanting to purchase land. Closed door meetings are also necessary for discussing disciplinary actions of employees or anything involving lawsuits with the city. All other meetings are open to the public and are recorded. Meetings are also broadcast online so that if you want to attend a meeting but can’t be there in person, you can participate online. Minutes are kept. Audio recordings are available online within three days of the meetings. City council members are not even allowed to have three, which constitutes a quorum, together at one time except at social gatherings or similar. We also don’t discuss council agenda items by phone or email except to inform each other of dates, times and to request or approve items going on the agenda. I do not believe that there is a transparency issue, but if you perceive that there is one, I am happy to discuss it with anyone and listen to their view."

6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?

"When times are lean and budgets are tight there are many requests from staff and department heads that don’t get fulfilled. That goes from purchasing equipment, vehicles, hiring new employees, raises in wages or buying new property or building new buildings. All of those items are on the chopping block when resources are not available. Cutting expenditures to keep a budget balanced is the only consideration I give. I will not raise taxes. "

-------------------END -KEVIN THOMAS------------------------

Kevin Thomas

1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?

Michael C. Hirschi Hurricane City Council

2) What are the top two challenges facing our city right now, and what specific actions would you take in your first year to address them?

I believe that the top two challenges facing Hurricane City right now are #1: Our accountability with our tax dollars and #2: Election integrity. Our accountability with our tax money; every tax dollar that comes through the system is the people’s money, and we need to be accountable for the way it is dispersed as well as how it is collected. The city has a lot going on with services that are provided under the shell of government. Hurricane City currently helps provide power, water and other necessities to our community, which is great. One debate currently on the “table” involves city rentals, new city offices and a new police department. I plan to make sure that the city does its best to stay in its lane and not interfere with private enterprise. This is a large task, but completely attainable. The second challenge facing not only our city, but our state and our country, is election integrity. I know the citizens of Hurricane understand how important our elections are, and how vital it is to have grassroot honesty in those elections. We need to have fair and honest elections and an accountability for those elections. If we have any issues having private businesses or people (“We the People”) auditing our elections, we have a problem. Hurricane City needs to be the first to do a complete audit. Our county has been denying us the opportunity to do a full and complete audit for a long time and now it needs to stop. In my early years, I know it was harder for an election to be corrupted, but with the use of computers and internet, we have a much higher risk of fraud. If you think I’m wrong, ask yourself why the government fights us non-stop and threatens to sue if we try to do a complete audit. I will work for you to do everything I can to make sure those that win the vote of the people are the same ones that get put into office.

3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?

As a 6th generation Hurricane citizen, I love this city. It has been my home for 57 years and will continue to be my home for the remainder of my life. I am a critical thinker. I do not like to make rash decisions. I want to listen to the people, learn, study, read, educate myself and dedicate my time and talents to this great city and the challenges we face. I have owned and operated two successful businesses based out of Hurricane. I am a hard worker who has served in many different positions of leadership. I have stood firm on many traditional values all my life even when they were not popular. I believe in conservative values and that trusting in God is the most valuable inspiration we can use to make responsible decisions.

4) How would you describe your approach to growth, both residential and commercial? Do you see yourself as pro-growth, controlled-growth, or growth-resistant, and why?

My approach to residential and commercial growth is a controlled growth mindset. I think back to when I was a boy and there were only about 3,000 citizens in Hurricane City. We are currently over 25,000 people in this beautiful valley. If we had a mindset of no growth, how many people would not be able to call this beautiful valley home. I’d like to liken this to a reservoir with a dam, where the reservoir and the dam is the city and the water is the growth. If we do nothing (no growth), the water becomes stagnant and dries up. If we let too much water out (rejecting businesses or families), we drain the reservoir, and the fish all die. If we have too much water rushing in (uncontrolled growth), we overflow the dam, and it breaks and destroys the area. However, if we can carefully adjust how much water goes in and out of the reservoir (controlled growth), we can keep it healthy and have a beautiful area fed by the water and the dam, who are the friends we call neighbors.

I believe transparency for public meetings and voting is very important. Voting records are currently posted through city records, and they should remain public. This includes closed-door meeting decisions. However, if a closed-door meeting discusses people or personnel and their private matters as they pertain to the city, these should remain private in order to protect the privacy rights of individuals. I have not yet attended a closed-door meeting and would hope that these meetings do not involve discussions on public matters. If they do, the contents of these meetings should be made public.

6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?

The criteria that would guide my decisions on city spending and budgeting when resources are limited are directly tied to my answer to question #2. Tax dollars should be spent (and saved) responsibly. My grandma Zona Wright is famous for saying: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” and I was raised with that same philosophy. I believe in responsible spending of tax dollars. Irresponsible spending of other people’s money is a gross misuse of political trust. I believe there are other creative ways to spend and budget funds as well, but having a deep understanding of budgets and spending is important to this cause. I will work to make sure I have studied our budget and listened to our citizens and their needs before making decisions on spending our citizens tax dollars.

----------------END- MICHALE HIRSCHI ---------------

Michael Hirschi

1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?

"DAVE IMLAY Hurricane City Council"

2) What are the top two challenges facing our city right now, and what specific actions would you take in your first year to address them?

"My top two concerns are securing adequate revenue and adequate energy resources.

SECURING ADEQUATE REVENUE

• Ensure water rates and power rates are adequate to provide funds for both the materials to maintain current infrastructure and to pay employees/contractors to complete needed work

• Roads are funded through the general fund - if roads are failing due to lack of funds, cutting elsewhere to divert funds would be my first choice, and my second choice would be to increase the road tax SECURING ADEQUATE ENERGY RESOURCES

• New power generation resources are rare, especially those that are cost effective

• Renewable resources (wind and solar) play a part, but I support fossil fuels for base-load until nuclear energy becomes available and commercially viable

• I would support the Power Director’s efforts to find the most cost effective and reliable energy sources to help power Hurricane’s current and future energy needs "

3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?

"WORK EXPERIENCE

• Hurricane City Power Board member since November 2021

• 14 Years member of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) Board of Directors

• Member UAMPS Executive Committee (3 year term)

• Project Chair for several UAMPS projects (3 year terms each)

• 17.5 years performing Power Director duties for Hurricane City Power

• 12 years Power Lineman/Lead Lineman at Hurricane City Power

• 29.5 years with Hurricane City Power Department in total

• 7 years with Pacific Gas and Electric as Power Lineman

• 36 Years in the power supply industry

UNDERSTANDING OF HURRICANE CITY GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPAL WORKINGS THROUGH:

• Navigating city politics while operating a power company

• Preparing and instituting policies and procedures for Hurricane City Power

• Keeping power rates low through active energy resource acquisition strategies, efficient personnel management, and conservative financial decisions

• Preparing and presenting to the Power Board monthly

• Preparing and presenting to City Council for approvals on resource acquisition and other power issues

• Attending City Council meetings as part of Power Director duties

4) How would you describe your approach to growth, both residential and commercial? Do you see yourself as pro-growth, controlled-growth, or growth-resistant, and why?

"My wife and I moved to Hurricane in 1993. By moving to Hurricane we contributed to the growth. It would be hypocritical for me to be anti-growth. I am neither pro-growth nor anti-growth. I am pro commercial growth. Commercial growth provides needed jobs as well as goods and services. Growth should follow the General Use Plan, and growth should pay for itself. "

"There are laws outlining what city councils can discuss and complete during closed-door sessions. I have been involved in closed-door sessions and know they are necessary when employee privacy is concerned, possible legal action is needed, and potential land acquisitions considered, among other issues. Technology has improved the public’s access to local government action. Agendas and minutes are available on the City’s website. If I were made aware of a specific lack of transparency, I would work with the City Council, City Staff, and City Legal Council to make all appropriate documents/information available. "

6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?

"• Assessing needs versus wants

• Ensuring that growth pays for itself

• Approve expenditures that create positive impacts for residents "

--------------------END -DAVID IMLAY-----------------------

Dave Imlay

Click for St George Candidates

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