CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Join Us in Saving Utah
ST GEORGE CANDIDATES
To help voters make informed decisions, SaveUtah.org sent a questionnaire during the PRIMARY 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 have removed the candidates who did not advance to the primary, and we have left the responses of the general election candidates.
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:
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None of the candidates had input in developing the questions.
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All candidates received the same email on the same day.
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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 our local government.
ST GEORGE CANDIDATES:
​​CITY COUNCIL (2 seats)
click the name to skip to that candidate:
Mayor:
1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?
​ Michele Randall St George City Mayor
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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 & Growth We have implemented a strict water conservation ordinance for all new construction. We have removed non functional turf at many city spaces. We have a 20 year water plan for a regional water reuse system. We use reuse water on our golf courses, parks, schools and it can be used for agriculture. We need more storage capacity. Chief Toqer reservoir is currently under construction with two other reservoirs planned. We cannot put a moratorium on growth without drastically affecting our economy. We need to encourage less urban sprawl, smaller homes, AUD's, condos and townhomes for home ownership. A three percent growth rate is manageable.
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3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?
​ I served on the St George City Council for 7 years. I was appointed the Mayor by the City Council January 2021 and ran for election in November 2021. I was sworn in as the first female Mayor of St George January 2022.
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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?
Pro growth. Our economy is tied to growth. We need to diversify our economy so we are not so tied to the building industry for employment. I would not want the government telling me I could not develop property I own. I've lived in St George since 1978 when the population was 10,000 residents. I'm grateful we didn't stop growth. Now 3 out of my children have homes here. I now have 11 grandchildren and would love to see them be able to live here when they are grown.
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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?
​ I believe we have been very transparent. Our City Council meetings are streamed on You Tube. I return every email and phone call I receive. Our budget is on our website for everyone to read. Closed meetings involving litigation or personnel issues should remain private but everyone can GRAMA request any information.
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6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?
​ Public safety will always remain my top priority. During the Great Recession many difficult decisions had to be made when it came to projects and personnel but we maintained our amazing quality of life. I was not on the City Council at the time and did not notice any decline in services the city provides. We live in an amazing city and I will always strive to maintain the quality of life we all enjoy!
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------------------------END MICHELE RANDALL --------------------------
1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?
​ Jimmie Hughes - St George Mayor
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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?
​ The greatest challenge we have in St. George as well as Washington County as a whole is growth. All other challenges are due to or affected by the high growth in the area. The second and also related to it is water availability. Without adequate water availability all other challenges are secondary! Because growth is so all encompassing, we need to be actively getting ahead of the curve by being consistent in our approach to growth with a robust plan to develop more water resources. I will engage with the community to continue to identify the major areas of concern and listen to the best ideas and then work to implement those ideas with the city council. A good working relationship with the city council is a must as they are the ones doing the actual voting. The council needs a mayor that will help them see all sides of the issues and interact with city staff to implement those ideas and resolve issues. I will focus on people over the politics I will also be available and present when the important discussions are being had with community partners as well as state and federal elected officials. Actively participating in those discussion is a must. We need a mayor who will be in the room when those decisions are made. This is a must! One area that the mayor of St. George does have a lot of influence and say is water. The mayor of St George has a seat on the Washington County Water Conservancy District board. I will actively participate on this board and push to develop more storage. Our water comes in bunches and we should be a land of lakes and storage facilities to capture that water and save for the 364 days it doesn’t rain!
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3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?
​ I am a lifelong St. George resident. Born and raised in St George, I did take some time away working in both Southern California and Salt Lake City. I have experienced the big city that we are headed toward and see the challenges that we can hopefully avoid. As a citizen of St George who has built and runs my business here, I understand the challenges of providing for a family and at the same time meeting the demands that are required by government regulations. Managing a payroll, budget and employees has prepared me to be able to do the same in my service to the city. The city is really a business and the same tools and skills that I have learned in building and managing a business will be used as mayor. As a cattle ranch owner and a lifelong lover of agriculture I am uniquely aware of the issues surrounding water and water allocation and development. As a long serving member of the city council, I am aware of the issues and ready to hit the ground running leveraging the relationships I have built to make St George the best it can be.
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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?
​ While I understand those who long for the days of the past, I am not a no growth person. I grew up here in what I felt was an idyllic place. When I was born there were around 7,500 people in St. George. I moved away in part because of the lack of economic opportunity and very little “growth” opportunity. We do however need to have some control. I call it TP. Traditions and Progress. While we are growing, we need not throw out all the traditions that make St George such a great place to live. Having a master plan that was developed with the input of residents is important and we should be careful to follow that plan.
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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?
​ We have put a lot of effort as the city council to find every opportunity to provide information and be transparent in all that we do. Where we have had issues in my opinion is at the mayor level. I am committed to make every effort to receive public comment, be transparent and share information at every opportunity and by all methods possible. Local officials play and important roll in this endeavor. As mayor I am all in on this.
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6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?
​ This is something I will continue to do. Instead of looking to raise property taxes as happened in the past, we need to prioritize! I have done this in the past and will continue to do that working to have win, win situations. St George has a mission statement that reads “We provide services that focus on people and advance a thriving community.” As mayor I will live that mission statement. My priorities for resources are serve the people and public safety is first. Without a safe community the rest becomes not as important. Then comes a thriving community with infrastructure, adequate water, roads and adequate transportation. Staying out of the way and creating a place for economic prosperity would be the next priority for resources.
---------------------------------END -JIMMIE HUGHES --------------------------------------
St George Candidates - CITY COUNCIL
1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?
​ Greg Aldred Saint George City Council
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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’m concerned about our power grid and what effect it would have on our citizens if we can’t supply the power, especially with the high temperatures we’ve had. I would encourage our city to add another Turbine or do whatever it takes to be more independent and protect our power grid. Secondly with all the growth my priority is for safe neighborhoods. Our focus and duty is to protect our citizens and supply thee emergency services when needed. This means we fund all the divisions that relate to public safety first.
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3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?
​ Expertise in road construction having worked for GM Aldred Engineering. I’m the past owner of Star Max energy and have expertise in this field. As a retired General Contractor I have experience in infrastructure. Even though I haven't built in a few yrs. I believe there’s enough of that going on, I do stay up on building codes. I’ve served as a President of a Chamber of Commerce and support small business. They are the backbone of our city. We need to empower and support them. I've participated in many community events and served as a Dixie Sunshine for over 15 yrs. but I’ll try to keep my answers short. I’ve raised five daughter here and St. George is part of who I am.
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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 know that economics dictates growth. However are the developers that have come to our city here just for the money or are they part of our community? I'm for sustainable growth that allows our traffic to flow smoothly and our communities safe. My question to our residents is simply this. Are we conserving our resources so our city can sell more permits? Are we giving up our plant life to save water? Remember Tucson when their ambient temperatures increased when they got rid of all their grass. I'm not against growth, I'm for a balance growth that will guarantee we all have the resources we need. I don't want to be told when I can wash my clothes or when I can take a shower. I do support our local contractors and those who live here trying to make a living.
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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?
​ Enough of the closed door meetings! They can be done in public without public comments. This would be healthy for all of us. No secrets. Then we can open up the meeting for any concerns to the public after we have addressed any business that needed to be decided. We are elected to serve and not elected to rule! I do understand when some people can be disrupted during a meeting but I don't understand when we are told when to clap or when we can't cheer by our existing Mayor. Remember the City Council meetings are for the people and the future of our city. Everything should be transparent, It's heathier that way.
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6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?
​ Public safety is number one and our emergency services is the duty of Government. We must protect our residents. I'm starting to see some restrictions suggested from this council. Let's not let growth take away our rights as citizens. Water is liquid gold in the desert. Let's make sure we don't out grow this recourse. Safety and water should always be a major concern on my decisions. Let's keep the cost of Utilities, and road maintenance at the lowest it can be by getting competitive bids from local contractors. As for funding recreation if we implement some proven strategies it could be self sustaining and I do have a plan. I'm an advocate for not raising taxes and will be a watch dog to make sure that doesn't happen when elected. We have enough to balance our budget and we don't need to look to raise taxes, especially in these times. I'm asking for your vote. Together we can make Saint George a better place for future generations.
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--------------------------------END- GREG ALDRED -------------------------------------
1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?
​ Jami Leavitt, St. George City Council
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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?
​ The top two challenges impacting the city of St. George are growth and housing affordability and stability. Growth is happening rapidly, and it’s putting increased pressure on our roads, water supply, and quality of life. We have to be proactive and intentional about how we plan for growth, and I’ll support measures that better coordinate land use and zoning with infrastructure so that the growth pays for itself and doesn’t burden residents. We must be thoughtful, community-focused, and base our decisions on long-term planning. I’m committed to preserving the character of St. George and enhancing and protecting what makes St. George the best place to live, work, play, raise a family, and retire. It’s getting harder for young people, working families, and retirees to find housing that fits both their needs and budget. In my first year, I’ll work to support innovative and expanded housing options, like allowing more ADUs, and mixed-use options in areas that make sense. I’ll work to advocate for guardrails that protect neighborhood integrity and prioritize owner occupancy.
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3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?
I’m a business owner, I stay busy and involved volunteering and serving on boards like Leadership Dixie Academy, and in groups like the Southern Utah Republican Women’s club as well as other local civic groups. In 2023 I served on the Quality of Life Coalition and helped promote and pass the Parks and Trails General Obligation Bond. I’m in the thick of raising four kids, staying active and involved in their school. These experiences have shaped my understanding of our community in dynamic ways and enable me to bring a fresh perspective to the council. I’ll bring a collaborative, thoughtful approach to making sure our city continues to work for every member of our community at every stage of life.
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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 support strategic, responsible, and community-centered growth. I don’t view growth as inherently negative but see it as a sign that we live in a great place that is attractive and people want to be here. I welcome growth but we must plan for it carefully so that it strengthens the community rather than overwhelming it. I support policies that prioritize infrastructure, water, and neighborhood stability alongside housing and economic development. If done correctly, we can benefit from growth and use it to improve the lives of the people who live here and want to stay.
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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?
​ I believe government works best when it’s open, honest, and accessible. There are always ways we can improve transparency, communication, and connection between city leadership and residents. I think there are ways we can better utilize technology to streamline the process of accessing city information. I support better communication around council votes, easier access to public meeting materials, and clear explanations of how and why decisions are made.
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6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?
​ I’ll take a family budget meets business plan mindset when making decisions about city spending and budget allocation and planning. We must remain committed to investing in what matters most to residents while being prudent and intentional with taxpayer dollars. I’ll support funding core services like water, public safety, and infrastructure while also prioritizing the things that enhance our quality of life like our parks and trails.
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--------------------------------END JAMI LEAVITT -------------------------------------
1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?
​ Natalie Larsen St George City Council
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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’m currently serving my first term on the St. George City Council, where I’ve focused on strengthening infrastructure, supporting public safety, and planning responsibly for growth. I bring a balanced, community-first approach to every decision, rooted in listening and showing up."​
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3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?
​I bring a unique blend of hands-on city government experience, deep community involvement, and a commitment to responsible growth. Serving on the St. George City Council has given me firsthand knowledge of how to navigate city budgets, land use decisions, infrastructure planning, and public safety priorities. Before my time on the council, I served on the Planning Commission, where I visited proposed sites, engaged with residents, and worked to ensure developments fit the character of our community.
My background also includes years of volunteer service, which has kept me closely connected to the day-to-day concerns of residents. These experiences have taught me the value of listening, doing my homework, and asking thoughtful questions. I’ve built strong relationships with local and regional partners, and I understand the balance required to maintain the unique quality of life in St. George while preparing for our future.
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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 describe my approach to growth as responsible and well-managed. I’m not anti-growth—we know St. George is a desirable place to live, and growth will continue. But I believe how we grow matters just as much as how much. I support smart growth that is aligned with our infrastructure capacity, protects our quality of life, and respects the character of our neighborhoods. During my time on the City Council, I’ve prioritized thoughtful planning—whether it is ensuring new developments have proper road access, water resources, or proximity to services. I’ve also supported commercial growth that brings jobs and strengthens our economy, but not at the expense of what makes St. George so unique, the Dixie spirit, open spaces and heritage. Growth should be balanced, transparent, and always consider input from the residents it affects.
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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?
​ I believe in total access and transparency—it’s essential to building public trust. In my first year on the City Council, I voted **NO**on raising property taxes. At the time, the budget process wasn’t transparent, and I couldn’t find a justifiable reason to support a tax increase. Since then, I’ve worked hard to push for more openness and public involvement. Over the past three years, I’ve helped lead efforts to make the budget process clearer, more accessible, and more accountable. We’ve made real progress, and I will continue to advocate for transparency in every part of city government.
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6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?
​When resources are limited, it’s more important than ever to be fiscally responsible and transparent. My decisions on city spending are guided by a few key principles: Is it a need or a want? Does it protect public safety, maintain our infrastructure, or improve quality of life for residents? I also look at whether it’s a wise long-term investment and if it benefits the entire community, not just a few. I believe the public deserves to clearly see where their money is going, and I’ve worked to make the budgeting process more transparent and accessible during my time on the council. That accountability helps ensure we stay focused on real priorities.
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--------------------------------END - NATALIE LARSEN -------------------------------------
1) What is your NAME, and which position are you running for?
​ Michelle Tanner, St. George City Council
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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?
​ As one of the fastest growing areas in the country we continue to face infrastructure needs, as well as a need for continued emphasis on public safety and water storage. In my continued service, I will continue to work with community leaders to put the much needed reservoirs in place for water storage, such as Graveyard Wash and Warner Valley. I will continue to prioritize roadway improvements within the budget to help alleviate congestion. I will continue to prioritize public safety by assuring we are focusing on using sacred tax dollars for the proper role of government, which is to protect life, liberty, and property.
3) What specific experience, qualifications, or background do you bring that would help you prepare for this position?
​ I have learned a tremendous amount regarding how to be effective and efficient during my first term on the council, which will be extremely valuable going into a second term. As a wife, mother, family nurse practitioner, and small business owner, I deeply understand the needs and values of Utah's Dixie. As a medical professional during covid, I took a public stance against mandates even when it was unpopular. I have a proven track record of placing principle over popularity and being a voice for We The People and understanding the proper role of government and the constitutional foundation of our great nation.
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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 see myself as pro property rights. It is not the governments role to dictate everything people choose to do with their property. Unless it infringes on the protected freedom of others, poses a true public safety issue, or there is simply not the water or infrastructure in place, people should be allowed to use and develop their property as they desire. Property rights are paramount to being an American. One area government can improve when it comes to growth is for the state to reverse its requirement to use a portion of TRT funds for marketing. I believe those dollars could be put to better use improving roadways, infrastructure, and funding public safety.
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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 pivotal when it comes to those elected to represent us. Improvements have been made over recent years, however there is room for more important. The City is in the process of revamping our website where council meetings are live streamed and easily accessible. I also advocate for opportunity for public comment at all meetings.
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6) What criteria will guide your decisions on city spending and budgeting, especially when resources are limited?
​ I have a proven track record of prioritizing public safety and giving public safety employees competitive wage increases without raising taxes. The budget should always be viewed through the lense of funding the proper role of government and evaluating "needs" vs "wants" and priotitization of public safety and infrastructure. We must maintain a balanced budget, properly plan for the years ahead, and maintain fiscal responsibility. I agree with Ron DeSantis- I'd love to see property tax eliminated all together.
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--------------------------------END -MICHELLE TANNER -------------------------------------