Question 1: How do you think the City Council can influence change in the community? If you want to make change, why run for City Council as opposed to, say, joining a local nonprofit board? 

At its best, the City Council is the bellwether, and at its worst, it can be a barrier; council members are charged to lead the change, not to follow it. The Council sets the budget, passes resolutions and ordinances that dictate how we exist together as a community, and most importantly, sets the direction for our future. 

To be an effective Council member, one must first understand the required role she plays in the city and the community, and then she must leverage that knowledge to lead. She must understand how interconnected all of our major issues are and identify their root causes to create effective, realistic solutions. Many elected officials can’t get past the “Council Member 101” course, so they can’t reach later stages of initiating and achieving real change; this learning curve is a detriment, and it’s why citizens feel the city is always reacting rather than anticipating change.

I’m qualified to serve on Council because I am already intimately familiar with the role and the challenges facing the city, I am already working on solutions to serve our residents, and I already advocate for Moab’s needs on local, state, and national stages; I am ready to hit the ground running. 

I have served on nonprofit boards such as WabiSabi and the Utah Housing Coalition, I served on the Moab Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) board for four years before becoming its first Executive Director, and I have served in local committees like the Moab Area Housing Task Force (MAHTF) and the Local Homeless Council. I understand the fiscal and legal responsibilities of these positions from the board and staff perspectives, and these experiences have taught me valuable skills to lead effectively on a larger scale.

I’m a public servant at heart, I am a fast learner with an indefatigable work ethic, I have a vision for Moab, and I’m doing everything I can to make a positive impact on our community. We live in the most beautiful place with the most special people, and I want to do all I can to make it more livable for everyone.

Question 2: What differentiates you as a candidate?

I am the most “boots on the ground” candidate in this race. Through my work in housing, economic, and community development, I have heard countless stories about how challenging it is to grow roots in Moab. I’ve spent years in professional, educational, and voluntary roles working to understand the causes of our challenges to create solutions that make Moab more livable and stable for residents. 

I’ve produced policies and projects that are now providing dozens of housing units to working families with projects like Arroyo Crossing. I have built strong, positive relationships across Moab’s governmental, business, and non-profit sectors, and I have experience responsibly and transparently managing public, private, and grant funding—which has mostly produced incredible results and returns on investment for our community. I am also the only candidate who understands how to navigate codes and council meetings from a staff’s perspective and from a developer’s perspective, which means I am uniquely qualified to step in and lead on Council from day one.

I have the energy to perform well in this position and the motivation to represent the needs of the current and future generations of our community. The consequences of decisions made today will have lasting impacts tomorrow for the kids in our schools and our seniors on fixed incomes, for our business community and their employees, for our vulnerable and houseless residents, for folks living paycheck to paycheck, for young professionals and young families, and everyone in between. 

I want to be a leader in building the future of Moab for my peers, my neighbors, and myself—because this is the Moab that I hope to have a family and grow old in. 

Question 3: What steps will you take to ensure you’re representing and listening to the wants of Moab voters? 

I’ve heard from folks from all corners of this community that they don’t currently feel heard or represented in the trajectory of our community, so this is a big priority for me. I value honesty and learn by listening, and my goal is to invite every voice to the table so everyone feels included and heard in conversations about our future. 

I believe that the first step is to simply make it easier for folks to understand what the city is doing at a staff and elected level. We are all so busy—many of us are working multiple jobs, taking care of our families, or just trying to get through the day—and many want to participate in our local government but don’t have the time to follow city politics. These are our residents who are often most impacted by decisions at the city level, and our elected officials and staff should make it easier to follow along with our government.

I’ve already started to produce public summaries that highlight important discussions and actions that occur at City Council meetings, and I distribute this information through my email and social media platforms. I intend to continue this initiative while on Council, so if you are interested in receiving these summaries, please reach out and I’ll add you to my list!

I’ve had years of experience bringing people to the table with community workshops, events, and presentations, and I would like to create new avenues for the Council to proactively seek input from and provide information to residents on a regular basis.

In my campaign, I have hosted exercises where the community has been answering the questions about what they care about. These answers have informed my priorities in my campaign and have sparked new suggestions and ideas to bring to Council. For example, I’ve heard ideas from residents like scheduling town halls, community dinners, and surveys to gather general feedback and creating an app or interactive method of providing and receiving communication about community issues in real time. 

Question 4: What’s an example of a great recent City Council ordinance or political move? What’s one you believe was a misstep? 

It took incredible foresight for the previous Council to acquire the Walnut Lane property. Other resort communities have been acquiring and building housing for decades to support their workforce, and it was noble for the City to step up in this way to help solve our housing crisis. Land prices have increased by more than 50% since the City purchased the property in 2018, and we’ve seen several affordable trailer parks purchased, dozens of families evicted, and more unaffordable housing options rebuilt since then. If another developer purchased this property in 2018, I can guarantee we would have seen the same pattern for Walnut. 

However, the former Council was not equipped or properly informed when they decided to start this project, and it has caused several major challenges and delays. When I joined city staff to work on the project, the Council consistently struggled to provide me with the leadership or desired vision to produce a viable project, and it is still floundering. It was a misstep of the former Council to jump into a complicated, multi-million dollar project for the first time without a proper plan to implement it. 

That said, preserving housing for Walnut Lane residents has been and will continue to be a success. I commend the city staff for all of the hard, thankless work they have put into making those units safer and healthier for the tenants. I hope the current Council will succeed in selecting a developer to take over the project—I believe it is the correct decision, and it is time to act.

When I left the city to join MACLT, I knew I wanted to finish the work I started at Walnut Lane, and it is one of the main reasons I am running for Council. The residents of Walnut deserve real solutions from the city, and this community deserves to see real success on this project.

Question 5: What three steps would you take in the next year to put the city on a firm footing for the future? 

First, I am excited about creating a long-range financial plan and really engaging with the public through that process. The city has initiated a lot of new, significant projects and policies in the last five years (Moab Area Transit, PAD, assured housing, overnight accommodations and UTV regulations, landscaping ordinance, and Dark Skies, just to name a few), and residents and city staff feel like they can’t keep up. It is the Council’s fiduciary duty to create, and the public deserves to understand, a comprehensive plan for all current and upcoming initiatives and their short- and long-range financial implications.

Second, I want to work with the Council, Planning Commission, and staff to update the Moab Municipal Code. Our code is extremely difficult to navigate (I am experienced with using land use codes, and I still struggle to understand it), and it unintentionally includes many contradictions and barriers to local housing development, business expansion, licensing, infrastructure improvements, and more. In particular, our commercial and mixed-use code sections need to be modified to make it easier for our local businesses to grow and thrive, our parking and pathway codes need to address current transportation issues, and our approval processes need to be streamlined. I am excited that staff is prioritizing this much-needed project next year, and I plan to be heavily involved with the code rewrite to ensure it is clear, effective, and reliable for those who use it.

Finally, I plan to lead the Council in implementing the Moab Area Affordable Housing Plan, which is slated to pass at the city and county in the coming months. I have been heavily involved with creating this and the former Housing Plan through my role with the MAHTF [Moab Area Housing Task Force], and I believe the Council needs to take a proactive approach to meeting its actionable items to address the housing crisis. I would start with creating a deed restriction administration program for the city’s current occupancy-restricted units and will work to initiate long-term planning and zoning updates that will make it easier to build local housing options.

Question 1: How do you think the City Council can influence change in the community? If you want to make change, why run for City Council as opposed to, say, joining a local nonprofit board? 

The City Council’s opportunity to influence change in our community is broad and fundamental.  For one, the City Council has the ability to affect real and measurable change through its legislative action and policy. And communities thrive and flourish with adequate, affordable, and workforce housing; an active and inviting commercial center; and protection of essential resources like water, safe and well-maintained streets and pathways, and pedestrian connectivity. 

I want to help Moab realize these essential elements of a healthy, livable community so that we may continue to shift more fully towards economic growth and diversification, civic engagement, and an increased investment in building lives and families in our desert community.

Question 2: What differentiates you as a candidate? 

I bring to the table 20+ years of business and community experience that distinguishes me from other candidates. I have raised two children in Moab, started and operated three successful businesses, organized numerous service events, coached youth sports teams, sat on several local nonprofit boards and governmental committees, and been formally involved in community planning efforts as a representative of the active transportation community. It’s these involvements that provide me with a unique understanding of and appreciation for the Moab community.

Question 3: What steps will you take to ensure you’re representing and listening to the wants of Moab voters? 

Voters feel heard when their legislators are transparent and accessible. While I will be accessible through phone and email, I plan to also actively seek out input on current topics through outreach and involvement. If the city is not hearing from a stakeholder on a relevant policy decision, I will be actively working to bring this individual, business, or organization into the conversation. 

Second, I will take my committee and board assignments as a council member very seriously, as this is one of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy connection between our community and the Moab City Council.

Question 4: What’s an example of a great recent City Council ordinance or political move? What’s one you believe was a misstep? 

The City of Moab has successfully enacted ordinances recently that will have a positive effect on two of the most pressing challenges to the Moab Community: housing and water. First, the AEH [Actively Employed Household] ordinance passed in 2022 will stop the current loss of local workforce housing in our multi-family zones to townhome projects for second homeowners. The ordinance requires that 33 percent of new units be deed-restricted for individuals actively employed in Grand County. 

Second, the Water Efficient Landscaping ordinance passed in 2023 takes a big step in addressing our community’s need for immediate measures to conserve our water resources. The ordinance requires that new developments and existing residential and commercial properties that are undergoing large-scale renovations come into compliance with water-saving landscaping standards as well as water sense approved interior fixtures.

Question 5: What three steps would you take in the next year to put the city on a firm footing for the future?

1. I will continue to look for innovative solutions to our housing crisis. As a founding member of Community Rebuilds, this is not a new process for me. This means looking for new approaches, policies, and funding sources to incentivize housing for locals as well as reviewing the city’s current land use development process to identify where the friction points are for local developers and how we can relieve them. 

2. As we evaluate new developments and future policy, I will ensure that our increasingly limited water resource is considered in every planning process. I am also committed to additional and continued monitoring and study of the health of our aquifer and watershed so that we may better understand our capacity for growth in the Moab Valley. 

3. I will work to be sure that Moab’s downtown receives the immediate upkeep and maintenance to keep it safe and inviting. I will also involve myself in the planning process to improve the quality of experience for locals, tourists, and businesses in our downtown, Moab’s primary economic engine. This work includes studying pedestrian connectivity through town to make certain that our kids can move around safely to school and sports from all city neighborhoods.

Question 1: How do you think the City Council can influence change in the community? If you want to make change, why run for City Council as opposed to, say joining a local nonprofit board?

City councils influence change because they are the local legislative arm, so to speak. They influence and direct planning and zoning, along with policies and plans for all departments within the city. They are responsible for setting goals, making plans and prioritizing those goals and plans; while giving direction to staff as to how they envision those implemented. They can enact new rules and laws with some constraint from the state legislature. They need to weigh what residents ask for, what is realistic with our limitations, and what is financially feasible. And they ask, are there enough resources available to accomplish those goals?

Nonprofits are a big part of the Moab community and in many ways, they become partners with the City of Moab. Sometimes with formal written agreements, some are not so formal. As one of our responsibilities as council members, we are expected to serve on several nonprofit boards as representatives of the City of Moab. I serve on the boards of the Canyonlands Health Care Special Service District, the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah, and the Moab Museum. In the past, I served on the board at Seekhaven.

Question 2: What differentiates you as a candidate? 

I have time in grade (sorry, my military-wife habits sometimes show up). I have an understanding of why many decisions of the last 8 years have come about and why certain choices were made. 

In addition, I have been a part of the underserved populations that Moab City tries very hard to reach out to. I’ve been a single mom, working three jobs sometimes, to make sure rent was met and there was food along with other necessities. I know there isn’t always time to reach out to local leaders or attend meetings. I try to make sure I remember the path that brought me to where I am. I have decades of life to draw upon, which has made me a little more patient and a little more understanding that not everyone is in the same place in their lives. Being kind, being compassionate, being available, and being willing to listen and learn are more important than being right. 

Question 3: What steps will you take to ensure you’re representing and listening to the wants of Moab voters? 

In a personal sense, I have committed to taking Governor Cox’s challenge of doing one kind thing every day without any expectation of acknowledgment. In addition, I’ve been inspired by Dr. Tim Shriver’s project: “The Dignity Index.” This project stresses that we have more in common than we may think at first blush. When we put each other into camps and demonize one another, we make assumptions before we understand each other. I am committing to striving to treat others with dignity, respect, and kindness. I may not succeed every day, but I am hopeful that in doing so, I can learn more and be more thoughtful in my responses and my decisions. 

I wish it was within my power to make everyone happy with every decision that is made. Unfortunately, that isn’t one of my superpowers. All that any of us can do is commit to our best, recognize that everyone’s best isn’t the same every day, and give each other the grace to make mistakes that we’d all wish for ourselves and for those we love.

Question 4: What’s an example of a great recent City Council ordinance or political move? What’s one you believe was a misstep? 

One thing I have learned in creating plans, developing projects, and bringing ideas to fruition, is to listen to professionals, the public, other agencies, and other cities. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel on every project or plan. Planning does seem to take a long time; but in the end, when we develop a well-thought-out and researched plan, the ensuing projects go smoother and more within budget. 

The Moab Tomorrow-Together visioning workshop that we held last year was a good political move. Through that process, feedback from a broad swath of our community was asked for and put into a useable, workable form by professionals; then it was presented to the entire community. That workshop was instrumental in guiding our strategic planning in January. Not everything in the strategic plan is going to be complete in year one. It gives City Council and future councils a road map. Also, getting the CIB loan/grant to rebuild Kane Creek Blvd was a big deal. It’s been a looming HUGE project for years. 

One thing that may have been a misstep was the Planned Affordable Developments (PAD) ordinance. It hasn’t been utilized the way we’d hoped. We tried to create it to help guide development, but it proved to be too restrictive; It may be time to rethink it and rework it. 

Question 5: What three steps would you take in the next year to put the city on firm footing for the future? 

I wish I had a crystal ball and could see into the future, to see what we will need, where we will be, what unexpected events may occur, and what new technologies will be available to assist us. Having said that, the City of Moab is in pretty good shape. 

1. We’ve had some staff turnover, so I’d say supporting current staff and administration to find qualified people to fill those positions and continue to be able to provide the level of service we have committed to. 

2. Looking at our Capital Improvements List and asking solid questions about our priorities and what is most urgent and what, if anything, can be put on hold. These lists are like a long, braised stew: They have to be checked on, stirred and seasoning adjusted, so they don’t just burn on the bottom of the pan. We did learn from the floods in the last two years that we need redundancy and some protections built into our current systems. 

3. We’ve completed the Sustainability Plan and updated the Landscaping Ordinance which is a step in the right direction for water conservation and overall better for our community as we move forward in times when there are questions about water availability. We are moving forward to complete the Parks Master Plan and finish the Downtown Plan which got a bit derailed during the pandemic. I’d like to finish those up and concentrate on improving our tree canopy and green spaces within the city. When I look at a photo of our valley from 2002, there were many more fields and pastures, but not so many trees. Today, there are more buildings in general so we need more trees and plants that help cool our city for us and future Moabites. 

Question 1: How do you think the City Council can influence change in the community? If you want to make change, why run for City Council as opposed to, say, joining a local nonprofit board?

City Council can influence change in the community through various mechanisms:

Policy Making: The primary function of City Council is to create and enact local laws and policies. By passing ordinances that address pressing community issues, City Council directly shapes the legal framework of Moab.

Budgetary Control: City Council controls the budget, allowing them to allocate funds strategically. By prioritizing spending on essential services such as parks and recreation, public safety, and infrastructure, City Council can improve residents’ quality of life.

Community Engagement: Council members must engage with the community. Listening to residents’ concerns and ideas helps councilors make informed decisions that align with community needs and values.

Zoning and Land Use: City Council has authority over zoning regulations and land use policies. They can use these tools to guide development, ensuring it aligns with the community’s vision and needs.

Environmental Initiatives: City Council can implement green policies and regulations, promote sustainability, and address environmental concerns, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable community.

Public Safety: Ensuring residents’ safety is paramount. City Council can support law enforcement, ensure policies are in place for natural disasters or other emergencies, and direct staff to address traffic/pedestrian safety concerns.

Advocacy: City Council can advocate for community interests at higher levels of government, securing support and resources to address local challenges.

To be effective, the City Council must maintain transparency, engage regularly with the community, consider diverse perspectives, and collaborate with other stakeholders. Individual council members’ commitment to their constituents and the community’s well-being is crucial for driving positive change.

My decision to run for City Council comes down to my commitment to and passion for the whole community, and the desire to help. I believe my diverse work experience from working for a nonprofit that served folks of all abilities, to a campground based on tourism, to a community waste management business demonstrates my ability to thrive in various roles. This also highlights my commitment to continuous learning and growth, making me a well-rounded and adaptable candidate ready to excel in this role.  

Question 2: What differentiates you as a candidate?

What differentiates me as a candidate is my experience having City Council decisions directly affect my family and my business. In 2018, the city moved to implement a recycling program. The contract went to Monument Waste and with that decision, the value of my recycling business, Green Solutions, dropped by more than half. All members of the community have been affected by some decision that the City Council made, or makes, but to have that large and direct of an impact stays with someone. That experience will guide my thinking on making decisions as a councilmember, and lead me to seek out advice, perspectives, and opinions from the community.

I am also the only candidate actively talking about emergency preparedness for extreme weather events. It seems some community, somewhere, is experiencing an unprecedented weather event with startling frequency. Moab experienced a 100-year flood event on August 20 of last year and there have been multiple wildfires in recent years. We must prioritize our first responders and make sure they have the resources needed to address these events, educate our whole community on preparedness, and implement systems to protect life and property. We got extremely lucky last year by not losing a member of our community to the flood. Let’s be proactive and do what we can now to lessen the impact of these events.

Question 3: What steps will you take to ensure you’re representing and listening to the wants of Moab voters?

If I am elected it will be my primary job. This will give me the time and flexibility to attend the many meetings that happen in the community during business hours and interact with those stakeholders. There is a lot going on that many people don’t see or hear about, and having the time to participate in those meetings will give me the knowledge to share what is going on with the wider community. 

I think receiving feedback, both positive and constructive, is vitally important for a city councilor, so I welcome it. 

I think being on social media and seeing what is being said is important to know, but engaging through social media can lead to polarizing distorted conversations, so I will prioritize engaging with the community in face-to-face relationships.

Question 4: What’s an example of a great recent City Council ordinance or political move? What’s one you believe was a misstep?

I believe the slowing down of and passing the AEH (Active Employment Household) ordinance was a great policy and political move. The competing needs of addressing an urgent issue in a timely manner, and developing a robust policy that can withstand legal challenges and scrutiny, is something City Council and other governing bodies are asked to do all the time. 

Anticipating challenges is hard and fixing them is even harder. The AEH is good policy in that it helps address the issue that I see infiltrate and exacerbate so many other issues: housing. Slowing down and dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s was politically the right move to preserve policy and get more stakeholders on board. There are hundreds of units in the pipeline to hopefully relieve some of the stress of the housing issue but more will be needed and we must continue to develop policies and strategies to address housing.  

The biggest misstep I have seen is not getting the bike path under the highway back open to pedestrian and bike traffic after the flood. As a parent who bikes with my kids almost every day, the risk of crossing Main Street with speeding trucks and errant drivers far outweighs any risk we would encounter on a damaged path. That is a vital transportation corridor and should be prioritized to remain open and accessible to the community.

Question 5: What three steps would you take in the next year to put the city on a firm footing for the future?

I would focus first on community cohesion. We all want what’s best for this community, and to achieve this we need effective collaboration among government, businesses, community organizations, schools, and residents. Let’s celebrate what brings us together and remember we are each other’s neighbors, friends, classmates, and colleagues who all share this community. I would encourage a bottom-up approach to addressing our problems: we need to hear from everyone.

Secondly, keep a tight focus on the city’s budget. The most important thing the City Council can do is to have a detailed, clear understanding of the city’s budget. If the city is not financially solvent, it will have a negative impact that will reverberate for years and impair the city’s ability to solve the many pressing issues our community faces. It is the job of the City Council to be fiscally responsible and to remember that the city pays for its decisions with hard-earned tax dollars. 

And lastly, staying on track and sticking to the city’s strategic plan, supporting the city staff in the implementation of that plan, and working to maintain cohesion of the City Council. Things go more smoothly when an organization operates as a whole, rather than individual parts. By maintaining a focused course, while making nimble adjustments, we will keep the momentum of our town going forward. The City Council guides and directs, but it is the city staff that does the heavy lifting and we must support them in that lift. Maintaining cohesion within the City Council is an ongoing effort that requires the commitment of each member. I will work to foster a culture of respect, open communication, and collaboration to work together effectively to address the needs and concerns of the community.

Question 1: How do you think the City Council can influence change in the community? If you want to make change, why run for City Council as opposed to, say, joining a local nonprofit board? 

When people get involved in selecting and then voting for a person to represent them, that person has a true obligation to communicate with his constituents. The most effective way to make change is to be accountable to those who placed you there.

Question 2: What differentiates you as a candidate? 

I have extensive experience in both small and large government administration. I also have executive-level management experience in private sector business. I have extensive experience in interpretation and administration of federal, state and local rules, regulations and laws. I love Moab and all who live in and visit our community. I believe that through a proven track record of work experience, I have the skill sets necessary to navigate the citizens of Moab through a difficult and turbulent political time.

Question 3: What steps will you take to ensure you’re representing and listening to the wants of Moab voters? 

I want to investigate the possible good uses of Tela technology to put open communication at the fingertips of every citizen with a cell phone. Until this is investigated and developed, I have an email address and Facebook page and want to be accessible to all.

Question 4: What’s an example of a great recent City Council ordinance or political move? What’s one you believe was a misstep? 

“Great”: I witnessed Councilmember Jason Taylor cast a “No” vote on an ordinance proposing electric car chargers be built in Lyons Park. Jason did not think that was locals first—he argued for car chargers closer to town, so locals wouldn’t have to drive to Lyons Park to charge their car. I agree with him. 

“Misstep”: Not allowing the downtown parking garage a few years ago caused a loss of tax dollars.

Question 5: What three steps would you take in the next year to put the city on a firm footing for the future?

1.  No city property tax

2.  Reduce tax dollar spending to needs only

3.  Get enhanced local feedback and outreach to citizens

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