CEDAR CITY – Candidates running for mayor and city council debated last Thursday at the Southern Utah University Alumni House during an event organized by the Michael O. Leavitt Institute for Public Policy and the Daily News.

The discussion was moderated by Doug Larson, Leavitt Center director, and Jennifer Weaver, Cedar City Daily News bureau chief. Weaver said the questions asked came from a student survey and from questions submitted to the Daily News.

Each candidate was given the opportunity to introduce his or herself and then they were asked the questions and each had the opportunity to answer.

Joe Burgess, mayoral candidate and former city councilor, introduced himself first. He said through his experiences with his business and serving on the State Bank of Southern Utah and Valley View Medical Center boards, he has dealt with most of the issues the city faces, including land use issues, managing employees, and making a budget work. He feels he has the varied experience the position requires and would like to give back.

Steve Wood, who is also running for mayor and is a city councilor, said his priority as mayor would be economic development and jobs, and he has a plan to help Cedar City. Wood has owned his own accounting office and his financial experience, as well as his experience as a member of the city council, will help him, he said. He referred to himself as a “common man.”

The mayoral candidates were asked whether they would continue the many programs and festivals instigated by Mayor Gerald R. Sherratt and what their priority would be in funding those programs.

Burgess said he is 100 percent behind the festivals, as long as they can support themselves. He said projects like the Main Street statue project are wonderful, but with the city in a tight budget season, they should not receive city funding right now.

Wood said he feels Sherratt has done a good job and the festivals are not funded by the city. Also, the last statue that will be erected during Sherratt’s term will be entirely funded by donations, he said. Like Sherratt, he intends to be a full-time mayor, he said.

Other questions from residents addressed issues such as attracting new businesses and building new jobs, the Lake Powell Pipeline Project and the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District, the utilization of Cedar City’s facilities, the aquatic center, transparency in government and the challenges the city is facing.

When asked what they thought was the biggest challenge the city faces, Burgess said the budget is going to be a challenge, with revenues drastically down, and the operating costs of the aquatic center will also be challenging.

Wood said increasing jobs would be a challenge and a priority, and developing a capital facilities plan showing the state of the current infrastructure.

Council candidates Nina Barnes, Ron Adams, Jolene Goff and Brian Tavoian answered questions about how they would help the community prosper economically, what the worst city council decision has been in the past two years, and more.

The general elections are Nov. 3.

Early Voting Schedule

Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30 from 1 to 5 p.m.

For Cedar City and Enoch, all precincts vote at their respective city offices. For Parowan, all precincts vote at the Iron County Courthouse.

The last day to receive mail-in voter registration is passed, but citizens may still register at the county clerk’s office, 68 S. 100 East in Parowan, through Oct. 19. Voters must have been registered before Oct. 6 to early vote. See next week’s issue of Iron County Today to learn more about the candidates.