Épisodes

  • What Makes a City Great? Nathan Caplin's Blueprint for St. George
    Jul 14 2025

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    Nathan Caplin, candidate for St. George City Council, shares his background in economics, law, and education while discussing his vision for balancing growth with preserving the city's unique character and addressing key challenges facing the community.

    • Extensive background includes being an economics professor, attorney, and director of America's leading higher education program for incarcerated youth
    • Views proper role of local government as operating within constitutional boundaries while remaining responsive to residents' needs
    • Emphasizes direct resident engagement over social media for genuine community input
    • Identifies traffic safety as an ongoing concern despite St. George having better commutes than many cities
    • Advocates for attainable housing solutions for local working residents who struggle to afford homes

    Visit vote.stg.com to learn about all candidates in the municipal elections.

    [00:00:00] Introduction to Nate Kaplan.
    [00:04:54] Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth.
    [00:09:06] Local Government's Proper Role.
    [00:14:31] Leadership and Community Input.
    [00:22:15] Traffic Safety and Infrastructure.
    [00:29:20] Balancing Economic Growth and Heritage.
    [00:35:20] Protecting Environment vs Development.
    [00:45:56] Affordable Housing Solutions.
    [00:51:08] Term Limits and Contact Information.

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    55 min
  • The Swiss Girl Running for City Council: Recognizing Leadership
    Jul 13 2025

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    Jami Leavitt shares her journey from growing up in a small Swiss-inspired town with a mother in public service to running for St. George City Council, bringing perspectives shaped by experiences across the country and deep community connections.

    • Core leadership philosophy shaped by moments of bringing people together rather than standing apart
    • Views on city government as a bottom-up approach that should reflect community values and priorities
    • Thoughtful perspective on balancing St. George's growth with preserving what makes it special

    Visit votejamielevitt.com to learn more about Jamie's campaign or voteSTG.com to compare all candidates before the August 12th primary election.

    [00:00:00] Introduction to the 2025 Elections Series
    [00:08:42] Journey from Utah to Out-of-State and Back
    [00:21:17] Understanding the Role of City Government
    [00:32:13] Developing Leadership and Public Service Values
    [00:45:38] City Self-Sufficiency vs. Regional Connections
    [00:59:22] Community Input in Decision Making
    [01:03:14] The Dignity Index and Political Communication

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    1 h et 9 min
  • Jimmie Hughes believes St. George needs leadership that listens.
    Jul 12 2025

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    Jimmie Hughes shares his journey from lifelong St. George resident to city council member and now mayoral candidate, discussing how his experience as a mortuary owner and cattle rancher has shaped his public service approach.

    • Born and raised in St. George with deep roots in the community
    • Transitioned from mortgage broker to funeral director, now owns Hughes Mortuary with his wife
    • Believes the proper role of local government is providing services that focus on people and advance a thriving community
    • Prioritizes public safety, infrastructure, and maintaining quality of life
    • Values both tradition and progress, coining the phrase "TP: Traditions and Progress""

    Please make sure you like and subscribe, share it with other voters throughout Washington County and make sure they have the information they need to make the decisions that are going to be best for us in the county.

    👉 For more on the candidates, visit
    https://votestg.com/


    [00:00:00] Introduction to Jimmie Hughes
    [00:07:56] Professional Background and Family Life
    [00:20:13] The Role of Local Government
    [00:28:06] Leadership in Public Service
    [00:37:39] Community Input in Decision Making
    [00:47:11] Balancing Heritage and Innovation
    [00:51:29] Economic Development and Quality of Life

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    54 min
  • The Mayor's Perspective: Michele Randall on Leadership and Growth
    Jul 11 2025

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    Mayor Michele Randall discusses her journey from ambulance company owner to St. George mayor and shares her vision for the city's future amid rapid growth and development challenges.

    • Originally appointed in January 2021 after serving on city council, now running for a second full term as mayor
    • Believes in an open-door policy and accessibility to constituents, handling over 1,400 city-related calls since January
    • Explains that local government's primary role is providing core services while respecting property rights
    • Discusses the importance of developing relationships with state and federal officials to benefit Southern Utah.

    For more information, visit MicheleRandall.com or call Mayor Randall directly at 435-632-9116.

    👉 For more on the candidates, visit
    https://votestg.com/

    [00:00:00] Introduction to Municipal Elections Series
    [00:08:39] Mayor Randall's Background and History
    [00:22:12] Leadership Style and City Governance
    [00:29:42] Community Input and Property Rights
    [00:37:03] Economic Growth and Diversification
    [00:45:30] Water Infrastructure and City Development
    [00:52:23] Closing Thoughts and Election Information

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    53 min
  • The Intelligence Guy Who Wants Your Vote
    Jul 10 2025

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    St. George mayoral candidate Aros Mackey who shares his vision for preserving the "Dixie spirit" while fostering economic growth and community leadership.

    • Exploring St. George's unique position as the "800-pound gorilla" in Utah that handles more complex infrastructure and city management than nearly any other Utah city except Salt Lake
    • Discussion of Southern Utah's pioneer heritage and the values that shaped the region: faith, patriotism, hard work, personal responsibility, and sacrifice
    • Aros explains his background in intelligence, criminal justice, and his work combating human trafficking while running a private security agency specializing in executive protection
    • Examination of the proper role of government with Aros describing himself as a "constitutional purist" who believes authority comes from the people

    Visit votearos.com to learn more about the candidate's platform. Primary election ballots will be mailed starting July 22nd, with voting on August 12th.

    👉 For more on the candidates, visit
    https://votestg.com/

    [00:00] Introduction to 2025 Municipal Elections
    [01:30] St. George: The 800-pound Gorilla
    [03:15] Pioneer Heritage and Community Survival
    [06:58] Defining Local Leadership
    [13:30] Political Polarization and Adaptive Leadership
    [24:30] Small Business Support and Economic Growth
    [37:05] Term Limits and Career Politicians
    [55:15] Candidate Platform and Closing Thoughts

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    1 h
  • How a Vietnam Vet's Son Went from Addiction to Serving Hurricane, Utah
    Jul 9 2025

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    Shavene Butler shares his journey from Arizona State University to Hurricane City Council candidate, discussing how his past struggles with addiction and legal troubles shaped his perspective on community service and second chances.

    • Arizona native who found a fresh start in Hurricane with his wife Emily after reconnecting through Facebook
    • Believes local government is where you can make the most impact for your community
    • Wants to balance economic growth with preserving Hurricane's small-town character and beauty
    • Concerned that many residents' children can't afford to live in Hurricane due to housing costs

    Find Shavene Butler on Facebook under his name or his political page "Dems versus me." Make your voice heard in the 2025 municipal elections by visiting VoteSTG.com to learn about all candidates across Washington County.

    [0:00:00] Introduction to 2025 Municipal Elections
    [0:00:54] Meeting Shavene Butler
    [0:06:21] From Privilege to Prison: A Personal Journey
    [0:12:04] Finding Hurricane and a Fresh Start
    [0:18:12] Running for City Council & Leadership Views
    [0:23:14] Growth vs. Preservation in Hurricane
    [0:30:20] Fighting Hunger and Serving the Community
    [0:34:09] Election Information and Closing

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    35 min
  • Hurricane's Future Hangs in the Balance of the 2025 Elections
    Jul 7 2025

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    Kevin Thomas, Hurricane City Council member, shares his journey in local politics from his early involvement with the Republican party to his current role serving the community of 26,000 residents. His unique perspective as both a home designer and elected official offers insights into the challenges of public service in a growing municipality.

    • Motivated to run again after losing his 19-year-old son during COVID and witnessing policy impacts firsthand
    • Led initiative to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and vacation rentals, later working to refine policies when problems emerged
    • Believes the proper role of government is to "provide for citizens what they cannot provide for themselves"
    • Advocates for balanced growth, opposing high-density development while supporting economic growth

    👉 For more on the candidates, visit
    https://votestg.com/

    [00:00:00] Intro and welcome
    [00:04:22] From Hurricane to Return
    [00:11:09] The Proper Role of Government
    [00:18:14] Navigating Divisive Council Decisions
    [00:27:19] Vacation Rentals: Policy Evolution
    [00:30:46] Balancing Growth and Heritage
    [00:37:50] Term Limits in Local Government
    [00:42:38] Closing and Contact Information

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    45 min
  • Inside City Hall: Natalie Larsen on Growth, Safety, and the Future of St. George
    Jul 3 2025

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    Join Natalie Larsen for an honest and insightful look at what it really takes to shape a thriving community. In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from the planning commission to city council, revealing the behind-the-scenes realities of local government and her vision for St. George’s future.

    Key Topics:
    - From Planning to Policy: How Natalie’s early experiences exposed the need for smarter development pacing and heritage preservation.
    - The Real Work of Local Leadership: Discover the “part-time” role that actually means reviewing thousand-page documents, site visits, and constant community engagement.
    - Community Safety First: Natalie tackles the challenge of traffic safety—especially for pedestrians, drivers, and e-bike users—and discusses what it takes to create safer, more bike-friendly streets.
    - Balancing Growth & Heritage: Learn how projects like Tech Ridge can deliver economic opportunity without sacrificing St. George’s unique culture and environment.
    - Term Limits & Fresh Perspectives: Why Natalie supports term limits for local officials and the value of new voices in city government.

    Natalie’s thoughtful, balanced approach to leadership is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of Southern Utah. Whether you care about smart growth, public safety, or preserving community values, this conversation will leave you informed and inspired.

    Get Involved:
    Ballots mail out July 27th. The primary election is August 12th—your vote shapes St. George’s future!
    Learn more at VoteNatalieLarsen.com or compare all candidates at votestg.com.

    Listen now to hear how you can help build a safer, stronger St. George!

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    48 min