Four Candidates run for Kanab City Council

The City of Kanab has four candidates running for two open city council seats this election cycle. Mayor Colten Johnson is running unopposed.

The SUN asked the can­didates three questions for publication: why are you running, what are your qualifications and what is your main campaign issue. Their answers are below - don’t forget to vote!

Left to right: Chris Heaton, David Lane, Jessie Riddle, Steven Shrope.

Chris Heaton

I am running for Kanab City Council because I love this town and the people. Born and raised here, Kanab is my home. I am not going anywhere, and I care deeply about the future of the city. Over the last four years I have worked hard to make decisions that have led to real progress and positive change. I will continue building a future that honors our heritage while also creating op­portunities for our kids to live and work here. With your support, I will keep working to ensure Kanab stays a strong, welcoming and vibrant community for generations to come.

I bring a strong blend of experience, education and community involvement to my candidacy for Kanab City Council. I earned a bachelor’s degree in po­litical science; I served five years on the Kanab Plan­ning Commission and the past four years on the City Council. As a ranch owner I have firsthand knowledge of local economic challeng­es and opportunities. In Kanab City I have rented a home, bought a home, sold a home and built a home and I understand the need to keep prices reasonable for individuals and families to be able to afford to live here.

My focus in running for re-election is to continue to listen to our citizens, continue to support our city employees and help keep Kanab a place where our citizens want to live, whether we have lived here for generations or moved here last month. Over the past four years we have made meaningful progress, but there is more to do. I am committed to thoughtful planning, open communica­tion and keeping Kanab a place, we are all proud to call home. Our community is the best of the best! If re-elected, I will continue to work hard for all of Kanab!

David Robert Lane

I’m running for city coun­cil because I love our town and believe its best days are still ahead. With de­cades of local government and grassroots experience, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I will fight to protect our public lands, make sure local services to our surrounding areas are fairly compensated and put the community’s voice first. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and build a future where growth honors our small-town character, pre­serves our environment and ensures everyone is heard. Together, we can keep our home strong, vibrant and true to who we are.

I bring decades of real-world experience to the table. I’ve served on mul­tiple local governmental committees and led citizen-driven initiatives that revitalized neighborhoods, collaborated with state and federal officials and deliv­ered results. I also have deep business experience, having launched startups across diverse industries and navigated complex regulatory environments. I know the challenges our lo­cal businesses face and how government should work with them - not against them. With a proven track record of hands-on leadership, community engage­ment, fiscal responsi­bility and respect for our environment, I am prepared to hit the ground running.

My main campaign issue is protecting our public lands - the heart and soul of Kanab. For generations, these lands have been where we hunt, camp, fish, hike and explore off-road, a symbol of our freedom and connec­tion to this place. Now, that heritage is at risk. Some want to sell off or restrict access to the open spaces that de­fine us. I’m running to make sure that never happens. I’ll fight to keep our lands public, free and accessible for everyone, now and for generations to come. For the decade plus I’ve been in Kanab my thought is, let’s protect what makes Kanab Kanab.

Jessie Riddle

I’m running for city council because Kanab is my hometown - I grew up here, and now I’m raising my family here. Over the years, I’ve seen Kanab evolve, and I want to help guide that growth with balance and care. I’m running because I believe in being part of the solution and giving back to the community that shaped me.

Having spent many years in tourism and hospitality, I under­stand how important it is to support both residents and visitors. I’ve seen firsthand how tourism strengthens our economy, but also how growth can cre­ate challenges around housing, infrastruc­ture and maintaining our small-town identi­ty. That’s why my goal is to preserve Kanab’s welcoming, small-town feel while encouraging smart development, affordable housing and open communication between city leaders and residents.

Growing up in Kanab and serving on the Kanab Tourism Board has given me valuable insight into our com­munity’s strengths and challenges. With many years of experience in tourism and hospitality - including restaurant and business manage­ment - I’ve built strong relationships with residents, business­es and visitors alike.

I understand how tourism impacts our economy and quality of life, and I’m committed to keeping it sustain­able and beneficial for everyone. My MBA in Business Administra­tion has strengthened my skills in planning, budgeting and leader­ship. Most important­ly, I love this town and believe deeply in its people. Combined with my lifelong connection to Kanab, these experi­ences have prepared me to serve our com­munity with integrity, collaboration and vi­sion.

My main focus is ensuring Kanab city grows responsibly while protecting our quality of life. As some­one who’s worked in tourism and hospital­ity for many years, I’ve seen how important it is to balance economic growth with the needs of local families.

I want to prioritize affordable housing, sustainable tourism and better infrastruc­ture planning to sup­port our growing com­munity while keeping it a safe place to live and play. By encourag­ing open dialogue and community involve­ment, we can make de­cisions that strengthen Kanab’s economy, pre­serve its character and create opportunities for future generations to live, work and raise their families right here at home.

Steven Shrope

I love this commu­nity. The people here have been amazing to my family. I want to help Kanab continue to be a place that feels like home and has a com­munity that’s so quick to jump in and help each other. Growth is inevitable, but with good planning, we can still keep the feel of the town that makes Kanab so special.

Most importantly, I’m deeply vested in this community. I work here in Kanab, where my three oldest chil­dren graduated from high school and my youngest now attends Kanab High. I cur­rently serve on the Kane County Water Conservancy District Board and manage Southern Utah Title. Over the years, I have also held various lead­ership roles in south­ern Utah communities, including HOA board member and president, water board member and Lion’s Club presi­dent.

Future growth is the biggest issue I see right now. Where will our children live and work? How do we keep the feel of our town as we grow? Without prior planning, the city has less control. To maintain a small-town feel and have a safe and functional city, we need to plan for the growth. Where will the travel corridors and infrastructure rights-of-way be? We don’t want a hodgepodge of subdivisions that don’t flow together. We need to put a plan in place to keep that magic here while still providing for our future generations.