Chamber hosts County Commission debate moderated by St. George News

Composite stock image, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The St. George Area Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to attend a debate featuring candidates for Washington County Commission during its next luncheon.

The debate, featuring candidates Republican Gil Almquist and Democrat Robert E. Ford, will be moderated by St. George News Editor in Chief Paul Dail. The debate is a collaborative effort between Chamber’s Community Action Committee and Dixie State University Institute of Politics and will take place 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Dixie State University’s Gardner Center Ballroom.

Both Almquist and Ford are running for Seat A on the Washington County Commission, and whoever is elected will serve on the commission alongside Dean Cox and Victor Iverson.

The luncheon is $15 for Chamber of Commerce members and $20 for nonmembers. Registration is required and can be done online.

About the candidates

Gil Almquist describes Utah’s Dixie as his home, where he and his wife, Jill, raised their family.

“I have seen the population of southern Utah grow four fold since first moving here,” Almquist said in a press release from the chamber. “With skillful planning, respect for the past, and caring stewardship over the land, the growth has not diminished our quality of life.”

He said he has the passion, experience, balance and desire to maintain the area of Southern Utah.

Robert Ford is a semi-retired academic, geoscientist, agriculture and public health specialist, development consultant, conservationist and science and travel photographer who focused on Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the western U.S., particularly Southern Utah. After retiring in 2010, he built a home in Rockville, near Zion National Park.

Since 2013, he’s served on the Rockville Planning Commission and became a member of the Rockville/Springdale Fire Protection District Board in 2018.

Besides his civic work in the Zion Corridor, according to the chamber press release, Ford is an active participant in the Southern Utah arts scene with the Southern Utah Art Guild, Arts to Zion and the Arrowhead Gallery ETC, Southern Utah Landscape Photography and other organizations.

Read more about the candidates here: Election 2018: Candidates hope plans for water, growth will earn them seat on Washington County Commission

Event details

  • What: St. George Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon featuring a debate with Washington County Commission candidates Gil Almquist and Robert E. Ford.
  • When: Wednesday, Oct. 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Where: Dixie State University Gardner Center Ballroom, 225 S. University Ave., St. George.
  • Details: $15 for Chamber of Commerce members, $20 for nonmembers. Registration is required and can be done online.

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