Toni Turk

Running for: Blanding Mayor

In addition to my service as Mayor since 2004, I am currently also giving public service in other ways. I chair the following: the Advisory Council for San Juan County Higher Education; the Board of Directors for Transitions; and the San Juan County Homeless Coordinating Committee. I am also on the Board of Directors for the San Juan County Health Service District, a member of the San Juan Utah Substance Abuse Coalition, and a founding member of the Blanding Rotary Club. I am also a Commissioner for the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah. These various service experiences nicely complement my role as Mayor of Blanding, and help me to serve our community better. It has also helped me gain a more balanced understanding of how Blanding fits into the broader San Juan County community.

The following is a snapshot of Blanding’s growth and progress during my term as Mayor (2004-2009):

Communications – Cell Tower; Fiber Optics

Education (CEU) – Adult Learning Center; Health Science Building; Maintenance Building, Student Center

Fire – Station Expansion

Health – Blue Mountain Hospital

Housing – Crown Homes; New Sub-Divisions; Self-Help Homes

Police – Peace Keeping Balanced with Law Enforcement

Recreation – Park Improvements (Centennial, Central, Pioneer, Skate, Walter C. Lyman); Recreational-Use Annexation of Public Land; Wellness Center

Tourism – Centennial Celebration; Main Street Beautification

Transportation – Airport Improvements ($650K); Road Improvements ($2.5M)

Water – Blue Mountain Tunnel Restoration, Deep Wells, New Water Treatment Plant; Storm Water

While accomplishing the above, Mayor, Councils and City have reduced our overall debt, significantly increased savings for future major infrastructure projects and reduced property tax rates in five of the six budgets with which I have been involved. Currently, we have well in excess of $6 million dollars in grant funds at work for our community – over $4 million of which are dedicated to water improvement projects and the balance for our pending wellness center.

I am committed to continue to serve the Blanding community in the following ways:

Advocate for the Blanding Campus during the USU restructure

Advocate for the return of San Juan County Anasazi artifact collections to Blanding

Continued Progressive Infrastructure & Economic Development

Equal enforcement of the law without preference or prejudice

Zero tolerance for illegal drugs and alcohol offenses

I am asking for the citizens of Blanding to continue the momentum by reelecting me as Mayor on November 3. Your vote will be appreciated.