M AYO R A L M E S S A G E
Did you know that St. George was rated nineteenth among the Top Boomtowns in America by SmartAsset and ranked fourth among the Best Performing Small Cities in the nation by the Milken Institute? These rankings factor population change, yearly gross domestic product growth, housing growth rate, and unemployment rate. They are indications that our city’s twin pillars of optimism and activity resonate with residents and visitors alike. We are no longer a well-kept secret. People know that St. George is the place to be! Needless to say, things are moving fast. This can be discomforting to some who feel that we might be losing our small-town way of life. I understand the concern. St. George has a certain charm that I hope we never lose. And while I lament some of the unavoidable byproducts of our growth, I like to focus on the things that I can control. One of them is how I treat people. I have a small tin sign sitting on my desk that says, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” The quote, whose origin is unknown, is powerful. As I begin my first full term as Mayor of St. George, it is my honor to serve all of our residents, and I promise to try my very best to always be kind—regardless of the situation. Think about the changes we could make in our lives and in the lives of others if we heed these words. Imagine if we were all kind to our neighbors. We’d have better relationships with them. This begins by taking the time and making the effort to get to know them. Have them over for dinner. Host a neighborhood party. Remember their birthdays. Imagine if we were all kind on social media. There is a real person with a family on the other end of a social media comment—so consider what you might gain by engaging in an online argument. Would you speak the same words if your counterpart was standing right in front of you? Imagine if we were all involved in our communities, took kindness to the next level, and helped make our city even better. What the longtime St. George residents call the “Dixie Spirit” is reflected in all of us through our words and actions. I am so excited, blessed, and fortunate to be elected Mayor of our wonderful city. I am everybody’s Mayor, and I will continue to be responsive to everyone because I was elected to be your voice.
Mayor, City of St. George 8 www.sghealthandwellnessmagazine.com
