The Ups and Downs of This Week

Tuesday was a day that humbled me.  I was overwhelmed at the support and trust placed in me by the citizens of La Verkin that allowed me to proceed beyond the Primary Election and on to the General Election.  I was so grateful for my fellow candidates and the civility that was shown in leading up to the election.  In fact, that civility and mutual respect was commented on by a number of people to me.

On Tuesday, I was really excited to learn that there were approximately 100 more ballots cast in the Primary election than had been cast in the two previous municipal elections.  I was excited to see the interest and involvement of the residents of our community and their expression of that interest by getting to the polls and voting.  I felt this same interest was shown at the Meet the Candidate Night moderated by members of the Rotary Club the end of July when over 100 individuals filled the council chambers to listen to the views expressed by the candidates.

On Wednesday, I was disappointed.  Wednesday night the Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding a change in the ordinance concerning non-pet animals that could be kept in residential zones.  Instead of 100 people filling the council chambers, there were only a handful.  I had truly thought there would be more.

When we first started addressing this issue a year ago, there were quite a few people in the audience who came to express concerns about this issue.  Some were concerned that there were too many "farm" animals in the residential neighborhoods, but most seemed to feel that the ability to have a few animals, as long as they are taken care of, is an important part of the character of the community.  Yet, I don't believe any of these people were present for the public hearing and subsequent vote by the planning commission to forward the ordinance on to the City Council for approval.

I happen to agree more with this second group of residents that feel animals are an important part of this community.  The opportunity to raise my children in an area where there are animals other than dogs or hamsters was very important to me.  I was raised taking care of rabbits, chickens, pigs, geese, cows and horses.  In fact, as anyone who has ever raised chickens where a rooster is present knows, you never crack an egg directly into what you are making, just in case.  My husband thought I was completely strange when it came to my baking habits.

But back to topic - one of the biggest concerns expressed to me as I have been campaigning is the lack of communication or knowledge of what is going on with our commissions and councils.  I am a firm believer that there can never be too much communication when it comes to spreading information.  In today's society a city has many ways to spread the information to its citizens: social media such as Facebook or Twitter; city, county and state websites; community bulletin boards at city offices, local retailers or the postoffice; print and audio communications through the media or direct mailing or calling from the city.  There is also the old-standby of the marque or sandwich board in front of the city office.

My goal as mayor will be to insure that I never have a resident of the community tell me that they did not know something was going on.  I want to make access to information accessible to everyone in a way that they are comfortable receiving it.  To make sure that happens, I am open to suggestions.

This Wednesday night, August 21st, the city council will be discussing and possibly taking action on the animal ordinance among other items.  The agenda is quite full that evening.  You can link to it by clicking HERE.

On another note, I was quite pleased by the write-up I received in the St. George News.  Reuben Wadsworth, the reporter, was great to work with.  Here is what he wrote about me:

Ann Wixom

One of Ann Wixom’s favorite memories of her growing-up years in South Weber, Utah, is packing into the car to travel the country with her father as guide. A history teacher, he wanted to ensure his children experienced what life was like outside their small town.

From her father, who also served on the town’s planning commission, in the state legislature and later as the town’s mayor, Ann Wixom said she learned to be accepting of others. She continued her lessons in acceptance by experiencing life in various locales throughout the nation as a military wife, including Virginia, Texas and Colorado.

She also learned compassion when she was in charge of a military family support group, Ann Wixom said, coordinating efforts to ensure military families received the money, food and healthcare they needed. At the same time, she became aware of domestic violence. Advocacy for domestic violence victims has become one of her passions. A few years ago she wrote a grant for the Hurricane City Police Department that set up a victim advocacy program in the community.

In addition to her volunteer work as a military wife, Ann Wixom has worked in a variety of fields. Currently she is a case manager at Lava Heights Academy, a private school in Toquerville dedicated to the performing arts. Previously she was a code enforcement officer and administrative assistant for the Hurricane City Police Department. Prior to moving to Southern Utah, she owned a vending business in Ogden.

For the last nine years, the LaVerkin community has been accepting of Ann Wixom and her family, which includes her husband, Rick Wixom, three sons and two daughters. No event showed that more than when her family’s house burned down approximately three years ago. First of all, neighbors driving by “saved them,” she said, with eyes tearing up.

“We barely got out,” Ann Wixom said; she was treated for smoke inhalation after the blaze.

After the disaster, people in the community banded together to aid the family. She said people constantly asked what they could do to help and, when they were renting while their home was rebuilt, neighbors supplied furniture, dishes, pans and other necessities.

“I don’t know how to begin to repay people,” Ann Wixom said.

From the experience, Ann Wixom said she and her family learned of the strength they had to get through things and most of all that being positive amid such trials is essential. For instance, she said, a counselor told them to think of three positives for every negative, words they have lived by ever since.

Ann and Rick Wixom have done their best to inspire their children to be positive forces in the community.

“My mom is super community-service oriented,” her son, Hunter Wixom, 23, said.

She made sure her children knew what her expectations were, her son said, “she let us know if we were not living up to it.”

“We give back to the community,” Ann Wixom said. “Living in a community doesn’t just mean you have a house there.”

Ann Wixom currently serves as the chairwoman of the city’s Fourth of July committee and her children know they are expected to help. Her two daughters, ages 12 and 10, have even been attending city council meetings to understand what is going on in the community.

Her family is very supportive of her mayoral aspirations, Ann Wixom said; if they weren’t, she wouldn’t be running, she said.

“While the kids may not know all that being a mayor entails,” her husband Rick Wixom said, “they love and support their mom in everything she does.”

“There is not a question in their minds about me doing it,” she said.

She is running for mayor because she loves the community and sees things she wants to change and does not want to be one of the ones just sitting around, Ann Wixom said. The city is at a pivotal point in which it needs to expand its tax base without affecting the make-up of the community, she said, that she feels she can bring new ideas and a different perspective to the table.

“She’s not afraid to tell it like it is,” her son, Hunter Wixom, said. “She tries to keep it straightforward.”

“She is very organized and she has had a great deal of experience working with cities and the people they serve,” Rick Wixom said of his wife. “She understands how to not only identify problems, but can identify and implement solutions.”

Click HERE to read the whole article.

Heartbeat of a Community

For the last four seasons, my daughters have swum with the Hurricane Tigersharks Swim Team.  This team is part of a tri-state summer rec league which includes teams from Dixie State University, Mesquite Nevada, and Fredonia Arizona.  Most Saturdays during the summer will find us travelling to one place or another to spend the day in the sun watching our children swim.  During these last four summers, we have become a part of a very open, welcoming and supportive community.  This community is united by the desire to make sure that all the youth participating in the league develop and improve skills in swimming, learn good sportsmanship and have fun.

Yesterday was the last meet of the season.  Traditionally this meet is an invitational hosted by Hurricane known as "Beat the Heat".  At the start of the week, after the pump at the Hurricane pool died, there  was only a brief time we wondered if this meet, that is usually an end-of-the-year celebration for all the teams, would happen.  I say only a brief moment, because it did not take any time at all for Mesquite to offer to let the meet be moved to their facility.  They offered this free of charge to Hurricane.

This is what a community does.  A community supports its members.  In good times we are there to rejoice together.  In hard times we are there to offer help.  A community offers a camaraderie that comes from evenings spent cheering our kids on at the seasonal sporting event.  A community develops a sense of pride as the applause is heard during a theatrical or musical production.  A community unites to offer service for the benefit of its members or to improve the community as a whole.  A community allows the expression and sharing of ideas without fear of ostracism.  A community celebrates one another as it gathers together for community events.  A community provides a variety of activities and opportunities so that its members are able to find their place.  There is an intrinsic value to a city that is hard to quantify, but is so apparent when lacking, provided by community unity.

During the last year, my family has enjoyed many opportunities to experience membership in a wonderful community.  We were able to catch up with old friends and share joys and struggles as we cheered on La Verkin Parks and Rec volleyball and soccer teams.  My daughter was able to receive instruction on auditioning from the La Verkin Community Theater  Even though she was too nervous to audition at that time, she used what she learned and did audition in the spring for the production of the Zion Junior Musical Theater of La Verkin.  We were able to attend a dance recital where a tribute was given to a young girl who is fighting cancer.  Our family has enjoyed service as we have helped people move in and move out of their homes, supported fundraisers, built trails and cleaned up Confluence Park, planted trees, cleaned yards and cleaned city streets.  And our family has helped the community gathered together during Winterfest, the 4th of July and 24th of July celebrations.  Most recently, our family has experienced the freedom to express ideas as I have engaged in my campaign for Mayor.

Growing up in a town that had a strong sense of community, I wanted to have that for my children.  We have found it here in La Verkin.  That sense of belonging and unity is something to be valued, to be treasured, to be protected and to be nurtured and encouraged to grow.