Provo mayor: Curtis to focus on city's livability, gang problems

PROVO — Businessman John Curtis said he wants to create a community that will appeal to his children and, in turn, their children.

"I believe Provo is just a tremendous city," the mayoral candidate said. "It's where we hope our kids will come back to live."

Curtis, who is seeking his first elected position, has run a campaign based on three basic issues: safety, prosperity and unity.

Curtis said he is concerned with positioning Provo so it can take advantage of its high ranking on several "best places" lists.

"It will be very important that Provo is poised to take advantage of the county's economic recovery," he said.

To make that happen, Curtis said the first things he will do if elected is work with the City Council to develop a 20-year plan for the city and implement measures to eliminate gang activity.

"When we don't have this long-term vision of where we are going, we are not going to get there," Curtis said.

Curtis also said safety is a top priority.

"It's the primary responsibility of our government," he said, "If the city lets us down in that area, it doesn't matter what else we do."

One of Curtis' chief safety concerns is gang activity in Provo, which he said needs to be dealt with before it grows into a major problem.

"In our city, we have the presence of gangs, and they are growing," he said. "We shouldn't have to tolerate gangs in Provo."

Curtis proposes a three-pronged solution that includes mentoring programs to reach out to high-risk children; increasing the Provo police department's gang-suppression activities; and intervening with kids who are currently identified as being involved in gang activity.

Curtis also said he would work to mend the rift which has grown between outgoing Mayor Lewis Billings and the City Council.

Referring to a statement of intent from the council, Curtis said he agreed with 95 percent of the goals identified by council members.

"Once you work together on a common cause, it's amazing how easy it is to work on the remaining 5 percent," he said.

In regards to divisive zoning issues that place limits on renting residences for student and single housing, Curtis said he would seek to resolve the issue by working to develop areas of the city with student housing in mind.

"We must signal to developers and students and their parents that we are serious about addressing the issue of student housing in Provo," he said.

Curtis said he would foment economic development in Provo by working to retain existing business, aggressively recruiting new business and develop a business incubator to encourage local universities to base commercial applications of research in Provo.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com