New Provo mayor John Curtis honors predecessor

PROVO — The first thing John Curtis did as Provo's new mayor was honor his predecessor.

Before delivering his inaugural address at Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony, Curtis announced he was naming the air traffic control tower at the Provo Municipal Airport for Lewis Billings, who completed his third term as mayor the same day.

"His commitment to the development and growth of the Provo Municipal Airport has been untiring," Curtis said in making the presentation.

In his inaugural remarks delivered at the Covey Center for the Arts, Curtis promoted community safety, economic development and unity.

"Every voice is important in Provo," he said, "and all who come ready to respectfully discuss will have a seat at the table. Instead of any negative rhetoric, it's my hope that we can root for one another's success, put our egos aside and believe in each other."

Curtis and newly elected Provo City Council members Sterling Beck, Laura Cabanilla and Richard Healey each took the oath of office, administered by 4th District Juvenile Court Judge Kay A. Lindsay, during the afternoon ceremony.

The new mayor said the city's most pressing need is addressing a budget shortfall that could reach $3.5 million. Curtis said he had sought the help of a financial advisory committee — consisting of Provo residents and business leaders — to make the budget balance.

"We will make good decisions based on solid principles," he said. "When we cut, it will be because it is the right thing to do, and when we spend, it will be in the city's best interest."

Curtis said he will present a list of priorities for his first 100 days in office on Jan. 15 during the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Friday Forum.

"I believe the most noteworthy aspect of my first 100-day priority list is that it will be a joint list shared with the City Council," he said. "It will bear their name and their ideas as well as mine."

Billings said the naming of the control tower in his honor caught him by surprise.

"I didn't know anything about it," he said. "My attitude on naming rights has been that someone should either donate a lot of money or die."

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com