Park City Mayoral Candidates talk with TownLift

City Hall in Park City, Utah. Photo: TownLift // Bailey Edelstein

PARK CITY, Utah. — The registration period for individuals to declare their candidacy in the upcoming mayoral race came to an end on June 7 at 5 pm. Three candidates have announced their intent to run for office: incumbent mayor Andy Beerman, City Councilwoman Nann Worel, and CEO of an investment bank, David Dobkin.

All three candidates possess strong backgrounds in management and leadership, and they share similar viewpoints on the challenges Park City faces. It’s safe to say they have far more similarities than differences. TownLift (TL) spoke with each of them to try and learn a little more about each candidate’s platform.

A primary election will be held on August 10, and the Municipal Election will be held on November 2. Follow this link to register to vote.

Andy Beerman

As the incumbent mayor, Andy Beerman is widely considered to be the incoming favorite. And while he is loved by many, his time in office has not been without its challenges. Specifically, Mayor Beerman faced criticism in the midst of the Covid-19 shutdown for being insensitive to the economic woes felt by many Park City residents. In response, Mayor Beerman was able to secure an additional $3 million in CARES funding from the State, of which two-thirds was directed to local businesses and non-profits. He has been a full-time Park City resident since 1995.

TL: What would be the top of your agenda when taking office?

I want to continue the momentum and alignment following Park City’s Vision 2020 and focusing on our four community pillars: social equity and affordability, environmental leadership, maintaining our authentic local culture, and transportation innovation. I also want to resolve the hideout situation and preserve Richardson Flat.

TL: Where do you hope to see Park City in 10 years?

From a social standpoint, we need more diversity of voices. During our recent city council retreat, we came up with the new slug-line for the city, which is “everyone gets a seat at the table”. It’s not our reality today, but 10 years from now that’s what I hope to see.

TL: What are your greatest concerns for Park City?

Maintaining that sense of community as affordability pushes us in the other direction. Mayor Thomas, my predecessor, called it maintaining a complete community. The question we’re asking ourselves today is, how can we create a situation where people can stay, and if they want to leave, are able to come back?

TL: What past experience do you have that would give you an advantage as Mayor?

I ran several businesses before buying and running my own, and I was a city councilman before becoming mayor. I was on the board of the Historic Park City Alliance for eight years and president for two years.

My relationships are the unique characteristics I bring to the table. I was able to use my relationship with the Utah League of Cities and Towns to secure Park City with an extra $2.5 million due to Covid-19. I also have relationships with people in Utah legislature, which helps give our town a voice. Too often laws are passed in Utah with a broad stroke and without any forethought as to the unique needs of our community.

TL: If you had $10 million to spend on Park City, how would you spend it?

Housing. We don’t have nearly enough money to take on the housing projects we need. Affordable housing, deed-restricted housing, and essential workforce housing, in particular.

TL: What neighborhood do you reside in and where do you like to spend your time in Park City?

I’ve lived on upper Park Avenue since 1998 and I’ve been in Park City since 1995. I love living in Old Town. I try to get outside every day for a little while. I’m a fun hog for the trails. I hike and mountain bike quite a bit and I alpine and skate ski.

Nann Worel

Nann Worel is currently serving her second term as a Park City Councilwoman, a post she has held since 2016. As a familiar face in Park City government and an outspoken voice in City Council meetings, she is a formidable contender for office. She is the former executive director of the People’s Health Clinic, a non-profit that provides aid to the uninsured. She has been a full-time Park City resident since 2007.

TL: What would be the top of your agenda when taking office?

We need a change of leadership from the current mayor’s style of exclusivity to one of inclusiveness. There are many groups in the community who don’t feel like the mayor engages with them, so I want to bring everyone to the table.

TL: Where do you hope to see Park City in 10 years?

I want to see Park City maintaining its authentic character. I think we’re at risk of losing that. I’m talking about development, growth, over-tourism. I think we need to be constantly on guard to keep the balance in place.

TL: What are your greatest concerns for Park City?

My greatest concern for Park City is it losing its character.

TL: What past experience do you have that would give you an advantage as Mayor?

I’ve served on the planning commission, I know land management code. I was on the commission when the general plan was written. I think it’s due for updates since it was written for a 10-year time span. Also, my time on the council has given me an intimate look into what’s involved in the role of mayor.

TL: If you had $10 million to spend on Park City, how would you spend it?

I would spend it similar to the CARES Act funding. If small businesses need help, I would give it to them. And the same thing goes for our most vulnerable population.

TL: What neighborhood do you reside in and where do you like to spend your time in Park City?

I’ve lived in Solamere for the last 12 years. I love to hike the trails, ski, and hang out in our friends’ backyards. I like to do anything outside, really.

David Dobkin

David Dobkin became a full-time Park City resident via New York City in May 2020. Since then he has been able to take a step back from his day job of running the investment bank LifeSci Capital. Now he hopes to serve in Park City’s highest office as a way of “giving back to the place I now call home.”

TL: What would be the top of your agenda when taking office?

Number one would be traffic. This is one of the main issues we have as a town. We have a lot of people that come to visit and leave with a bad taste in their mouth because of our traffic problems. A close second would be affordable housing. A lot of employees who work here have to commute, sometimes hours, each day, because they can’t afford to live here. Without employees, we’re not going to be able to support the town.

TL: Where do you hope to see Park City in 10 years?

I think Park City has the ability to be on the same world stage as any other mountain town. It has the ability to support its local community as well as the tourism industry. It can be in the same class as Courchevel, Maribel, Whistler… As long as we have the ability to be thoughtful about our development, and that comes down to the ability to protect our environment and the resources we have.

TL: What are your greatest concerns for Park City?

Development for development’s sake as opposed to considering the town’s needs. Pretty much everyone has moved here from somewhere else and we need to protect the place that people have moved to. We’re at risk of losing what attracted residents here in the first place.

Another concern I have is with short snow seasons, like this last winter. There is probably going to be a need for more infrastructure to support snowmaking in the future. In the long-term, there’s not going to be a Park City if there’s no skiing. World-class skiing and dining are what drew me and my family here, I know it’s what draws many residents here, so we need to protect that.

TL: What past experience do you have that would give you an advantage as Mayor?

While I’ve not had a municipality position before, I’ve worked for governments – both the U.S. Congress as a high school intern and for the New Zealand government in an investment advisory role.

I’m brought in to fix, and then close projects by making sure all parties are heard and the deal gets done. Once I know who the stakeholders are, we get to common ground very easily. The mayor’s job is making sure everyone’s opinions are heard, forming a proposal that reaches the best of both worlds, and gaining consensus. That’s why I believe I would be a good mayor.

TL: If you had $10 million to spend on Park City, how would you spend it?

I’d split it between traffic lanes and improving the process of getting buses in and out of town. If that number were higher I’d include affordable housing, but that number makes more sense to use for painting roads.

TL: What neighborhood do you reside in and where do you like to spend your time in Park City?

I live in upper Deer Valley. I spend a lot of time hiking – Empire Pass, Bloods Lake, Bonanza Flat are great. I also mountain bike, typically around Trailside. I fly-fish as well and ski in the winter. I love the restaurants on Main Street too, so I spend time there. Other than that I’m usually walking around upper Deer Valley with my basset hounds.