Provo Mayor John R. Curtis, 53, feels fortunate to be serving at
this time in the city’s history. Since he took office in January 2010, he’s
seen years of planning and effort come together in “a perfect storm of
progress.”
He's interested in seeing that progress continue, progress that
includes ground broken and over a half-billion dollars spent on construction
projects in the last two years, including the I-15 expansion, the new Utah
Valley Convention Center, the city's new recreation center, several new
facilities at BYU, a new Provo City Center LDS temple and of course Google Fiber.
He is proud that Provo has been named the top city in the nation
for business and careers by Forbes Magazine, and as the number one area for
quality of life, volunteerism, and optimism, a reflection on the character of
the people who live here. Google Fiber has chosen Provo as one of three
cities in the world for high-end investment because we have a sterling
reputation for quality of personal and family life, volunteerism and a strong
business climate.
Curtis has always considered the people of Provo to be its
greatest asset and has worked to find new ways to engage them. Local business
experts helped his administration make unprecedented budget cuts at the
beginning of his term, and over a hundred residents participated in the Vision
2030 process, providing direction to the city for the next 20 years.
Mayor Curtis makes himself available to the city's residents. His
cell phone number and email address are published on the city website. He
maintains a Facebook presence and a personal blog: provomayor.org.
He likes to chat and he likes to listen. He considers himself a
people's mayor, a friend.
Though born in Salt Lake City, graduating in 1978 from Skyline
High School, he always enjoyed visiting family in Provo and developed a deep
and enduring affection for the city over the years. He attended the University
of Utah in 1979 and later graduated from BYU in business management 1985.
He worked at Action Target as the Chief Operating Officer before
he became Provo's mayor in 2010.
(Action Target is a Provo-based company that provides firearm
training and products to police departments and the military around the
country.)
He has always felt an obligation to serve his church, his
community and his fellow man.
He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints to Taiwan and has sat on a number of community and advisory boards,
including the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the
Mountain Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.
When he's not in the mayor's office, you can find him motorcycling
or hiking with his family. He believes in exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
He and his wife Sue were high school sweethearts. They’ve been
married for 31 years and have six children, ranging in age from 14-27 and are
grandparents of two.
Thus, he has an investment in the community, in its success, the
safety of the streets, the prosperity of the businesses, affordable
recreational opportunities and a variety of cultural opportunities.
