Jean M. Krause
Mayor
My husband Niles and I have lived in Virgin for 15 years, moving here from California. I was raised in Louisiana and Texas, living in a town slightly larger than Virgin. In California I practiced law, but eventually decided that litigation created more stress than it was worth. I decided to return to school, to pursue a Masters in History. Much less stressful, I must say! After moving to Virgin in March 2010, I served on Virgin’s town council from April 2013-December 2017. During that time I obtained a Masters of Public Administration from SUU in Cedar City. I have had the privilege of serving as the Mayor of Virgin since being elected in January 2022. I look forward to another term as Mayor in order to finish the work that I began.
It takes time for a new Mayor to find their footing. And it seems just when they do, it is election season all over again.
I had goals I wanted to achieve when I was elected as Mayor in January 2022. However, my work was hampered for the first two years of my term by political opposition. However, the past year and a half I have worked with a town council whose mission and vision for Virgin is mostly aligned with mine. And although we still have some differences, on the whole, I have been able to get the wheels turning on many of those goals.
My campaign goals from 2021 were: (more details of 2021 goals here)
- Transparency
- Economic Diversity
- Cooperation and Opportunity
- Representative Public Bodies
- Less Politicized Town Administration
4 Year Later: How Have I Done with Those Goals?
Well I certainly have not achieved everything I wanted to achieve. Some of it depends on the national economy and is beyond the control of anyone here in Virgin, but I feel that I have at least taken some steps toward those goals:
- Transparency – I have yet to achieve what I wanted with our town website, although that is in the works. An upgraded website was supposed to go live this month in August, but our web provider has had delays.
- Economic Diversity – Since I became Mayor the only businesses that have been built are those that were approved by the previous mayor and administration. In February 2024 the town council and I voted to prohibit any further overnight lodging in the middle of town in the hopes that this would encourage other types of businesses such as restaurants, stores, and professional offices. This has yet to happen, but there are plans in the works for some new businesses that will make our town residents happy.
- Cooperation and Opportunity – I have worked with other agencies in the county in an effort to find opportunities to benefit Virgin. Those efforts are just now beginning to bear fruit.
- Representative Public Bodies – I peopled the Planning Commission with members from different parts of town and with diverse political and development ideas. Although some people call their animated discussion arguments, I call it healthy debate.
- Less Politicized Town Administration – This was my main focus after becoming mayor. I expanded the town staff and divided up duties among the staff instead of leaving decisions in the hands of one or two people. Town residents or developers or visitors should all feel free to speak their minds and be expected to all be treated fairly and equally no matter their opinions. I believe that I have created such an atmosphere in our town hall.
What Goals do I have now in 2025?
Of course over 4 years my goals for the town have expanded and changed. The town’s population has grown. The developments that were approved before I became Mayor have started construction, some completed, some not. As a result there is more demand for services from the town. All of that adds additional goals that I will explain in further posts on this website. So come back again for further posts.
Final Thoughts
Just as it was in November 2021, this election will be a contest between Matt Spendlove and myself. Now we are set for a re-play of that very same battle this year in November 2025.
I am hopeful that the residents of Virgin will grant me the honor of a second term so that I may complete the work that I began four years ago.