2025 Blanding City Council Candidate Profiles

JESSE GROVER:

Jesse Grover: Teaching the Past, Shaping the Future
I am Jesse Grover, and I am running for Blanding City Council, offering a lifelong dedication to the community and a fresh perspective on its future. I was born and raised in Blanding and have deep roots in the community. Blanding is where my wife and I have chosen to raise our three children. I work as a teacher at San Juan High School, where I connect daily with the youth and understand the challenges and opportunities facing the next generation. This experience gives me a unique insight into the needs of Blanding's families and schools.
As a History, Government, and Student Leadership teacher I have always believed in leading by example. I ask my students daily to help make a positive difference in their communities. I decided that I want to be a better example for my students and my children about being more civically minded and engaged. I love Blanding and want to do my part in making sure that it continues to be the great place I love to call home.
Blanding priorities to me are:
Supporting Community Youth: As an educator, I am passionate about ensuring Blanding provides ample opportunities for its young people, focusing on initiatives that support their success and well-being. The youth of our community and of this country are our future and their growth and development are essential to positive change in society.
Enhancing Recreation: I am an advocate for improving and expanding local recreational facilities and programs, recognizing their importance for quality of life and community health. As a father, a coach, and a supporter of our local recreation activities I have seen the benefits of recreation in our youth. By expanding facilities and programs on a local level, we can ensure that all age groups in our community can continue to benefit from these opportunities.
Fostering Economic Growth: I believe in strategic economic development that attracts sustainable business while maintaining Blanding's unique character. I worked for seven years in a locally run and operated Blanding business and saw how important locally owned businesses are to the community. Blanding can see economic growth, and there is no one better to initiate that growth than Blanding residents.
Preserving Community Uniqueness: I am committed to balancing progress with preservation, ensuring that Blanding's distinct cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and small-town feel remain the defining features of the city. We live in a beautiful and wonderful community. We all want to see its success, but also keep many of the unique things we love about it.
My Vision for Blanding: I believe that by investing in its people, smart growth, and quality of life, Blanding can confidently move into the future while honoring its past. I am asking for your vote to bring a voice of experience, education, and lifelong commitment to the Blanding City Council.

BRET HOSLER:
Bret Hosler for Blanding City Council. Committed to Our Community – Focused on the Future.
Thank you for your time. My name is Bret Hosler, the son of Robert and Joan Hosler who moved to Blanding in 1966. You may know my parents who established Thin Bear Indian Arts, a family-owned and operated trading post located at the edge of town.
As a young adult, I enjoyed the peace and safety of growing up in a small town. This shaped my desire to return to Blanding to raise a family of my own. Fortunately for me and my wife, Pam, that became our reality. After completing my Master’s degree, we returned to make Blanding our home.  
As a lifelong resident of Blanding, I deeply love this community – the people, values, and freedoms we enjoy here. I acknowledge the work and sacrifices of those who settled Blanding and those who worked to make it possible for us to have clean water, central sewage, natural gas, and reliable power.
These public utilities are vital, and as citizens, we have a responsibility – and a right – to help guide their future.
For the past 35 years, I’ve had the privilege of working for the City of Blanding. I have been hands-on in helping operate, maintain, and improve our essential services.
In March, 2025, I retired from employment with Blanding City. My desire now is to continue serving and guiding the management of these systems by representing you on the Blanding City Council. 
I want to ensure that these systems continue to thrive, blessing our lives and the lives of future generations. Sound management of our public resources must be built on three core principles:
1.       Respect for the Law 
I believe in honoring, obeying, and sustaining the law. It is our duty as citizens. I also believe that laws can and should evolve when necessary – based on facts, sound research, and with the goal of improving life for all Blanding citizens.  
2.       Transparency
Blanding City must work to communicate clearly and openly with all residents. Transparency strengthens trust and ensures our community remains a remarkable place to live, a fantastic place to raise families, and a great place to do business. 
3.       Integrity
Blanding City must uphold the commitments that have been made. This includes honoring contracts, agreements, and decisions made on behalf of the public. Integrity builds the foundation for good governance.
I am committed to living in Blanding for the remainder of my life. I have the knowledge, time, and experience to represent you well. Ensuring our public services continue to provide for the needs of our citizens will require forward thinking, dedicated work, and a focus on their original purpose: providing the best possible service at a reasonable cost.
Please join me in this effort. I ask for your support in the upcoming election. Let’s work together to keep Blanding strong for generations to come. Please vote: Bret Hosler for Blanding City Council.

ERIK GROVER:

Voters of Blanding,
My name is Erik Merlin Grover; I am a 57-year resident of Blanding. My wonderful spouse and I raised our four daughters here and are lucky enough to have them all within an hour drive time or closer. We are deeply rooted in Blanding and San Juan County. This is our home, and we are committed to being members of the community. I want to stay involved with what happens in our neighborhoods and community.
Promoting growth that is sustainable and good for Blanding should be our combined goal.
I believe that I am approachable, and I am willing to listen to what you have to say as members of our great community and take your concerns to the council meetings to be discussed for the betterment of Blanding.
I served on the council when the recreation center was discussed and built. I believe it has been a success. I see things that could have been done differently, but it has become the center for a lot of community events and is well used.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered for a four-year term as a Blanding City Councilman. I will not be putting up signs as most campaign signs end up as trash in the weeds. I will be out and about the city talking with residents about their concerns.
Thank you, Erik

CHAD MOSES:

Candidate Profile: Chad Moses — Property Rights. Practical Growth.
I’m the son of Mikel and Jacque Moses. Our family moved to Blanding in 1987, when I was seven years old. I graduated from San Juan High, earned a PharmD, and returned to serve our community. Since 2008 I’ve worked as Pharmacy Director for Utah Navajo Health System, where I’ve managed complex operations and budgets and learned how clear rules—and fewer surprises—help people succeed. I’m running for City Council to protect property rights and push for responsible economic development that keeps Blanding strong.
My approach: Listen respectfully, protect individual liberty, use data and common sense, and keep local government predictable and limited.
Priorities
1) Defend property rights with clear, consistent rules.
Your land should be governed by transparent standards—not moving goalposts. I will push for predictable zoning, strive for simple permits, and advocate for timely, fair decisions. Where regulation is necessary, it should be narrowly tailored, easy to understand, and evenly applied—respecting owners while maintaining safety and neighborhood character.
2) Pro-business, pro-jobs climate.
Local enterprises are Blanding’s engine. I will strive to streamline licensing, push for reduced red tape where it doesn’t add value, and support practical “fast-track” pathways for expansions, trades, and startups. I’ll work to align infrastructure planning in commercial corridors so private investment isn’t slowed by avoidable delays.
3) More rooftops, more opportunity—without heavy-handed mandates.
Workers, seniors, and young families need attainable options. I support modest multi-unit housing (such as duplex formats) that fits our neighborhoods and infrastructure, strives to respect adjacent property owners, and grows our tax base. Predictable standards invite private capital and help keep jobs and kids here.
4) Focused investments that pay their way.
City dollars should serve growth or quality of life. I will push for projects with clear returns: road and utility upgrades tied to development, water stewardship that protects existing users, and using grants/partnerships before new taxes. Growth should contribute fairly to the costs it creates.
5) Keep Blanding open for business.
I will continue to support the economic growth already underway and work with local employers, merchants, and civic partners to strengthen our business environment.
6) Accountability and access.
I will strive to measure outcomes and be available. If a rule isn’t working, I’ll push for improvements; if a process is slow, I’ll work to streamline it.
Blanding’s future should be built by the people who live and invest here. I will defend property rights, push for practical, pro-growth policies, and strive to focus city effort where it unlocks private-sector opportunity. I love Blanding and want to see it thrive, I’d be honored to earn your vote.
— Chad Moses
Lifelong Blanding resident