Steven Kidman is the presumptive next Mayor of Page, beating sitting council member Brian Carey by 295 votes (unofficial election results). Kidman will take retiring Mayor Bill Diak’s seat at the center of the council.

The two candidates have widely different backgrounds and skillsets. Kidman is the owner operator of RD’s Drive-In. Kidman has lived in Page for about 42 years. Carey served with the National Park Service for 32 years. His last position was Deputy Superintendent at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

“Most of you know me when I'm wearing my uniform and RDs,” said Kidman at a June 5 Mayoral Debate. “I might look different without my visor on, but I moved here to page in 1978 when I was 10. And except for a brief stint away to college and for a 5-year time where I was operating in RD's Drive In up in Orem at University Mall. I've lived here the entire time.”

“The main thing that I do is, of course, work at RDs and operate and all that, and it keeps me busy,” said Kidman. “I have wonderful wife. We got married in 99 and we have six children. The third one graduated just a week ago, so we still have three boys at home and three girls that have graduated on. I'm involved in the community whenever I can be. I especially am involved with music programs when it comes to high school musicals and stuff. Some of you would recognize that I've been there serving, helping with, playing the piano from year to year. But as far as anything else you'd like to know about me, I don't know. I'm not full of words. I know that if the reason I decided to run for mayors, I feel I can do a good job. Having been a business owner here in Page for decades, I feel I have a good pulse on what is needed in the town.”

Although Kidman lacks government experience, he said, “I'm a quick learner. I've had to operate a business as a sole proprietor. I've had to balance budgets; I've had to maintain costs and controls. I've had to work with a lot of employees. I've had to deal with conflict resolution, dealing with all the issues that come with having employees under you, dealing with customers, all of that has given me experience that I know that I would be able to use in this position. I get along with people and I'm always willing to work with people and have done so my entire life.”

A priority for Kidman is water infrastructure. “I'm very concerned about the second straw, that if the city has a critical failure in any of several parts that have been identified, that it would be very, very troubling,” said Kidman.

Kidman and the Page Action Committee (PAC) have been at the center of the most divisive topic in Page in recent years: Streetscape. “Relationships with the public, I think, are very, very important,” said Kidman. “And I think that in the past, unfortunately, even though there has been transparency, there has not been clarity, and it has caused a lot of friction, and a lot of people upset at the city. I think that's very important to correct.”