Sharon Barton's involvement in a lawsuit against the city of Ivins and a developer of a rental resort raises serious questions about her ability to serve impartially on the City Council. Her husband was one of the main plaintiffs in the case, which was ultimately ruled in favor of the city and the developer[2]. Despite this, Barton continues to represent the interests of the DOGI group, which consists of only 220 residents, rather than the broader Ivins community.
Like Barton, Sharon Gillespie is a leader of the DOGI group. Her candidacy raises similar concerns about her ability to represent all Ivins residents fairly. Gillespie's alignment with the DOGI group suggests that she may prioritize the interests of this small group over the needs and desires of the larger Ivins community.
[1] Barton, Sharon – 2023 Declaration of Candidacy for City Council | Ivins City
[3] 2023 Notice of Candidates as they will appear on the Primary election ballot | Ivins City
[4] Burson v. Freeman, 504 U.S. 191 | Casetext Search + Citator
[5] Government -2023 - Ivins City
[6] Ivins voting guide: 8 candidates aiming to survive upcoming primary - St George News
[8] Ivins City Notice of Candidates as they will appear on the election ballots - Utah.gov
[9] Voting Info - MikeScott4Ivins - Current Ivins Issues
[10] Election Information 2023 - Ivins City
[14] Candidate Survey — Southern Utahns for Transparency
[17] Sharon Barton – Campaign Financial Report – Primary - Ivins City