Robert E. Ford, MPH, Phd, is a semi-retired geoscientist, agriculture and public health specialist, development consultant, conservationist, and geotourism photographer focused on Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Inter-Mountain West--particularly Southern Utah. After officially retiring in 2010 he took time-off to travel across America, study digital photography, and build a home in Rockville Utah near Zion National Park. Learn more about Robert Ford on his ALBUM or BIO and VITAE.
Robert Ford has been a Utah property owner and resident for 30+ years and between 2013-2018 served as an appointed officer on the Rockville Planning Commission and also for one year on the Rockville/Springdale Fire Protection Distric Board. In 2018 he ran for an elective seat on the Washington County Commission as a Democrat. He owns and operates his own small business—GeoBob’s Photography and Consulting (GPC)--located on a small ranch along the Virgin River. His property--a small nine acre ranch--is managed as a "conservation easement" in association with The Nature Conservancy of Utah and the Virgin River Land Preservation Association.
Besides his civic work in the Zion Corridor he is an active participant in the local arts scene with the Southern Utah Art Guild, Arts to Zion, the Arrowhead Gallery ETC, Southern Utah Landscape Photographers and other national and international organizations. Starting in January 2019 he began teaching a course on Globalization and Diversity in the ICL (Institute for Continued Learning) at Dixie State University (now Utah Tech University) in St George Utah.
ISSUES HE WILL FOCUS ON AND PROMOTE IN HIS CAMPAIGN:
As a geoscientist, consultant, photographer, academic, and public servant who has worked around the world--he will promote environmental sustainability, accountable cost-effective governance, tolerance, and civil debate—all dedicated to prosperity for all.
His campaign will focus on key issues affecting Southern Utah including: protection of public lands, planning for smart growth, preservation of scenic and natural resources—especially WATER--and espousal of policies that enhance quality of life and well-being for all. He will promote economic and social policies that welcomes diversity, protects immigrant rights, and encourages land use, infrastructure, and transportation policies that mitigate the threats of unplanned growth that will seriously impact regional air, land, and especially critical water resources. Finally, promote job growth that benefits the working class and poor, and increases access to social services such as quality health care, fire/EMS services, public transportation, child care, and affordable housing.