COLORADO CITY, AZ — On the morning of Saturday, May 30, 2026, the community of Colorado City came alive with an extraordinary gathering of Republican candidates spanning every level of government. From a sitting U.S. Congressman to local town council hopefuls, candidates arrived at Cottonwood Park for the “Come Meet Your Republican Candidates” forum — the first candidate meet and greet event since the Mohave County Republican Central Committee District 4 was established. The event was organized by District 4 Director Carl Pavilonis and his wife Renae Pavilonis, along with a dedicated team of precinct committeemen and volunteers.
The event, held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., was a true family affair — complete with patriotic background music and hotdogs — drawing residents from across the North Canyon region, including Colorado City, Centennial Park, and Cane Beds. With the July 21 primary election fast approaching and early voting beginning June 24, the forum gave North Canyon voters a rare opportunity to meet candidates face-to-face and voice their concerns. The event even drew three Washington County, Utah commissioner candidates from across the border, underscoring the deep regional ties shared by the twin communities of Colorado City and Hildale.
The Forum: Candidates Across Every Level of Government
The breadth of candidates at the forum was remarkable for a community of Colorado City’s size. Attendees were able to hear from and speak with candidates running for offices ranging from the U.S. Congress to the Colorado City Town Council.
U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar, running for re-election to Arizona’s 9th Congressional District, made the trip to North Canyon. Gosar’s staff member Penny Pew described it as “a beautiful day in Colorado City” and praised Carl and Renae Pavilonis and their “hard working PCs” for organizing what she called “a great picnic.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate and current Congressman David Schweikert posted on Facebook that he was “in Colorado City this morning with the Mohave County Republicans,” adding that it was “hard to beat that backdrop” — a nod to the stunning red rock scenery surrounding the town. Schweikert is one of three Republicans seeking the party’s gubernatorial nomination, alongside Andy Biggs and Scott Neely, ahead of the July 21 primary.
Secretary of State candidate and former Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Gina Swoboda also attended, as did both Republican State Treasurer candidates, Elijah Norton and Katherine Haley. Mohave County Supervisor and Board Chairman Travis Lingenfelter was present at the event, as was Superior Court Division 7 judicial candidate Jeffrey B. Haws.
Mohave County’s own elected officials rounded out the candidate lineup, with the County Treasurer, Assessor Jeanne Kentch, and Recorder Lydia Henry all in attendance — the latter actively promoting early voting deadlines to North Canyon residents.
LD30 Candidates Make Their Case for Rural Arizona
All four Republican candidates for the two Legislative District 30 Arizona House seats were on hand: David Rose, Mike Gannuscio, Grace Hecht, and Caroline Strecker. Each spoke to the crowd and engaged with residents one-on-one.
David Rose, a pastor and Lake Havasu School Board member, called the event “an incredible day” and said it reinforced for him that “rural Arizona matters.” “The people of Colorado City care deeply about faith, family, freedom, safe communities, strong schools, secure borders, and protecting the future of our state,” Rose wrote. “Events like this are what grassroots politics is all about — real people coming together for the future of Arizona.”
For Caroline Strecker, a nurse practitioner running on her emergency room experience, the visit was her first to Colorado City — and it left a lasting impression. She called the area “a true gem” and referred to it by its historic name, Short Creek. “Short Creek was just a stunning reminder of how beautiful and precious AZ is,” she wrote. Her family was so taken with the community that they are already planning two to three return visits. Strecker cited AI data centers consuming resources, election integrity, and government waste as her top concerns for LD30.
Grace Hecht, founder of Make Bullhead Better and a former Bullhead City Council member, made the trip to Colorado City and delivered a speech to those gathered, connecting with the North Canyon community and its residents.
Mike Gannuscio, a Kingman rancher, towed the Mohave County GOP float all the way up to Colorado City, generating plenty of honks and waves from residents along the way. He expressed deep gratitude for the community’s welcome and closed his social media post with a reminder to voters: “Remember early voting June 24, primary election July 21!”
Colorado City Council Candidates Join the Forum
Local Colorado City Town Council candidates Dale Barlow Jr., Dalton Barlow (incumbent), Shelly Barlow, John Chatwin (incumbent) and Lacy Blackmore were also present at the forum. Dalton Barlow currently serves as the town’s Vice Mayor. Their participation alongside statewide and federal candidates gave North Canyon residents the rare opportunity to engage with their most immediate representatives alongside those seeking higher office.
Even Utah Took Notice: Washington County Candidates Cross the Border
The reach of the Colorado City forum extended well beyond Arizona. Three Republican candidates for Washington County, Utah commissioner seats made the trip across the state line to attend, a testament to the deep community ties between Colorado City and its sister city of Hildale, Utah.
Incumbent Commissioner Gil Almquist, who has represented Washington County Commission Seat A since winning re-election in 2022, attended alongside his primary challenger Bill Hoster — a remarkable sight, given that the two men are currently facing off against each other in the June 23 Utah Republican primary. Almquist is a local business owner and former St. George City Council member. Hoster took to Facebook after the event to praise Congressman Gosar, calling him “the real deal,” “a true freedom fighter,” and an “Original Freedom Caucus all star.”
Also attending was Troy Belliston, the Republican challenger for Washington County Commission Seat B, who is facing incumbent Victor Iverson in the same June 23 primary. Like the Seat A race, the Seat B contest was forced into a primary after delegates split nearly 50-50 at the Washington County Republican nominating convention in April.
The presence of Utah candidates at an Arizona Republican forum speaks volumes about the unique character of the North Canyon region, where state lines divide a community that shares deep family, faith, and civic bonds. For Washington County voters, the June 23 primary is just around the corner.
Early Voting Information for North Canyon Voters
Mohave County Recorder Lydia Henry used the event to promote the following key election dates for North Canyon residents:
Voter Registration Deadline: June 22, 2026
Early Voting Begins: June 24, 2026
Last Day to Request a Mail Ballot: July 10, 2026
Last Day for In-Person Early Voting: July 17, 2026
Primary Election Day: July 21, 2026
A Community That Left a Mark on Its Visitors
By all accounts, the day left a lasting impression not just on North Canyon residents, but on the candidates themselves. Assessor Kentch called it “a fantastic, productive trip to the North Canyon,” noting the perfect weather and the quality of the people she met. Gosar’s staffer called it simply “a beautiful day.” Strecker said it “reinvigorated the sense of community and family.” And David Rose summed it up with a promise: “Colorado City, thank you for the warm welcome. We will keep showing up, listening, and fighting for ALL of rural Arizona.”
For North Canyon — a region that too often finds itself far from the political center of gravity in Phoenix — May 30, 2026, was a day when the candidates came to them.
