Park City's Dana Williams: Half hippie, half politician
But the fact that it is Park City's own mayor, Dana Williams, doing the honors could be a little surprising — unless you know the man.
Sitting in his office on what would otherwise be a day off, surrounded by books, an unopened bottle of wine and a window that looks straight onto a ski slope, Williams is effervescent in a half-hippie, half-politician kind of way.
In one minute he cheerfully espouses his theories on international diplomacy ("I'm 100 percent convinced there would be no war if everyone drank together," Williams says), and in the next he seriously describes his passion for good government and the weighty responsibility of being an elected official.
"I love my job," Williams declares.
Even as the world turns its attention to his city during Sundance, he'd still rather talk about climate change, Park City's inner personality and the city's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint than his repeated run-ins with stardom.
Yes, Williams played The Star Spangled Banner for David Boreanaz, Michael Rosenbaum and a host of other celebrities on Sunday, and sure, his band will play on the closing night of the festival, and of course, his boyish face is featured in the 2008 film festival guide.
But that's not important, at least to him.
What is important to Williams during festival time is that visitors ride the free bus system, which runs on biodiesel, and not rent cars. It's important to Williams that people shop and especially ski, since the resorts are largely neglected during the festival's 10 days.
"I make sure the buses are running and the toilets flush and the police answer the calls," Williams says. "I'm not an A-lister, but every now and then, something happens and I get to participate."
Though Sundance may be a flash-in-the-pan paparazzi shot for some, to Williams, the festival's presence in his city has created a lasting relationship that almost seems familial.
"Sundance, to me, is one of the greatest public/private partnerships," Williams says in one of his more serious tones. "We've bought into the culture now, since the film institute relocated to Park City, there is a Sundance presence here year-round. ... We're attached at the hip."
Recent comments
That is why Park City is the best city in this state. I try not to...
tcon | Jan. 23, 2008 at 9:18 p.m.
To imagine the cities of Salt Lake, Orem, Provo with a mayor like...
DahktaD | Jan. 23, 2008 at 11:18 a.m.
