Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs has recently been tapped to take on a new role within the Trump administration as a regional advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In his announcement, which came via a social media post, Staggs voiced his intent to work alongside small businesses to strip away what he deems as "red tape and regulation we can cut," as per The Salt Lake Tribune.
Despite his new undertaking, Staggs has communicated his decision to simultaneously fulfill his mayoral responsibilities until his term concludes. The intriguing approach to hold dual roles aligns with the SBA’s Office of Advocacy's mission to serve as an independent voice for small businesses within the federal government. "President Trump has made it clear: he wants to identify at least $100 billion in regulatory impact that can be eliminated," Staggs stated, as obtained by KUTV. Staggs will continue his efforts to promote President Trump’s regulatory agenda from Utah, which is a strategic shift from the office's traditional Denver base.
Before accepting the role with the SBA, Staggs had served as Riverton Mayor since his election in 2017. According to ABC4, Staggs announced in March that he would not be seeking another mayoral term, citing his belief in term limits and a prior decision with his wife not to pursue re-election. His political trajectory saw a recent bid for U.S. Senate to replace outgoing Senator Mitt Romney, during which he received President Trump's endorsement but was defeated by Sen. John Curtis in the General Election.
Staggs' departure from his mayoral duties has set the stage for upcoming electoral proceedings, with mayoral candidates slated to file for the impending election in June. The voting process is expected to unfold in the fall, marking the close of what appears to have been a chapter of advocacy for limited government and local control under Staggs' leadership. The community now anticipates carefully considering who will step in to navigate Riverton's future amidst a changing political landscape, as reported by ABC4.
