I met John Kenworthy in 2008 on a snowy Park City day. He invited me into a gutted building on Main Street and said, “Welcome to Flanagan’s on Main — we open soon.” That day turned into a deep conversation about business, civic responsibility, and vision. I quickly realized JK wasn’t just opening a pub — he was building community.
In the years since, JK has become one of my closest and best friends. I’ve watched him grow Flanagan’s into a Main Street institution and transform a bankrupt RV park into River’s Edge — a thriving workforce housing, concert venue and multimillion dollar enterprise.
He never confuses effort with results — if it’s broken, he fixes it.
JK is more than a successful entrepreneur. He’s served Park City with grit and humility — as chair of the Historic Committee, a leader in the Main Street Business Coalition, and a key voice on the Planning Commission. He knows the codes, the character and the challenges of this city.
He could have run for mayor — many of us wanted him to. But he chose instead to back Jack Rubin for that job, saying Jack was best suited for it. That humility says everything. Now, with JK running for City Council and Jack Rubin for mayor, Park City has a one-two punch of proven leaders.
Together, they bring financial acumen, civic depth, and operational grit — exactly what Park City needs as we prepare for the 2034 Olympics and beyond.
Vote JK for City Council. Vote JR for mayor. Let’s fix what matters.
Orie Santillo
Park City