Researching Dan Snarr

Snarr, who was raised in the Millcreek area, moved to Murray with his family in 1978 and decided to run for mayor in the mid-'90s. His relatives have lived in Murray for generations. Snarr attended the University of Utah and earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communications. He also served a two-year mission in Scotland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Mayor Snarr also served as a demolition expert in the 19th Special Forces Group of the Utah National Guard.

Prior to serving as Mayor, he was a co-owner of Snarr Brothers Landscaping, a property maintenance business in Utah. Maintaining his Murray roots, Snarr Brothers is housed in a historic house, which the mayor restored.

Snarr is married to April Thompson Snarr. He has five children and three grandchildren. He is the father of actor Trevor Snarr.

left|thumb|Dan Snarr with long mustache

Snarr said he decided to seek public office because he wanted to continue the work of former Mayor Lynn Pett. During Snarr’s tenure in office, Murray saw the cleanup of the smelter site that is now the home of the Intermountain Medical Center; the property cleanup to establish the Willow Pond Park; and the revitalization of the city's gateway at 5300 South Street and State Street. (The area used to bring in less than $200,000 in sales-tax revenue; now it generates some $2 million.). Murray also became involved in the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) community FTTH program.

Snarr has much well known personal flair, such as driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle while wearing leather garb. Perhaps his most famous trademark is his handlebar mustache which reached a total length of one-foot. His mustache received national attention when Murray hosted a hometown segment of the show American Idol. Snarr was seen onstage with contestant David Archuleta, and generated banter from host Ryan Seacrest concerning the mustache’s length. This national recognition caused the mayor to receive mention from the American Mustache Institute and Esquire magazine. By April 2012, however, he had grown a variation on the mustache, featuring long muttonchop-style whiskers that are waxed at the end. In 2013, he was one of nine mayors who established July 15 as Social Media Giving Day, encouraging citizens to support charities via social media.

After completing his time as Murray City Mayor, Snarr was the Democratic Party nominee for a seat on the Salt Lake County Council. He was defeated in November 2014 by Republican incumbent Aimee Winder Newton 55% to 45%.