If you have been wanting to become an elected official, there are two (2) City Council positions (4-year term/2022-2026) and the Mayoral position (4-year term/2022-2026) to be voted on this year in Kaysville City. Municipal Elections in Utah are held on odd numbered years; the 2021 Municipal Primary Election will be held on August 10 and the Municipal General Election will be held on November 2. 

An individual seeking to become a candidate for a municipal office shall file a Declaration of Candidacy to the City Recorder between June 1 and June 7, 2021 during regular business hours (between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST). A $100 filing fee is required to file. 

For most candidates, you are required to declare your candidacy in person at the City Recorder’s office. However, a candidate can declare via proxy if the candidate will be out of town the entire week of declaration. Each candidate for office must affirm when they file their candidate filing form that they meet (or will meet within constitutional and statutory deadlines) the qualifications prescribed by the Constitution and laws of the United States, the State of Utah, and Davis County. Candidates must be a US citizen, a registered voter, and a resident of Kaysville for 12 consecutive months immediately before the date of the election. If you have questions, please contact City Recorder Annemarie Plaizier at 801-546-1235.

Mayor Katie Witt recently offered some helpful information on her experience in running for election. 

“There are really two steps to being an elected official - running and serving. Some people would be great public servants, but can't stomach the idea of campaigning,” she said. “Others are great at campaigning, yet struggle with the amount of work when they first get elected. You can compensate for both situations, so don't let it put you off.”

She discussed things that she did not expect such as campaigns costing money and that most candidates end up paying for the majority of the campaign themselves (yard signs, literature, mailings, newspaper ads, websites). Depending on whether or not there is a primary race, a candidate could mount a credible campaign for between $2,500 to $5,000. Her advice was not to hire a campaign manager for a local race, “you will get better help from your friends and family.” 

Running for office obligates the families. Spouses become campaign consultants, sign holders, speech readers, and pick up the slack when the candidate is overextended. Kids can help too, passing out literature, being in parades, running the website or handling social media, or even being super cute in campaign pictures. A candidate may need to campaign 3-4 nights a week, and most Saturdays, August through November.

Running for office also requires thick skin. Campaigns can be mean-spirited and people may say things that are not true. Signs may get stolen or defaced. Hours fluctuate based on what is going on in your community. Bare minimum responsibilities include answering emails and phone calls; reading materials in advance of meetings and allowing time to follow up with staff and community members; attending official meetings; and attending trainings, community events, and other meetings as assigned. Mayor Witt said a light week might require 1-2 hours and a heavy week could be a 2–3-hour meeting three nights in a week, along with prep work, emails, and phone calls.

Finally, you are going to make some great friends. It is very rewarding when working shoulder to shoulder with people who care about the same things you do (even if you disagree at times). 

“Try not to let it get personal, focus on what is best for your community in the long run, and work towards that instead of trying to make everyone happy,” Witt said. “You are going to get it wrong, more than you would like. Fix it if you can, learn from it, and move on”. 

For additional information on how to register to vote and run for municipal office, please visit the Lt. Governor’s Website (https://elections.utah.gov). To access additional election information, please visit: https://vote.utah.gov/ or www.DavisVotes.com.