DAVIS COUNTY—June 6 was the deadline for candidates to file their intent to run for office. This is a municipal election year involving mayors, city council members and the service district. There are 103 candidates running for city offices and 21 for the service district. The Municipal Primary Election Day is Aug. 12.

Some candidates are running unopposed while others have several contenders. 

“I’ve served on the Bountiful City Council for seven years,” said Councilmember Kate Bradshaw who is running for mayor and is unopposed. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to maintain the community’s character, usability, accessibility and most importantly I want to continue to shape and support those elements.”

The city has had a focus on infrastructure such as fiber, she said. “That’s a sign of the investment being made in Bountiful. Those are priorities that were done well and will continue to be done well.”

Trails are thriving, said Bradshaw. “I”d like to see that through to the end. We want quality outdoor spaces that promote wellness, cultural identity and make Bountiful a safe and  welcoming place to be.”

Bradshaw has put out a monthly newsletter during her time in office. “I want to keep residents informed and engaged and let them know what’s going on.”

Although she doesn’t have to campaign for office, Bradshaw intends to still get out into the community. “I love conversation, engagement and the opportunity to talk to residents. Maybe I’ll have some service projects. That’s the beauty of local government, we’re right there in the city.”

“I’m a representative for the city,” said Layton Mayor Joy Petro who has two opponents, Amy Midori Jones and Trevor Lee Foust. “That’s what I’ve tried to do. I’m driven by service – I love to help people better their lives.”

Petro said she wants to start a hometown project in the city. “It’s in its infancy stage. We would get individuals in the community to help people who maybe can’t really afford to paint the trim on their house or do yard cleanup. We’d get a group together to do a project for them. The goal is to be like the 911 day of service but bring it to the neighborhood level.”

The plan is to put together a team leader, not a city person, she said. “They would coordinate with interfaith groups and CERT because they understand the neighborhood. We’d work with the community to determine a project and look for sponsorships. The key is for the city to be supportive so that it becomes a citizen initiative.”

Centerville City Mayor Clark Wilkinson has served two terms and he’s running unopposed for a third term. “I’m working with the city and county on the water issue,” he said. “You hear about conserving but we also need more supply. We’re going to run out. That’s my passion. It will not only benefit Centerville but Davis County as well.”

Another concern is that cities are getting a lot of mandates from the legislature, said Wilkinson. “They’re telling us how many housing developments we can have and what we can build. I’m not against housing, I'd just like to see affordable housing and all types.”

That shouldn’t be regulated by the state, he said. “They should leave it to the cities to do the zoning for what they want for their housing.”

Wilkinson also intends to look for solutions for additional cemetery space. “Four years ago when I ran the city had a bond to find additional cemetery space,” he said. “The city council has pursued it but some people don’t want to sell their land or it’s too costly. We’ll continue to pursue that.”

Water and housing are big issues to bite off, he said. “But they’re critical. I was raised to serve God, family and country. We need good people to work together and compromise to come up with solutions.”

For a complete list of candidates go to https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/clerk/election/candidate-info/candidates