BOUNTIFUL—The newly elected mayor and two city council members were met with some fanfare at their swearing-in ceremony held Monday, Jan. 5 at City Hall. The Philharmonia kicked off the celebration with a spirited musical number as guests filed in and another number later in the program. Special guest, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson conducted the swearing in.

“Lt. Gov. Henderson is someone I have long admired,” said new Mayor Kate Bradshaw. “She’s in high demand this time of year. This is the season for swearing-ins. I feel really honored that she would make time in her schedule to conduct ours.”

“This year we’re celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding,” said Henderson. “It’s a really good time to remember what’s important. To go back and read Thomas Paine, read Common Sense and read why we created this country and why it’s so important that we have local government and civic participation. This is where the rubber meets the road.”

Henderson said she didn’t set out to be a politician. “I was asked to join the theater board in Spanish Fork back in 1998 and I did. That is how we participate. That is how we make our community strong. That is how we actually make our country great and our country strong, is through these local civic engagements.”

City councilmember Beth Child takes the Oath of Office. 

 “I’ve taken this oath tonight to, in so many words, be a wise steward and to be accountable to the people of Bountiful,” said Councilmember Beth Call, who was appointed to the council after former Councilmember Jesse Bell passed away. Call won the election in November to keep her seat. “To me that is digging deeper. What I can give back is to ensure that we listen carefully, that we make sure that we have good financial, good fiscal resources, that we keep our infrastructure, keep our assets healthy and we thoughtfully plan and prepare for the future.”

“I’m now part of team Bountiful,” said newly elected Dan Bell. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this and get the opportunity to represent our community, friends and neighbors.”

Dan Bell is sworn in as a new council member. Photos by Becky Ginos

 Bell said he knows the council will sweat and work and laugh. “And probably cry some as we consider the things that we deal with and that may come before us. This is the Bountiful I know and love and I hope to continue to make it that way for today and tomorrow.”

Serving in local government is a very intense level of service, said Bradshaw who has been a council member for seven years. “It can sometimes be a really bruising level of service.” 

A good leader listens more than they talk, she said. “A good leader must be connected to people they seek to lead and serve. When the opportunity came to serve, I wanted to put that belief into action.”

Bradshaw said she wants to be responsive and accessible to the people of Bountiful. “It’s deeply important to me that emails, phone calls, texts and even social media posts get answered because I know how it feels when you are genuinely engaged by your elected officials. I know how it feels when you’re not. I know how it feels to have someone talk through an issue with you, to walk your street and try and stand in your shoes.”

As Dan Bell said, there is an entire army of people making sure this city runs and functions, she said. “We get to see parts of it done. It’s the secret sauce that makes Bountiful a great place to live. So with that council, I think we’re ready to get to work.”