The former Francis mayor who launched a Summit County Council campaign last year, and then dropped out, is throwing his hat back in the ring for 2024.
Byron Ames became the first Republican to run for a County Council seat since 2016 last February, but he ultimately ended his campaign a week before his party’s nominating convention because of work-related factors. Now, Ames said, the timing is right.
“I was pretty disappointed that, professionally, I needed to make the choice to suspend my campaign last cycle,” he said. “I wanted to step back in and do it again. I love public service. It is so incredibly rewarding to try and make these communities that we live and work in a better place for us all.”
Ames is eyeing the seat currently occupied by Vice Chair Malena Stevens, who is not seeking another term because of personal and professional commitments. Democrat Cami Richardson also announced her intent to run for the position late last week.
The former mayor said the hot-button issues haven’t changed much since his campaign last year; they’ve just evolved.
Some residents may have been worried about what hosting another Winter Games would mean for the community in terms of traffic and tourism, for example. However, Ames said it’s different now that the 2034 Olympics are a near-certain reality instead of just an idea.
He said it comes down to quality of life for residents, and what affects that standard. Ames cited growth, zoning, planning, water, open space, transportation and taxes as factors that could have the greatest impact on the community.
The East Sider is determined to find a balance between the rural community that’s led so many people to the Kamas Valley and those who are attracted to the luxury, world-class lifestyle of the greater Park City area. Ames said it’s important to preserve both ends of the spectrum, which is a unique challenge in Summit County.
If elected, the former mayor wants to help residents maintain a high quality of life while navigating sensitive topics such as development that affect everyone in the community, though there are differences on either side about how to manage the issues.
Ames recognized the pressure on eastern Summit County to maintain its small-town feel. However, he also advocated for improvements to help diversify the community, such as public transit stops as well as more opportunities for city employees and essential workers to live on the East Side, as it grows.
The Republican isn’t intimidated by the number of Democrats in office in Summit County, which includes the entirety of the County Council. Ames, a moderate, said the “R” initial by his name on the ballot won’t matter much other than the primary election.
Ames said it would be healthy for the County Courthouse to have another political perspective to help ensure the entire community feels represented regardless of their ideology. He thinks the best solutions come by finding a middle ground, and that’s what he would strive to do if elected.
As a practicing attorney, Ames has years of experience negotiating deals, which he thinks would translate well to politics.
“It may not be the perfect solution, but if it has a little bit of everybody, I think it’s the best solution,” the former mayor said. “We all live here for a reason. Some of us were born here and stay here. Others came here. But everyone is still here for a reason, and my goal is to make it so that the reasons people are here don’t go away.”
Ames wants to provide a voice for residents of eastern Summit County who don’t feel seen or heard. He is open to the idea of designating a County Council seat based on geographic location rather than having five at-large positions.
The Summit County GOP put up two candidates, John “Jack” Murphy and Holly McClure, for Summit County Council last year. Both campaigns were unsuccessful, with each candidate receiving around 42% of the vote.
The last Republican to serve on the County Council was Tal Adair. He was appointed to a seat in 2015 but lost to Glenn Wright in the 2016 election.
No other Republican or Democrat has announced plans to challenge the county councilors up for election as of Tuesday. Roger Armstrong and Tonja Hanson will each seek another term.
The filing window for candidates to formally launch a bid for office runs from Jan. 2 through 8.