Early voting for this year’s municipal elections began Tuesday, and continues through Nov. 1, with the general election date set for Nov. 5. Kamas, Henefer and Francis have all cancelled their general elections, as the candidates for the mayor and city council seats are all running uncontested.
Kamas has recognized Lewis Marchant as mayor and Diane Atkinson and Rodney Smith as council members; Francis will see R. Lee Snelgrove as mayor and Michael Baldwin and Shana Fryer as council members and Henefer has elected Randy Ovard as mayor with Kay Richins and Brent Ovard as council members.
Summit County Clerk Kent Jones said no write-in candidates have filed for any of the municipal elections. An individual must file with the county as a write-in candidate for those votes to count.
Coalville, which just went through a busy primary election that featured six mayoral candidates, will have Trever Johnson and Arlin Judd facing off for former Mayor Duane Schmidt’s seat, while Bob McKeehan, Cuyler Scates and Rodney Robbins will compete for two vacant council seats.
Both Judd and Johnson agreed that Coalville will need to focus on making changes to its culinary water system, with the new wastewater treatment plant and the bridge on Icy Springs Road being two important projects the next mayor will have to oversee.
Johnson said he brings experience in construction and maintenance that would be beneficial in overseeing the wastewater treatment plant project, while Judd stressed his experience with the City Council and Planning Commission as well as his ability to dedicate himself entirely to the job of mayor as his strong suits.
Johnson currently acts as a manager of operations for a company that does maintenance for commercial buildings. Judd serves on the Coalville City Council.
In Oakley, Blake Frazier is seeking re-election as mayor, with Wade Woolstenhulme challenging. Alton Frazier, Kendall “Tiny” Woolstenhulme and Charles Gillett will be vying for two four-year City Council seats and Lorrie Hoggan will run uncontested for a two-year term City Council seat left vacant by Les England.
Frazier did not respond to The Park Record’s requests for comment, but Woolstenhulme said maintaining the values of Oakley’s small community while enabling the growth that needs to occur is most important.
Woolstenhulme added that he wants to allow those with agricultural land to do with their land what they want, whether that involves selling it to developers or utilizing it. He also said that the continuing development of recreational facilities and volunteer help are priorities.
Because of the small, tight-knit nature of the community, Woolstenhulme said he has not been actively campaigning for mayor. He is currently South Summit Middle School’s principal. Frazier is Summit County’s auditor.
Service Area 3, a Special Service District in Silver Creek, will feature write-in candidates this year going into its Board of Trustees election for the Upper and Lower Districts.
There is one vacancy in the Upper District of Service Area 3, with Brad Iverson running for re-election and Michael Montgomery as the write-in candidate. The Lower District has two vacancies this year, with Betty Bauwens and Len Bowes running for re-election, Eileen Galoostian challenging and Marcello Occon acting as the write-in candidate.
Those interested in voting early in Oakley can go to the Oakley City Hall, 960 W. Center Street, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Friday. Call (435) 783-5734 for more information. Early voters in Coalville can go to the Coalville City Hall, 10 N. Main Street, from noon to 4 p.m. through Oct. 31 and from noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 1. Call (435) 336-5981 for more information.