Though only three positions on the Heber City Council will become available at the end of the year, 13 candidates filed to fill those positions and 11 remain in the running.
Given the high number of individuals competing for the seats, The Park Record sent a relatively short list of questions to each regarding their motivation for running, their plans if elected and their general platform. Their answers will be shared in a short series of articles.
Casey Powers
Q: What was your motivation to run for Heber City Council?
A: The motivation to run comes from the desire to help this amazing city. I get the opportunity to interact with many members of the community and the citizens of Heber are truly amazing. The opportunity to help serve them and prepare this city for future generations was what motivated me to run.
Q: What will your top priorities be if you are elected?
A: Some of the top priorities for me are to try and follow what the citizens voiced during the Envision Heber 2050 survey. Ensuring that we are preserving open spaces. Another top priority is coming up with ways to ensure future generations that are growing up in Heber have the ability to purchase homes and raise their families here. There have been many unprecedented economic changes since that survey and we need to ensure we adjust course constantly to be able to give our children the opportunity to grow up and stay here. Continuing to support our local business owners. Ensuring that we make decisions that bring business to our neighbors’ businesses.
Q: Why should voters prefer you over other candidates?
A: As a father of 3 young children I am hyper focused on helping to help set up the next generation of Heber for success. They are our future and our decisions impact the world that they will live in. It is a responsibility that we all share to look after the youth and children of this city to help them to have the upbringing we are after in this “small town.” I feel that because of the fact I have young children the citizens who are concerned about what this city will look like for their children can rest assured I will work tirelessly to do what’s best for this next generation.
Christen Thompson
Q: What was your motivation to run for Heber City Council?
A: I want to Protect the North Fields, Preserve Open Spaces, create more trails and paths, create affordable housing and update downtown Heber so it becomes a destination.
Q: What will your top priorities be if you are elected?
A: 1. Protect the north fields: I want to work to voice my opinion that we don’t want a freeway through the north fields and options WB3 and WB4 should not be considered.
I would also urge UDOT and UTA to consider creating the Wasatch Back Train, connecting Provo, Heber, Park City, and SLC.
2. Open land preservation, we should follow our Heber City master plan, new developments should have the majority of land preserved as shared open space. See page 6.
3. Trails and Paths: Super excited about the trail along the rail and all the work being done to finish that by 2024, lets keep the momentum going and follow our trail master plan and get trails built along our canals, connecting central heber, and work with the councty to connect trails to Park City, Kamas and Strawberry Reservoir.
4. Affordable Housing: As part of zoning changes require developers to include affordable housing, make it easier for home owners to build ADU’s, Zoning downtown and central heber for higher density to allow more units increasing supply to lower prices.
5. Envision Central Heber: Volunteers, community members and leaders have spent countless hours discussing, having open houses, and creating documents about what Heber can become. I think the plans are great, I am super excited about the future that Heber City has ahead of it. Roger Brooks recently came to the city council and the community alliance for mainstreet and presented some fantastic ideas about what we can do with Main Street park to create a plaza for people to come, play, stay and turn downtown into a real destination. We just need to start executing on these plans now
Q: Why should voters prefer you over other candidates?
A: Our citizens and leaders have created a great vision of what we want Heber City to become. They have laid it out in the master plans available here, now it is time for execution and moving things forward.
In my professional career as a software engineer I have decades of experience working across large teams delivering complicated products. This has helped me build up skills in communication, troubleshooting, creativity and the ability to just get things done.
We have a great city council who all are working to make Heber City better. We have amazing city employees who work really hard and make the city function and bring ideas to fruition. We have an amazing opportunity to set the stage for the next decades of Heber City.
I think that I would be a valuable asset in working together with our leaders, the city employees and the community to help Heber City reach another level.
Sid Ostergaard
Q: What was your motivation to run for Heber City Council?
A: I moved to the Heber Valley with my wife back in the summer of 1998. We instantly fell in love with the beautiful scenery and welcoming nature of the people. We have raised six children here, staying active and involved in our community along the way.
As a member of the Planning Commission, I’ve had a front-row seat to the growth Heber City is experiencing. And as a land planner and landscape architect by trade, I’ve spent more than two decades helping cities like ours plan for the future. I’m eager to put my skills to work for the community I proudly call home.
Heber City is a special place, and I believe there is much more we can do to grow responsibly while keeping that unique charm we all know and love. Together, we can unlock the potential that allows our future to be as promising as our past.
Q: What will your top priorities be if you are elected?
A: Three words define my priorities for when I’m elected:
Implement
The Future of Heber City is at a tipping point.
Our City Council and staff have done a fantastic job laying the groundwork for a successful future. From city code updates to the creative planning on Envision 2050, there are a lot of things that will have a unique impact on our children and generations to come. Now it’s time to ensure the implementation of these plans goes smoothly.
We need leaders with the experience and know-how to turn plans into actions. Whether it’s the North Village Overlay Zone or the potential to host the Winter Olympics in the next decade, it’s important that we commit to seeing our plans come to fruition.
Cultivate
There is a major housing crisis in the Heber Valley, and I’m watching it play out before my own eyes. Raising six kids in Heber City and only having ONE of them able to settle down here is a great concern of mine.
It does not have to be this way, and I intend to tackle the issue from every angle possible. I will work with the Wasatch County Housing Authority, Mountainlands Community Housing Trust, self-help programs, and developers to address this crisis.
Together, we can cultivate a community where our children have affordable options that allow them to stay here and raise their own families.
Collaborate
We are in desperate need of more cooperation between stakeholders in the Heber Valley.
When local groups come together to work toward a common purpose, communities transform into sought-after, vibrant, and economically sustainable destinations.
Whether it’s Wasatch County officials or private developers, I will personally reach out to stakeholders and see how we can come together for the betterment of Heber City. Again, when we work together, everyone is better off in the long run. We all have a vested interest in making our community the best it can be, so why not work together?
Q: Why should voters prefer you over other candidates?
A: To put it simply, I have the experience and skills necessary to serve in this capacity. I’ve been in the field of land planning for more than 27 years, working to create vibrant and successful communities across the country. What’s more, being on the Planning Commission has allowed me to be a part of envisioning the future of Heber City.
I have a heart for our community—and the knowledge and expertise to take our plans into the future.
As of Sept. 1, the list of candidates posted online includes those mentioned above as well as Jami Hewlett, Danny Hill, Vaughn Eric Hokanson, Nick López, Paul Royall III, Aaron Cheatwood, Tori Broughton and Mike Johnston.
The two current council members relinquishing their seats without seeking reelection are Ryan Stack and Rachel Kahler.
The Nov. 21 general election will be determined through ranked choice, meaning there will not be any primary elections. More information about the election and candidates can be found at Heber City’s website, https://www.heberut.gov/183/Election-Information.