Tori Broughton — a candidate running for Seat D on the Wasatch County Council — has only lived in the community for about a year and a half but already describes it with the same passion and insight of those who have been around a lot longer.
Running the Trek Bicycle shop on Heber City’s Main Street, she has daily encounters with various members of the community, and it didn’t take her long to realize its small-town feel, its sense of welcoming, and its openness to others.
“Everyone here is so friendly, and I think that a lot of that has to do with if you’re here, it’s because you chose to be here,” she said. “I think that just really changes everybody’s outlook and attitude.”
Broughton said she initially wanted to move to Heber City about 10 years ago, but ended up in Washington instead. When a job with Trek Bicycles was available in the community — one that wouldn’t require her to travel as much — she took the opportunity.
After getting here, she didn’t waste any time in learning more about the community, its people, its governance and the challenges it faces.
She started regularly attending each Heber City Council meeting, and eventually decided to run for the council in last year’s election.
Less than a month after failing to secure one, she saw another opportunity in the County Council race.
“It was really hard. There were a couple things in my mind. Yeah, I had just lost, and I just kind of thought to myself, ‘Who do you think you are to run for an even bigger seat after losing,'” she said. “I didn’t want people to think that I was getting a little big for my britches.”
After reaching out for opinions, she found many residents who encouraged her to run, and she made up her mind.
She said she understands the community is going to continue to grow despite what anyone thinks. She’s focused on managing that growth.
“Even if we didn’t approve any more building permits or any more developments today, there’s still 6,000 units coming our way,” she said.
Broughton has lived in a handful of towns that resemble Heber City’s long-term hopes. She said she’s seen what has worked and what has not.
“We need to be planning ahead so that we can maintain all of the things we love about Heber,” she said.
One thing she said she would focus on if elected would be addressing the county’s outdated coding policies.
“One of the big things that comes up a lot is affordable housing, and I think ADUs (accessory dwelling units) can really be a solution,” she said. “But some of the setbacks and codes are keeping people from being able to add external ADUs to their property.”
One of the misconceptions she sees is that all such units would be used as short-term rentals, when many would be interested in them for longer term arrangements.
“Whether they’re short-term rentals or long-term rentals, for a lot of folks in our community, having an ADU is making their living more affordable,” she said.
Discussing infrastructure needs, she said she is very supportive of the Utah Department of Transportation’s Heber Valley Corridor project, which will create a western bypass to hopefully alleviate traffic off of Heber City’s Main Street.
The five routes UDOT is currently considering has been a point of contention among community members. Heber City has officially remained neutral on the matter while Wasatch County has passed legislation that is decidedly against options that would cut through the north fields.
“I’m going to trust the experts in that,” Broughton said. “I hope that we can come together and decide on what we want.”
The valley, she explained, could be pedestrian friendly if high-speed traffic was moved out of the center of Heber City. The bypass would help.
Broughton also said she would support higher density in some residential or mixed-use areas.
“To maintain access and open space, you have to have density,” she said. “Those two things go hand in hand.”
This could look like smaller condos and townhomes, she said.
“Apartment buildings are necessary, but I do not want to fill this valley up with stacked flats,” she said.
Asked why voters should prefer her over Kendall Crittenden, the current councilor and incumbent she’s running against, or her other opponents, she emphasized the fresh views she would bring as a younger elected official. Though she’s heard Crittenden represented his district well, he’s been in office for about two decades.
“I don’t have a family, I don’t have kids, so I have a lot of free time outside of work,” she said. “I’m really invested.”
Broughton also believes the party she’s running under brings a fresh option to this aspect of the race as she filed under the United Utah Party.
“I just didn’t feel at home in either of the major two parties right now,” she said.
She felt more comfortable in the United Utah Party because “they just have a logical and pragmatic approach to government.”
“I think a lot of people who saw me speak during the City Council debates, they would say that I was a very logical and pragmatic candidate,” Broughton said. “That’s the way I think of this party.”