The Summit County Democratic Party will host a June primary election to decide a new member of the Summit County Council following a near tie at the county convention on Tuesday night.
Delegates were unable to decide between Snyderville Basin Planning Commissioner Thomas Cooke and housing advocate Megan McKenna for County Council Seat C. The position is currently held by Chair Malena Stevens, who is not seeking reelection.
McKenna secured 50.41% of the delegate vote and Cooke earned 49.59%, according to the Democratic Party. Party rules state a candidate must receive 60% of the vote at the convention to earn the nomination.
Otherwise, the choice is opened up to all party members. Now Democrats can choose between the candidates during the June 25 primary. The winner will face off against Republican nominee Ari Ioannides, former executive director of the Park City Institute.
“We are very excited about our Democratic candidates who have advanced to the general election,” said Summit County Democratic Party Chair Rory Swensen. “We look forward to a spirited campaign between Megan McKenna and Thomas Cooke. Both are strong candidates and will serve the residents of Summit County well. It is going to be a difficult choice for voters to make in the June primary.”
McKenna and Cooke talked about shared topics such as growth, housing and the character of the community as they addressed delegates in their speeches. Yet the candidates’ differing backgrounds provided insight into how their experiences might shape their approach to the County Council seat.
McKenna highlighted her experiences growing up in Park City and the concerns she’s heard from residents.
“Many of you want your kids, your grandkids and your great grandkids to have a future in Summit County. Many of you are worried about water and a changing climate. Many of you want your County Council to reflect the diverse communities that they represent. Many of you are frustrated with traffic and the growing economic divide,” she said. “And many seek bold, brave leadership that is also kind and compassionate. There is much work to be done, and a good place to start is with these shared values that I heard over and over again across the county.”
Cooke spoke about his love for the community and the passion he has for making it a better place.
“Growth is not coming. Growth is here. We do not have to surrender to it. We have to shape it with a strong community vision and planning tools that align with the vision and take great care in ensuring growth is about benefiting people, not simply profitability,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do here, but we can’t simply build our way out of it. This is Summit County, not Stamford, Connecticut, right on the commuter rail lines to Manhattan.”
Incumbents Roger Armstrong and Tonja Hanson easily secured victories over their challengers, avoiding a primary in their County Council races.
Armstrong beat LGBTQ+ advocate Cami Richardson for Seat A, receiving 76.23% of the vote. He will face Republican Tory Welch, a Hoytsville resident and Army veteran, on the November ballot.
Hanson collected 88.52% of the vote, earning her first full term on the County Council. She was challenged by Betsy Wallace for Seat B. Hanson will run opposed in the fall.
Around 100 delegates gathered at Ecker Hill Middle School on to listen to speeches for local, state and federal candidates hoping to earn the party’s nomination. Voting opened online around 8 p.m. and closed at 11 p.m. with 122 of the 131 delegates participating.
Speakers highlighted high participation on caucus night, the second-largest turnout in the state, and 52% of people were first-time attendees.
Swensen, addressing the crowd, asked Democrats to become more involved and help increase the number of registered members, which would allow the party to receive more funding.
“Utah is turning purple,” he declared.
Diane Lewis, the chair of the state Democratic Party, agreed. She highlighted the importance of the county and state conventions. She encouraged former Democrats, as well as unaffiliated voters who believe in the party’s values, to “come home” and stand against conservative voices in the state.
All registered Democrats in Summit County will receive a ballot from the Clerk’s Office. Voters who are not registered with the party may request a ballot. Visit summitcounty.org/270/Clerk for more information.