I am privileged to serve on the Summit County Council. Summit County residents’ values and vision for this community have been challenged throughout my time of service, especially in recent years — consider the Hideout matter, the request to change uses in the tech park, and the novel Cedar Crest project in North Summit County currently before the Planning Commission.
Economic challenges and burdens will arise on our borders from the addition of tens of thousands of residential units near the Jordanelle in Wasatch County and the East Village project. State leaders have aggressive goals to address housing shortages in Utah, and those come with their own challenges to our local legislative authority.
Solutions to our complex challenges require careful and thoughtful strategic problem-solving rather than impulsive action; 4-D chess — move one piece and three different pieces move elsewhere.
Serving on the County Council requires high level leadership skills and experience, and service as a planning commissioner leads to critical council skills and experience. Of 13 council members since 2009, five were all planning commissioners (Claudia McMullen, Doug Clyde, Malena Stevens, Tonja Hanson and Canice Harte).
Others came to the council with different high order skills and experience. Sally Elliott was a city councilor and served on many state and local boards; David Ure served in the Utah House of Representatives; John Hanrahan founded People’s Health Clinic and the Hope Alliance and served on numerous boards and committees; Kim Carson served multiple terms as president of the Park City Board of Education; and Chris Robinson is an overachiever of the highest order.
Thomas Cooke is serving his third term (seven years) as a planning commissioner and has wrestled with incredibly challenging development applications before the commission. He knows more about our Development Code than most people, and is an able guardian of our General Plan, which articulates our community’s vision and values, and guides our development code. Thomas advocated for our most recent visioning process to best understand if and how our values may have changed.
Through his long service to Summit County, Thomas has earned his place on the County Council and I will be very proud to serve with him if given the opportunity. Thomas has my highest endorsement. Please join me in voting for him.
Please vote.
Roger Armstrong
Summit County Council member, Park City