The 2024 Summit County Council candidate forum tackled key community issues ranging from budget deficits, affordable housing, regional collaboration and open space. Four office-seekers presented their visions for a thriving Summit County and offered solutions to address growth, governance, and even goats.
Roger Armstrong, Tory Welch, Ari Ioannides and Megan McKenna were civil throughout the debate hosted in partnership with KPCW, The Park Record, the Park City Community Foundation and the Park City Chamber/Bureau.
The candidate forum, held about a month before the general election, was intended to confront critical concerns in the community.
Armstrong, the only incumbent on the County Council ballot, stressed his 12-year tenure and achievements in affordable housing and transportation. The Democrat has been an entertainment law attorney since 1995.
His opponent for Seat A, Republican Tory Welch, focused on reducing costs and the impact of development on eastern Summit County. Welch is an Army veteran, electrical lineman and the State Central Committee representative for the Summit County Republican Party.
Roger Armstrong responds to a question on Tuesday night. Credit: Park Record file photo by Clayton Steward 
Megan McKenna gives her take on a question during the forum. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record 
Tory Welch gives an answer while fellow republican, Ari Ioannides listens to his response on Tuesday.
Ioannides, the treasurer of the North Summit Fire District and former executive director of the Park City Institute, emphasized the need to preserve open space and for diverse voices on the County Council. The longtime East Side resident is a lifelong Republican and promises to bring a balanced approach to local governance.
McKenna championed public-private partnerships, sustainability and the local workforce. The former Park City High School science teacher and ski patroller is now a housing advocate for Mountainlands Community Housing Trust. She earned the Democratic nomination, and her spot on the November ticket, following a June primary.
Ioannides and McKenna are competing for Seat C, which is currently held by County Council Chair Malena Stevens. Stevens announced earlier this year she would not seek reelection.
While there may be tension between Democrats and Republicans nationwide, the same did not appear to be true Tuesday night in the Blair Education Center. Topics touched on areas such as transportation and taxes but no mentions of former President Trump — at least by name.
McKenna questioned her opponent during a wild card round about whether he’s a Republican in name only, and who he supports for Seat A and on the presidential ticket. Ioannides responded that he has been a lifelong member of the GOP, and affirmed his values are aligned with the party.
“As far as who I’m supporting, this is a local election. My daughter works for Harris. My son, you know, I’m trying to instill integrity in him and I’m not going to put someone up in front of him that I don’t think has integrity,” Ioannides said. He didn’t vocalize support for Welch and said he would partner with Armstrong, if elected, to help achieve the county’s goals.
The tech entrepreneur turned nonprofit leader also touted how his bipartisan approach would lend a hand in terms of collaborating with Wasatch County and the state. There hasn’t been a Republican on the Summit County Council since Tal Adair vacated his seat in late 2016.
Ioannides pressed McKenna on whether she was willing to commit to preventing tax hikes to help develop affordable housing in Summit County. McKenna said she wouldn’t.
The Democrat explained she didn’t want that fear to drive her as a county councilor, and she would be willing to consider increasing taxes if it helped sustain county services.
“We currently have the lowest tax rate or among the lowest in the state. We are the richest county in the state … and our tax rate actually hasn’t increased since 2017. So just to be fiscally responsible, we will have to, and I do support, incremental tax increases as we need to meet the needs of the county as those needs grow over time,” McKenna said.
Armstrong also probed McKenna about her housing objectives. He wondered if she had an idea of how many units should be built to house the county’s workforce, what percentage of workers the county should try to house and how she would maintain the balance.
McKenna said it’s the role of the County Council to set those goals — which it hasn’t yet done, though county councilors say that’s on the agenda during their retreat — and she pointed to Park City Municipal’s 800-unit, 15% workforce housing goal. She didn’t say a specific number Summit County should strive for.
Welch asked Armstrong which vote to fund a project, initiative or program he would change if he could. The Republican noted the projected $10 million shortfall in the 2025 budget and advocated for transparency to help the public understand where the money was going.
The incumbent defended his tenure on the County Council and said there was “nothing” he would go back and do over.
“I think we look at every budget with wide eyes. We slice every budget as thin as we can. We try and accomplish specific things that are related to our goals and our strategies, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job with that,” Armstrong responded.
Community members were also invited to ask the County Council candidates questions after the moderated period was over. The four office-seekers discussed the relocation of Recycle Utah, debated implementing green waste programs or unique land management options like using goats for weed control, building a wildlife crossing over S.R. 224, the importance of public transportation and microtransit options as well as opportunities to help Latino community members participate in local government.
County Council seats A, B and C will appear on the November ballot. However, Vice Chair Tonja Hanson is running unopposed after she earned the Democratic Party’s nomination. Voters will have their choice between the other candidates.
The Summit County Clerk’s Office plans to mail ballots on Oct. 15. People who have not voted since the last presidential election in 2020 or did not respond to requests from the Clerk’s Office to verify their status could be marked as inactive, meaning they may not automatically receive a ballot by mail.
Visit vote.utah.gov for more information about voter registration. The Clerk’s Office can be reached by phone at 435-336-3204.