Michael Hewlett is running for office for the first time. As Heber City’s mayor, he hopes to be the voice of change.
Hewlett is a health insurance salesman with a love for civic engagement. He said that, while he has never run for any official political positions, he has always been “actively engaged.” For years, Hewlett said, he has interviewed local candidates and politicians on his Heber Valley Radio show.
But times have changed, and so have Hewlett’s aspirations. As a frequent flyer at City Hall for Heber City Council and Heber City Planning Commission meetings and the like, Hewlett said he has not been impressed with what he has seen.
“I’ve been able to see in the decisions that have been made by the mayor and the City Council and the city bureaucrats, there seems to be a belief that there is no checking growth,” Hewlett said. “They seem to believe that their responsibility as the governing body in Heber City is to say yes to every single request from every single party for higher density.”
That’s Hewlett main sticking point: Growth. As a lifelong resident of Wasatch County, Hewlett said he remembers the “good old days.”
“Everything was so idyllic, just peaceful … everybody took care of each other, and it was extremely close knit,” Hewlett said. “You couldn’t really ask for a more beautiful place to grow up in.”
Since his formative years, Hewlett said he has seen “irresponsible and unchecked” levels of growth and density in the Heber Valley. As mayor, Hewlett said he would change the way zoning, annexations and density discussions are handled.
Heber City’s government supports what’s called a weak mayor system where the mayor has limited authority and instead acts as a presiding officer or ceremonial head of the City Council. In a strong mayor system, the mayor holds more executive power.
Hewlett aims to shift toward the latter.
“I would make a big push to restore mayoral authority to the mayor’s position,” Hewlett said. “There needs to be a change because we have the vast majority of the decisions in the city being made by an unelected city manager who doesn’t have any obligation to represent the people at all.”
According to Hewlett, Heber can be better represented by a mayor who is “willing to stand up not only to the big money developers and special interest groups” but also “to the City Council themselves.” He supports taking power away from city employees such as Matt Brower, Heber City’s manager.
As city manager, Brower and other city staff are tasked with making recommendations to the Council. Then, the Council discusses and will either ask for more feedback or make a formal decision on varying issues. According to city officials, Brower is “the hired professional.”
Still, Hewlett said the city needs a different approach.
“I would certainly be a much stronger and louder voice for the people to influence the agenda for the City Council and to hold the City Council accountable for the decisions that they’re making,” Hewlett said.
Outside of his mayoral bid, Hewlett and his wife, Jami Hewlett, have recently been wrapped up in legal ensnarements. While his wife has been charged class A and B misdemeanors including stalking and child abuse, Hewlett was charged with one count of retaliation against a witness, victim or informant.
That charge, which is a third-degree felony, is tied to an investigation conducted on May 20 that explored child abuse charges against Jami. According to a declaration affidavit, Hewlett allegedly texted one of the informants — one of his children — asking who filed the report with the Utah Division of Child and Family Services and that the investigation is “ruining lives.”
When asked about the charges, Hewlett denied any wrongdoing on his part and his wife’s, who is running for Heber City Council.
“It’s all stemming from a custody dispute with my ex wife,” Hewlett said. “She is using law fare and manipulating rules and laws that are there to actually, genuinely protect people who are in actual danger.”
Hewlett said that the situation is “unfortunate” but that he will “let that play out in court.”
“I’m looking forward to our day in court where we can exonerate ourselves and prove not only to the court but to our people that all of the allegations are completely ridiculous and baseless,” Hewlett said.
Hewlett’s court hearing addressing the felony charge is scheduled for July 16.