Chris Tomczyk came to Park City almost 50 years ago, spending his first few ski seasons of the late ’70s working at ParkWest and making friends with instructors at Snowbird and Alta resorts so he could get in a few runs during the early season.
He had started teaching at a ski area outside of St. Cloud, Minnesota, near his hometown, and traveled to Jackson Hole and Sun Valley in between classes — or maybe even during — before Tomczyk found himself in Utah, drawn to the tight-knit culture of the ski community.
Tomczyk married in 1990, had his son and moved from Salt Lake City to Hidden Cove with his then-wife around 1993. A few years later, they relocated to Silver Creek. Next was Woodland Estates. There was a stint in downtown Wanship in 2018. Then, downtown Park City. Now retired, Tomczyk has lived on Coalville’s Main Street for about two years.
With Coalville at a turning point of development and identity, Tomczyk said, he believes this is a critical moment for thoughtful leadership that balances growth with the preservation of community values.
So, with his newfound free time and a strong desire to engage with the East Side, Tomczyk is running for a seat on the Coalville City Council. He said his experience working with people in the public to those living in private, gated communities makes him a great candidate for one of the seats.
He’s striving to bring a community-first approach to local governance with more than three decades of professional experience, ranging from ski instructor and project management for general contractors to roles like Zamboni driver and HOA maintenance manager for local resort properties.
“I believe I am very good at being impartial when assessing situations while listening toall sides fairly in finding solutions,” Tomczyk said, adding that he’s committed to staying informed about crucial city matters and engaging with other community members.
His core beliefs are centered around smart growth that enhances the community; thoughtful development that includes affordable housing, while preserving the agricultural history of Coalville; community infrastructure such as roads, water and sidewalks being supported by incoming development; accountability of elected officials; and balancing landowner rights alongside preserving open space.
Tomczyk said he’s also concerned about the potential for tax increases in Coalville, to which he’s opposed. He wants to ensure development and infrastructure plans align with the Coalville General Plan and do not burden the city’s budget or taxpayers.
If elected, Tomczyk would be focused on contributing to Coalville’s success by working toward the goals of the General Plan and the Main Street Revitalization Plan to encourage economic growth. He also proposes assigning professionally trained planning staff to each city council throughout eastern Summit County, including Henefer, Coalville, Oakley, Kamas and Francis to support consistency and protect public interest.
Following a long-term, community-created vision would also be beneficial, according to Tomczyk. He advocated for a balanced, community-centered approach that allows citizens to be involved in land planning so they can have a say in how Coalville will grow and develop.
Tomczyk emphasized that responsible growth that fosters stewardship of the land and natural resources and that is respectful of rural agriculture — while also balancing private property rights — is key.
“Humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support the present and future generations,” he said.
Tomczyk also has a track record of community involvement. His engagement reflects a deep commitment to staying informed and actively contributing to the future of the community.
A graduate of the Summit County Community Planning Lab, Tomczyk participated in the program to better understand the processes that drive local planning and land-use policy decisions. Tomczyk’s final project was a case study of the proposed Cedar Crest Village project near Hoytsville, examining the role of the city as well as property owners now and in the future.
He also regularly attends Coalville City Council and Coalville City Planning Commission as well as Summit County Council, Eastern Summit County Planning Commission and Snyderville Basin Planning Commission meetings, he said.
Tomczyk is among several candidates seeking one of two Coalville City Council seats on the November ballot. The other individuals who declared their candidacy are Matthew Boyer, Andrew Nelson, Jeff Peterson, Colleen Goodman and Steven Richins.
A primary election will be held on Aug. 12 to narrow down the candidate field before the general election. Ballots will be mailed around July 22.