Park City’s mayors from 1990 through current Mayor Nann Worel have agreed to endorse Ryan Dickey for mayor, Dickey’s campaign announced Tuesday.
Dickey, in his second term on the City Council, is competing with challenger Jack Rubin for the seat Worel is vacating at the end of the year.
Former mayors Brad Olch (1990-2002), Dana Williams (2002-14), Jack Thomas (2014-18), Andy Beerman (2018-22), and Worel (2022-present) declared their support for Dickey in November’s election.
Dickey said this may be the one thing all have agreed about, given that they’ve often debated and even competed against each other in elections over the years.
“I offer my congratulations to Ryan for assembling past and present mayors,” Rubin said. “The support I am seeking is different.”
“I am running on a platform of raising the voice of residents in City Hall,” he added. “It is not a surprise that those who have led us to our current situation would find my opponent more attractive. In fact, that is confirmation of the establishment self-selection process.”
Meantime, the mayors offered their reasoning.
“Park City thrives when leaders protect its character while solving real problems,” said Brad Olch, who oversaw the city’s preparation for the 2002 Winter Olympics. “Ryan understands that balance. He’ll champion neighborhoods and businesses, strengthen our transportation and transit systems, and keep Park City’s unique spirit intact as we prepare for another Olympic moment.”
Dana Williams, who prioritized open space and Park City’s mountain town identity during his tenure, said, “Ryan knows what makes Park City special isn’t just our beautiful mountain environment — it’s our community. He listens, he respects public input, and then he acts. That’s the leadership we need to keep Park City, Park City.”
Jack Thomas, an architect and planner, said, “Ryan does the work, weighs the impacts, and then makes a call. He doesn’t chase extremes or let projects stall for lack of political will. That kind of balanced leadership with the community’s needs at the front and center of every decision is how you preserve Park City’s scale and quality of life.”
“Ryan sees that open space, climate action, affordable housing, and small business vitality aren’t competing goals — they’re connected,” said Andy Beerman, who focused on inclusion and sustainability. “He carries those values forward in practical ways. He’s collaborative, forward looking, and brings people together to find solutions that stick.”
Worel said she sees Dickey’s ability to provide stability during change as key to this moment.
“Park City is at a critical juncture,” Worel said. “With leadership transitions and Olympic planning ahead, Ryan’s institutional knowledge and respectful, relationship-driven style are exactly what the city needs. He is steady, pragmatic, and knows how to move things forward.”
“In my tenure as mayor, I’ve focused heavily on building regional relationships, and as a skilled relationship-builder, Ryan is well-positioned to carry that torch,” added Worel. “I’ve heard from leaders across the Wasatch Back that they are excited to work with Ryan.”
Collectively, the mayors pointed to Dickey’s record on the Park City Council as well as the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission as reasons they each decided to support his candidacy now.
“For every living mayor of Park City to stand together like this — across decades of Park City’s history — I’m honored beyond words,” said Dickey. “Their trust isn’t just in me, but in a vision of Park City that honors its past while shaping its future. I’m committed to carrying on their legacy and moving Park City forward with positive leadership that delivers results for our community.”
Rubin, a businessman who lives in Park Meadows, has not previously served in local government. He ran unsuccessfully in 2018 for the state Legislature, a quest no Park City resident has managed in modern memory.
“My intention is to offer voters in Park City a clear alternative to those who have been groomed and chosen by the old guard and municipal alumni to control our town,” Rubin said. “I offer a different choice to those who too often represent the interests of resorts, tourism marketers, and developers over the interests of Park City residents. I stand to represent a choice centered on the people who call Park City home.”
