Longtime resident Amy Regan believes the ethos of Oakley is volunteerism, and she said it’s her turn to step up.
Regan has lived in Oakley for 33 years, serving as a volunteer, educator and planning commissioner in the South Summit community. She’s now stepping forward to run for Oakley City Council, driven by her passion for preserving the small-town charm while tackling critical issues head-on.
“I’ve seen many changes come to our town, and I’m running for City Council so I can have a say in how we manage those changes,” she said.
Oakley hasn’t always been home for Regan. She grew up in Kansas City and studied psychology at Rockhurst University. After graduating, Regan moved to the Park City area in 1981 and worked in the ski and lodging industries. Although she no longer skis, Regan is an outdoor enthusiast and avid snowshoer.
She married her husband in 1990, and the couple purchased their home in Oakley. Even back then, Regan said they couldn’t afford to live in Park City — and didn’t really want to.
Regan started working part-time after becoming a mom. Then, she joined the South Summit School District in 2007. Regan was hired to help low-income, first-generation students gain access to college through a federal grant program administered by Utah Valley University. The district then hired Regan to continue the program when the college lost the grant.
Now, she focuses on helping high school seniors prepare for college and secure financial aid as well as scholarships. Regan is also proud to have founded a service club for high school students called South Summit Interact. She herself is a 20-year member of the Oakley Civic Club.
Her tenure on the Oakley Planning Commission from 2002 to 2010 was inspired by a desire to serve the community and become more involved, which Regan said are the same motivations she has now. At that time, there wasn’t a lot of big development that wanted to come in. So the Planning Commission instead dealt with families who wanted to split up their land to build homes for their children and rewrote the city’s General Plan.
“We talked a lot about the city center back then, and a lot of those original plans are still on the table,” Regan said.
However, today’s proposal is much larger. The master plan proposed by developer Steve Smith would create mixed-use retail spaces, a new hardware store and apartments in the core of town.
Regan understands Oakley residents have concerns about the project, and she has her own trepidations. Yet she learned on the Planning Commission about the importance of building a city from the inside out and having various types of housing, such as multi-family residences. She said this would improve affordability and help the community’s children continue living there.
“I’m not saying we should build … some big apartment block over there, but I think some housing would not be bad,” Regan said.
The city center project is the No. 1 issue that Regan heard about from residents while campaigning. They’re also concerned about taxes and traffic, affordability and law enforcement.
If elected, Regan would prioritize the community’s infrastructure needs, such as assessments of the water and sewer systems, work with all parties involved in the city center project to ensure it is the best it can be, and study the possible improvements and expansion of the rodeo grounds.
Regan also emphasized the importance of preserving Oakley’s small-town charm and green spaces. She said the biggest changes she’s witnessed have been the increases in construction traffic on S.R. 32 and the number of large estates owned by second homeowners.
She views the role of a city councilor as a decision-maker, whereas the Planning Commission provides invaluable advice and background work, and the mayor serves as a facilitator of meetings.
Regan encouraged voters to elect her because she’s willing to learn, is invested in the community and strives to be a good neighbor. She believes in the power of neighbors helping neighbors and said her goal is to keep the community spirit alive while making smart decisions that will help Oakley thrive for future generations.
To Regan, Oakley is beautiful, friendly and the embodiment of the Western spirit.
Regan is one of three candidates running for Oakley City Council. The others are Kerbee Leavitt and Christopher Dillman. Voters will elect two on Tuesday, Nov. 4.