In 2017, the Summit County Council selected Ryan Dickey to serve on the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission. Planning commissioners frequently move on to a County Council or City Council seat for good reason: they must understand not just the General Plan and Development Code but also the council’s vision and strategic goals. Their decisions require high order analysis of complex development applications, and their decisions must balance property rights with the council’s vision and goals. Those issues lie at the heart of City Council service.
Planning commissioners are the first line gatekeepers concerning critical zoning and land use issues. Ryan navigated skillfully some of our most challenging projects including Dakota Pacific and Highland Flats — each denied during Ryan’s term as too dense and lacking community benefits. Ryan served with grace, diligence, thoughtfulness, and great respect for staff, applicants, and forceful community input. He moved on to become an excellent public servant on the City Council and serves our community well with the same qualities.
Ryan’s endorsements by every living Park City mayor, all five members of the Summit County Council, and dozens of the most dedicated members of this community speak volumes about Ryan the person and respect for him as a leader.
Those endorsers brought this town from bankruptcy to become the most desirable mountain community in the country, all while conserving a massive amount of open space to protect our physical environment and ensure it remains spectacular.
They have deep and generational connections to this community. Among them, they protected Round Valley, Bonanza Flat, McPolin Farm, Swaner Nature Preserve and much more, published The Park Record, led KPCW, founded the Peace House and countless other non-profits, gave the world one of the greatest Olympic Games in history, and served as elected officials and on non-profit boards. Ryan has been faithful to their long mission to protect, serve and conserve this amazing place, both as a planning commissioner and as a Park City Council member.
Ryan and I both share a desire to ensure that we carefully conserve our physical environment and the long-standing values that have made, and continue to make, this the best place I have ever lived. Soon after I moved here 20 years ago, on a beautiful fall walk through Thaynes with my family I stopped and said, “Look around us. I love where I live.” I try to remind myself of that absolute truth as often as possible and say those words aloud. They remain as true today as the day I moved here. I trust Ryan to protect that sense of place.
Ryan Dickey has my unqualified endorsement. Please join me in voting for Ryan for Park City mayor.
I also endorse the reelection of Tana Toly and the election of Diego Zegarra to the City Council.
Councilor Toly has been a tireless worker on the City Council. She shows up prepared and solicits and listens carefully to input from members of the community, has been an excellent collaborator with members of the County Council, and has made inroads with the state Legislature. Her generational connection to Park City (her family came here in 1860 and opened their restaurant more than 60 years ago) is critical to connecting our past and present to keep Park City Park City. Please reelect her.
I feel like I have known the ubiquitous Diego forever and he has become a critical connection to members of this community who otherwise would not have a voice. The perspective of residents who feel unseen, such as our Latin community members, young people that make up our workforce, and our young families, is not nearly as complete as it should be. Diego’s presence on the City Council and his direct connections will open those doors, amplify those voices, and focus attention on challenges and occasional abuses they face. He has earned this opportunity, and I ask you to join me in voting for him.
Municipal elections often have low turnouts. Please understand how important this elections is and vote — by mail or in-person or by mule, if necessary. Just vote.
Roger Armstrong
Summit County Councilor