Rachel Kahler said she has learned a great deal from the community as a candidate for Wasatch County Council Seat A. It has been a time to listen and understand the Wasatch Back’s top issues.
Kahler, a Republican, is facing Brett Vance in the primary election, which will be held on June 23. Vance, who was the only Wasatch County Republican Party nominee at the nominating convention in April, chose the convention process. Kahler, however, said she chose the signature gathering process to connect more with her community.
That triggered a primary election for the two candidates. In November, the winner of the GOP primary election will face Democrat Patrick Saucier for the seat.
A former Heber City Council member, Kahler said she is running for Wasatch County Council to continue the fight for responsible growth. And, to foster communication with the public.
Throughout her campaign, Kahler said she has heard one repeated concern.
“Obviously, growth is always top of mind,” Kahler said. “But property taxes increased and cost of living, those are things that are really concerning people right now.”
Kahler said the community is looking to elected officials to mitigate increasing costs, but she has heard that Wasatch County residents “just don’t see an end in sight.”
In preparation to take on such challenges, Kahler has begun acting like a County Council member herself. She has been attending current council meetings, looking at the agendas and deepening her understanding of decisions being made.
“What I have been most impressed with this current council is their desire to protect and preserve the rural environment of our community,” Kahler said. “To not just approve development on every piece of land, but to actually thoughtfully create plans that reflect the desire to the community to preserve and protect.”
If elected, Kahler said in the first few months, she plans to review where the county stands in terms of utilities. That includes looking at water, sewer and power to learn where the county’s capacity is and really understand what’s available for future growth.
“I think it’s also important that we look at our road system, not just the big picture with UDOT,” Kahler said.
The Utah Department of Transportation is currently planning a bypass route around Heber City that will divert traffic from Main Street. But Kahler said it’s also important to examine what works with county roads, side streets and where growth will occur.
Kahler said she has the necessary experience to “hit the ground running” because of her participation with the Heber City Council, but also her willingness to learn ahead of the election on County Council matters.
“I think that is something that really sets me apart from my competitor, is that I have experience making these decisions and understanding the lay of the land,” Kahler said.
When she was elected to the City Council in 2019, Kahler said she had a lot of catching up to do. She hopes to make a change on that front this time around.
“I’m really trying to use this year to understand the issues so that if the constituents vote for me and have the trust that I’m going to make those decisions, I have done my homework, and I’m ready to get to work come January,” Kahler said.
All primary election ballots, including those sent by mail, must be received by the county offices by June 23, which is also when in-person voting will take place.
Secure ballot drop box locations have been open 24 hours since June 3 and close at 8 p.m. on June 23. Election Day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wasatch County Administration building.