Oakley voters delivered a decisive rebuke on Tuesday, ousting Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme in an overwhelming defeat and ending his shot at a second term.

Challenger Steve Wilmoth, who has served on the Oakley City Council for nearly a decade, earned almost double the incumbent’s total, according to unofficial election results. Wilmoth earned 435 votes, or more than 67%, compared to Woolstenhulme’s 210 votes, or about 33%. The wide margin reflects a shift among residents, many of whom appeared frustrated with the direction of the Oakley City Center project in recent months.

“I was taken aback and disappointed by the election outcome. What I’d hoped would be at least a two-mile race has turned into a mile run,” Woolstenhulme said in a statement. “I’m committed to serving diligently to the end of my term. I congratulate Steve Wilmoth and other newly elected members of the City Council and will do all I can to support them.”

The incumbent added that he is honored to have served as mayor and is proud of what the community has accomplished over the past four years. He said that would not have been possible without a transparent, collaborative effort.

“Oakley’s future is bright! For my part, I will always be willing to serve the community in any way that I can,” Woolstenhulme said.

Wilmoth admitted he also expected a closer race. But he said he didn’t feel nervous because his campaign was built on ensuring residents feel like their voices are heard. He spent Election Night bowling with his wife and friends, focused on being present in the moment rather than the results.

Leading up to the vote, Wilmoth spent a lot of time meeting with residents to hear their concerns. He hosted “town hall” style neighborhood meetings and went door-to-door. Wilmoth also praised and thanked everyone who supported him and stepped up, especially after the death of his father in the midst of the campaign.

The city center project was a top concern for voters, and the candidate’s approach to the topic appears to be a major defining point in the election.

While Woolstenhulme strived to make progress on the city center and hoped to complete a development agreement if re-elected, Wilmoth’s approach encouraged taking more time to ensure a proper plan is in place. 

The message voters delivered on Election Day was that they wanted to see change. Wilmoth said residents may differ in what they actually want in the project, but the overall ideas and visions are similar.

The mayor-elect said he feels humbled by the support he received. His biggest fear is letting residents down, and Wilmoth said he won’t allow that to happen.

He recognized there is a lot of work to do to help manage growth and preserve Oakley’s small-town character, address the town center redevelopment and infrastructure upgrades, and foster civic engagement. Wilmoth will spend the next few weeks preparing a plan for how to start when he enters the mayor’s office.

“I think we can do it,” he said.

Wilmoth recognized that change is inevitable, so he likes to embrace it. After “moving the cheese,” he hopes community members and staff feel refreshed and renewed with a new administration.

There will also be two new city councilors: Christopher Dillman and Amy Regan.

Dillman was the top vote-getter with 442 votes, or 39%, while Regan garnered 385 votes, or 34%. Voters did not elect Kerbee Leavitt to the City Council; Leavitt received 303 votes, or almost 27%. 

Dillman’s campaign focused on cautious growth in Oakley and bridging a disconnect between city officials and the community. Regan, meanwhile, hopes to preserve small-town charm while addressing growth and infrastructure needs.

Regan said she is grateful for the support of her friends and neighbors in Oakley. She was able to meet with many voters to hear their concerns and said going door-to-door was helpful.

Wilmoth said he is excited to work with Dillman, whom he knows through the Oakley Rodeo Committee, and is looking forward to the perspective Regan will bring to the City Council. He welcomed the chance to bring new people with new ideas to government, especially with important issues such as the city center project at the forefront. 

“We’ll keep this small town rolling in the right direction,” Wilmoth said.

All election results are preliminary until certified in mid-November.

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Coalville voters elected a new mayor on Tuesday, ushering in a new era of leadership for the eastern Summit County town.

Rory Swensen is likely to take office in January, earning 276 votes, or about 52%, according to preliminary election results. He ran against Coalville City Councilor Lynn Wood, who garnered 251 votes, or almost 48%. Outgoing Mayor Mark Marsh did not seek reelection.

“My intent is to listen first and advocate strongly for (Coalville residents). This starts with listening. It starts with being open, and my door will always be open,” Swensen said.

The mayoral campaign was spirited, and at times, divisive — though not between the candidates themselves. Social media and passionate supporters amplified tensions. But despite the charged environment, Swensen said it actually provided him a platform to clearly communicate his values and priorities.

“There is a bit of a split in the city,” Swensen reflected. “I actually think it worked to my advantage because it gave me an opportunity to respond to some of those questions. They weren’t anything that I would be preparing for because I was really focused on what the issues are in Coalville, but the personal or the political efforts to define me on the outside, it really brought some attention to it, and it gave me the opportunity to very clearly say who I really am.”

Swensen and Wood recognize it was a close race. Wood said the results show an almost even divide, and she believes “healing that division is the most important issue facing our city right now.”

To Swensen, the results of the mayoral and Coalville City Council elections send a clear message that citizens want a new approach to city government.

His campaign was rooted in an intent to bring a fresh perspective and bridge the divide in Coalville. He outlined a vision of unit, community engagement and collaborative leadership for the city’s next chapter. 

The last few weeks of his campaign combined active outreach through Facebook groups, updates to his website, traditional door-knocking and frequent conversations with voters. Swensen also reached out to local business owners to better understand their concerns and aspirations.

Improving Main Street by adding more businesses, improving the walkability and maintaining the community’s unique character is a top priority for Swensen.

Looking ahead to the start of his term in January, Swensen recognized that collaboration is essential. He plans to meet with Wood, whose City Council term ends in 2028, as well as the other sitting council members and the two new people — Matthew Boyer and Jeff Peterson — who were elected. Swensen feels optimistic about the diversity of skills and experience on the City Council, which he said will strengthen local leadership.

Wood said that while the new leaders may have different priorities than what the City Council has been working on, which could create some initial tension, she said she feels encouraged after speaking with Swensen.

“He expressed an awareness of the many residents who supported my ideas and a willingness to have meaningful discussions about common ground,” she said. “I’m genuinely hopeful that both current and newly elected leaders can set an example by fostering better conversations and working toward greater unity in our community. It won’t be easy, but if we stay committed to that goal, the results for our city will be well worth it.”

The mayor-elect looks forward to working with community groups when he takes office. He is most excited about becoming more closely involved with events such as Coalville’s Memorial Day services.

“Communities change over time, and (Coalville) has grown,” Swensen said. “It’s not the same community that I grew up in, but it has the same bones. I think there’s an opportunity to do things that strengthen neighborly bonds, the communities, and really value what this small town means to people.”

Boyer, a planning commissioner, and Peterson, a businessman, easily topped the City Council field. Boyer was the top vote-getter with 321 votes, or almost 33% while Peterson earned 202 votes, or 31%. The other candidates were Andrew Nelson, who earned 200 votes, or about 20%, and Steve Richins, with 151 votes, or 15%.

Boyer said he’s excited to get to work in 2026. His top priority was also improving the city’s infrastructure by focusing on Main Street, continuing to connect community spaces and making Coalville more accessible. 

“I’m going to come to my service with an attitude of, I’m going to work together and we’re going to find solutions. Anyone who wants to sit down and figure out a way to help Coalville succeed, I’m willing to work with them, and we may see things a little differently, but I think we all want the same things,” Boyer said.

All election results are preliminary until certified in mid-November.

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North Summit residents rejected a multi-million dollar bond to fund the construction of a new high school for a second year, leaving district officials to consider other revenue sources to address its “most pressing facility issues.”

The $121 million bond measure saw 1,062 votes against it, representing 54% of the ballots — a small decrease in opposition from last year — according to preliminary election results. The North Summit School District’s $114 million bond also fell short in 2024, receiving 56% “no” votes.

“We’re certainly disappointed that the bond did not pass. Our community had an important decision to make and we acknowledge that outcome,” said Superintendent Wade Murdock.

However, Murdock emphasized that the needs that led the district to propose the bond haven’t gone away. North Summit High School was built in 1977 and hasn’t received any major improvements in almost 50 years. The high school has been described as worn out and inefficient, with a wide range of construction needs, including a new roof.

“Our students and staff still deserve safe, modern and effective learning spaces,” he added.

District officials previously said that reinvesting in the current structure would be more costly than building something new. That’s when the first $114 million bond was proposed. A majority of voters opposed that bond due to concerns about increased property taxes, inflation, poverty levels and other economic issues — the same criticisms driving opposition now.

The $121 million general obligation bond would have increased property taxes by $123 per year for every $100,000 in assessed value. For businesses or secondary residences, the cost would have been an additional $224 per year.

Murdock said the school board will take time to review the elections and determine the best path forward. That will likely include exploring a lease revenue bond as an alternative.

District officials considered a lease revenue bond after the first ballot measure failed. A lease revenue bond has a higher interest rate than a general obligation bond and does not require voter approval. North Summit residents were also unhappy with that proposal, though, and saw it as a way to circumvent the will of voters.

In January, the school board formed a local building authority, which would help the school district pay for construction projects. Members said its formation was not necessarily correlated with building a new high school, but it was the only project being considered at the time.

It’s not uncommon for school districts to form a local building authority to help with infrastructure projects. It’s a public entity and an extension of the district, with school board members essentially becoming its board of trustees. A local building authority can issue bonds as well as own, lease and mortgage property. The purpose is to construct, acquire, improve, extend and finance projects on behalf of the school district, according to Marci Sargent, the district’s business administrator.

While the general obligation bond would have set a tax levy on property owners, lease revenue bonds are funded through other sources, such as taxes the district already receives.

“We remain committed to working together with our community to ensure our schools continue to provide the high-quality education our students deserve,” Murdock said.

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The Summit County Clerk’s Office finished counting all eligible ballots on Wednesday afternoon.

Another round of results is unlikely until the municipal canvass scheduled for Nov. 18.

The results released midweek include all Election Day votes, all drop-box ballots, all overseas ballots and cleared provisional ballots, according to Summit County Clerk Eve Furse. She was not immediately available to say how many votes may still be cured.

Countywide voter turnout was about 56%.

While no races flipped between Tuesday and Wednesday’s reports, the updated totals appear to have solidified the victors in several close races.

Coalville

Rory Swensen appears to be the first-place finisher in Coalville’s mayoral election, according to unofficial results released around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Swensen received 276 votes, or 52%. His competitor, Coalville City Councilor Lynn Wood, earned 251 votes, or almost 48%.

Wood appears to have lost her shot at the mayor’s office, but she will still retain her City Council seat.

There were two open City Council seats available in this year’s election with Matthew Boyer and Jeff Peterson earning the most votes. Boyer received 321 votes, or about 33%, while Peterson had 303 votes, or 31%.

Unofficial results indicate voters did not choose Andrew Nelson and Steve Richins to serve as city councilors. Nelson received 200 votes while Richins received 151 votes.

Oakley

Preliminary results indicate Oakley voters did not re-elect incumbent Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme, instead choosing to put Oakley City Councilor Steve Wilmoth in office.

Wilmoth had 435 votes, or about 67%. Woolstenhulme earned 210 votes, or about 33%.

Christopher Dillman, with 442 votes, or 39%, and Amy Regan, with 385 votes, or 34%, appear to have been elected to the City Council. Kerbee Leavitt finished with 303 votes, or about 27%.

Kamas

Two seats on the Kamas City Council were available this year. Incumbent David Darcey finished first, with 375 votes, or about 42%. Michael Georgi finished second, with 338 votes, or almost 38%.

Steve Cyr was not elected to serve on the City Council. Cyr earned 186 votes, or about 21%, according to preliminary results.

The mayoral election in Kamas was cancelled earlier this year because no candidate challenged incumbent Matt McCormick, who, by default, will continue in his mayoral role for the next four years.

Francis

Voters in Francis appear to have selected incumbent Jeremie Forman to serve as their next mayor. Preliminary results indicate Forman won the mayoral seat with 351 votes, or 60%.

Former Francis Mayor Byron Ames garnered 234 votes, or 40%.

Riley Atkinson and incumbent Clayton Querry appear poised to fill the two vacant City Council seats. Atkinson earned 327 votes, or about 30%, and Querry earned 283 votes, or under 26%.

Lynsi Stone wasn’t far behind Querry with 280 votes, or a little more than 25%. However, the margin between Querry and Stone is 0.27, and the margin for a recount is 0.25.

Incumbent Shana Fryer earned 217 votes, or about 20%.

Henefer

Henefer voters appear to have selected incumbent Kay Richins as the town’s mayor. He was the first-place finisher with 189 votes, or 53%. James Rees received 167 votes, or almost 47%.

Summit County Service Area #3

Derek Price was voted to serve on the Upper Board of Trustees for Summit County Service Area #3. Price earned 89 votes, or 51%. John Nowoslawski was unsuccessful in his run for the open seat, though not far behind. Nowoslawski earned 84 votes, or almost 49%.

Silver Creek voters also elected two people to the Lower Board of Trustees.

Caroline Gleich, who unsuccessfully ran against Sen. John Curtis in the U.S. Senate to represent Utah last November, was the top vote-getter for the lower board. Gleich received 91 votes, or 27%. Also elected was Justin Shea with 70 votes, or almost 21%.

The other candidates were Ashley O’Hara, Rick Parisi and John Ball. O’Hara and Ball each earned 63 votes, or about 19%, while Parisi received 49 votes, or about 15%.

These results are preliminary, pending certification.

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Mayoral and city council election results are coming in for the Midway, Hideout, Charleston and Interlaken municipalities in Wasatch County.

Midway City Councilor Craig Simons appears to have won his campaign for mayor as did interim Hideout Mayor Ralph Severini. Meanwhile, Jan Wilson is currently ahead in the Charleston mayoral race by one vote.

Final ballot counts from Tuesday’s general election are still being counted, with Wasatch County voters choosing their preferred candidates in several municipal elections. 

Midway

Simons, who received 1,436 votes, or 76%, appears to have defeated Miller Wright. Wright received 454 votes or 24%.

“I’m very pleased, especially with the support from my neighbors and the citizens of Midway,” Simons said. “I’m ready to get to work.”

The City Council winners will likely be incumbent Jared (JC) Simonsen with 1,123 votes, or 34% and Andy Garland with 1,270 votes, or about 39%.

Voters appear to have eliminated Genene Probst-Miles, who earned 874 votes, or almost 27%. 

Hideout

In Hideout, Severini has formally secured the mayoral seat. He received 254 votes, or 72%. His opponent, Town Councilor Chris Baier, received 98 votes, or 28%, in her favor.

Severini promised he would improve the quality of life in Hideout during his first full term.

The two open Hideout Town Council seats will likely go to Tanya Brady and Brian Cooper. Brady received 232 votes, or about 36%, while Cooper received 203 votes, or 31%.

Incumbent J.D. Cronin and Doug Silver appear to have lost the race with 127 votes, or about 20%, and 89 votes, or about 14%, respectively.

Charleston

One vote separated the Charleston mayoral candidates as of Tuesday evening.

Wilson received 86 votes, or 35.98%. However, write-in candidate Doug Clements garnered 85 votes, or 35.56%.  If the margin remains as thin as it was on Tuesday, a recount could be possible.

Mayoral candidate Shawn Taylor will not take office. Taylor received 67 votes, or about 28%.

Voters also seem to have elected Michael Bauer to the Town Council and reelected incumbent councilor Scott Solum. Bauer received 167 votes, or 40%, and Solum received 155 votes, or about 37%.

Voters did not favor incumbent councilor Marc Mair, who received 98 votes, or 23%.

Interlaken

Incumbent Mayor Gregory Harrigan secured an unopposed win in Interlaken with 70 votes.

Incumbents Erin Merryweather and Susan Onan also seem likely to retain their seats. Merryweather earned 70 votes, or 47%. Onan received 55 votes, or 37%.

Voters did not favor Matt Hermann, who received 23 votes, or about 16%.

Countywide voter turnout was approximately 47%. According to Wasatch County Clerk Joey Granger, that is above average for a municipal election in Wasatch County.

Formal results remain pending certification. There are several tight races anticipated countywide, and results will continue to update this week.

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Incumbent Heidi Franco appears to have won the mayoral seat in Heber City with 2,155 votes, or about 53%.

According to preliminary results released around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Franco seems to have won out over Heber City Councilor Scott Phillips, who received 1,891 votes, or almost 48%, by the end of Election Day.

Franco said Tuesday that she is excited about the chance to continue her work as mayor.

“Thank you, my Heber neighbors, for your trust and support,” Franco said. “I look forward to building a future we can afford and continuing to protect our quality of life.”

Franco said she ran for another term because there is still “more good to do.” After 12 years of serving in city government, Franco said she hopes to continue promoting communication, transparency and accountability in Heber City. Franco’s campaign promises include engaging locally with citizens, working toward traffic solutions, protecting open space and improving infrastructure. 

Phillips, whose term ends at the end of the year, said Tuesday that serving on City Council has been “one of the most difficult things (he has) ever done” but “a great blessing in (his) life.”

“I thank Heber for allowing me to serve and wish Mayor Franco the best in her second term,” he said.

Heber City Council

Morgan Murdock appears to be the first-place finisher in the City Council election, according to preliminary results. Murdock received 2,010 votes, or about 27%.

Incumbent City Councilor Yvonne Barney received 2,001 votes, or about 27%, and appears almost certain to retain her seat.

Heber City voters eliminated Corey Noyes, who earned 1,760 votes, or 24%, and Nick Lopez, who received 1,687 votes, or 23%.

Murdock said he intends to focus on traffic on Main Street, affordable housing and responsible growth that doesn’t let developers shape Heber City’s future.

Barney promised she would focus on transportation, traffic and infrastructure while listening to community input and not being afraid to say “no” if necessary.

Countywide voter turnout was about 47%.

The results are preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. There are several tight races anticipated countywide, and additional updates on results will be provided once available.

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There was a razor-thin margin in the contest for the Park City mayor’s office on Tuesday night. City Councilor Ryan Dickey is holding a two-vote lead against Jack Rubin, a Marsac Building outsider who brings a business background to the campaign.

Dickey received 1,487 votes, or 50.03%, and Rubin garnered 1,485 votes, or 49.97%. The eventual winner of the city’s top political office will not be decided on Tuesday and will depend on ballots that will be counted later. If the margin remains as thin as it was on Tuesday, it seems likely a recount could be possible.

Park City voters also supported the City Council candidacies of incumbent Tana Toly and Diego Zegarra. Toly received 2,052 votes, or 39.83%, and Zegarra tallied 1,748 votes, or 33.93%. The other incumbent city councilor on the ballot, Jeremy Rubell, received 1,352 votes, or 26.24%.

There are two City Council seats on the ballot. The margin between Rubell and Zegarra of nearly 400 votes would appear to make it difficult for the incumbent to take the second seat once the final results are calculated.

Toly will win a second term on the City Council. Zegarra would be a newcomer and Rubell would lose the seat after one term.

Countywide voter turnout was around 48%. 

These results include mail-in ballots received through noon Tuesday and early voting ballots. The results did not include in-person votes on Election Day, ballots left in drop boxes after 12 p.m. and military and overseas voters.

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The North Summit School District’s attempt to pass a $121 million general obligation bond to replace its aging high school seems poised to fail, based on preliminary election results.

The ballot measure appeared to be losing, with 940 “no” votes and 775 “yes” votes, or 54.81% of the total votes cast.

North Summit High School was built in 1977 and hasn’t had any major modifications to the building since its original construction. District officials told the public last year that reinvesting in the current structure would be more costly than building a new high school, and the school board proposed a $114 million obligation bond to fund the project last year.

In 2024, 56% of North Summit voters opposed the idea, with many community members citing increased property taxes, inflation, poverty levels and other economic concerns during public hearings.

The district briefly considered a lease revenue bond instead, which has a higher interest rate than a general obligation bond and does not require voters’ approval. Many were unhappy with the proposed solution, though, and criticized the school board for persisting in its efforts to pass a bond measure after voters had already shot it down.

The school board in August unanimously decided to place a $121 million general obligation bond on the Election Day ballot, hoping voters would be more amenable to the bond measure the second time around. Business Administrator Marci Sargent had previously estimated an increase in the bond amount if the district were to pursue it again because of rising construction costs and interest rates.

Under current market conditions, the $121 million general obligation bond would add $123 per year for every $100,000 in home value assessed for taxes involving a primary residence. For businesses or secondary residences, the cost would be an additional $224 per year.

The school board has not publicly discussed alternative funding solutions, including whether to pursue a lease revenue bond again, if the bond measure were to fail a second time.

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The final ballot counts from Tuesday’s general election are still trickling in, with Summit County voters choosing new representatives in several municipal elections.

Summit County voters, based on their municipality, selected candidates to fill vacancies on the Coalville City Council, Oakley City Council, Kamas City Council and Francis City Council, as well as the mayoral positions in Coalville, Oakley, Francis and Henefer.

Coalville

Rory Swensen appears to be the first-place finisher in Coalville’s mayoral election, according to preliminary results released around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Swensen received 222 votes, or 51%. His competitor, Coalville City Councilor Lynn Wood, earned 211 votes, or almost 49%.

Wood appears to have lost her shot at the mayor’s office, although the count may change later this week as more ballots are counted.

There were also two City Council seats available in this year’s election. Matthew Boyer and Jeff Peterson earned the most votes. Boyer received 265 votes, or 33%, while Peterson had 249 votes, or 31%.

Unofficial results indicate Andrew Nelson and Steve Richins were not chosen to serve as city councilors. Nelson received 168 votes while Richins received 122 votes.

Oakley

Preliminary results indicate Oakley voters did not reelect incumbent Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme, instead choosing to put Oakley City Councilor Steve Wilmoth in office.

Wilmoth had 369 votes, or almost 68%. Meanwhile, Woolstenhulme earned 177 votes, or 32%.

Christopher Dillman, with 379 votes, or almost 40%, and Amy Regan, with 318 votes, or 33%, appear to have been elected to the City Council. Kerbee Leavitt finished with 259 votes, or 27%.

Kamas

Two seats on the Kamas City Council were available this year. David Darcey finished first, with 304 votes, or 41%, while Michael Georgi finished second, with 286 votes, or almost 39%.

Steve Cyr was not elected to serve on the City Council, with 146 votes, or about 20%, according to preliminary results.

The mayoral election in Kamas was cancelled earlier this year because no candidate challenged incumbent Matt McCormick. McCormick, by default, will continue in his mayoral role for the next four years.

Francis

Voters in Francis appear to have selected incumbent Jeremie Forman to serve as their next mayor. Preliminary results indicate Forman won the mayoral seat with 281 votes, or about 61%. Byron Ames garnered 182 votes, or 39%. Ames also previously served the city as mayor.

Riley Atkinson and incumbent Clayton Querry appear poised to fill the two vacant City Council seats. Atkinson earned 256 votes, or 29%, and Querry earned 229 votes, or about 26%.

The bottom two candidates, Lynsi Stone and incumbent Shana Fryer, earned 227 votes and 164 votes, respectively.

Henefer

Henefer voters appear to have selected incumbent Kay Richins as the town’s mayor. He was the first-place finisher with 174 votes, or 53%. James Rees received 154 votes, or almost 47%.

Countywide voter turnout was around 48%. These results include mail-in ballots received through noon on Tuesday and early voting ballots.

The results are preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. Additional updates on Election Day results will be provided later this week.

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Longtime Oakley City Councilman Steve Wilmoth’s dedication to public service is rooted in gratitude and a passion to preserve the community’s unique character as it faces future growth.

Wilmoth has spent 24 years in Oakley and nearly a decade on the City Council. Voters have backed him during two previous elections, and now he’s asking for their support in his run for mayor.

“I love my town, I really do,” he said. “I think our town separates itself from everybody else because of the people. We have such amazing people in our town who are willing to help.”

Wilmoth was born and raised in Roy in Weber County and attended Weber State University. He started with a lumber company back in 1987 and married his wife, Carla, in 1992. 

The couple originally wanted to move to the Wasatch Back, but Wilmoth recalled there weren’t enough jobs then and it wasn’t affordable to commute. Wilmoth worked his way up the career ladder, advancing into management, with work taking him from Utah to Colorado in the late 1990s.

He spent a few years in the Centennial State before he received a call asking him if he knew where Heber City is. Wilmoth said it was the perfect fit.

Oakley had everything: a rural, small-town life nestled in the beautiful mountains. Wilmoth was immediately charmed by the home he toured, and the couple has lived there ever since.

Wilmoth now manages a lumber yard in Heber for Sunpro, a local company. He credits his experience managing people and business for shaping his leadership style both professionally and in his public service. Wilmoth added that he is known for his candor and prefers to speak unscripted, lending to his desire to speak from the heart.

Wilmoth and his wife experienced a tragedy 11 years ago that led the community to come together to support them, igniting his love for Oakley. Wilmoth said he feels blessed to live where he does.

In 2016, an Oakley city councilor resigned and a vacancy needed to be filled. Wilmoth said several people told him he should put in for it. He didn’t really want to be involved in politics, but his wife encouraged him to consider it.

“She told me, ‘You’ve always said you don’t know how you would ever say thank you to everybody in this town that helped us out through our trying time. … Maybe this is what you’re supposed to do,’” Wilmoth recalled. 

A handful of other residents asked to be appointed, but Wilmoth was ultimately selected. He ran for his first full term in the 2017 election and for reelection in 2021.

Wilmoth has prioritized community engagement during his tenure, striving to encourage residents to speak up and become involved so their voices are heard. He’s an advocate for involving the public in decision-making and strives for transparency in City Council operations. 

The city councilman said he has an open-door policy and wants to foster an environment where there’s respect for differing viewpoints. Wilmoth isn’t afraid to say what he doesn’t like, but said he’s always open to hearing feedback and other perspectives. He added that it’s important for there to be discussion and thoughtful dialogue between officials and residents regarding the issues in the community.

“What we need to fight for is what we want in our town. To me, politics doesn’t have a lot to do with it. It’s (a town of about) 1,700 people trying to figure out how to get together and come up with one common goal,” Wilmoth said.

His City Council work has focused on managing Oakley’s growth while preserving its small-town character. Wilmoth has tackled infrastructure projects like improvements to the town’s water system, addressing housing and development issues, as well as treating city resources with care. Lately, the city center concept has also been a major topic of discussion. 

Wilmoth said he isn’t opposed to the development, but he wants to see a phased approach with a proper plan to ensure the project’s success. 

He added that he wants more collaboration from residents, too. He recognized the city won’t be able to achieve what everybody wants, but officials still value their input to help shape Oakley into what the community wants it to be.

Now, at the end of his second term, Wilmoth said he decided to run against incumbent Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme to ensure there was a contested election. Wilmoth said he’s committed to serving with integrity — win or lose. He also believes his experience on the City Council and direct management style will be an asset to Oakley in the coming years.

If elected, Wilmoth would view his role as mayor as a conductor who helps guide the City Council and pubic through decisions. 

His top priorities would be the town center redevelopment, infrastructure upgrades, especially for sewer and roads, and fostering civic engagement. He advocated for smart, gradual growth and wants to preserve the small, rural, quaint town that residents value. Wilmoth also wants to promote the spirit of volunteerism and pointed to the Oakley Rodeo — he’s the man behind the fireworks — as an example of ways to become involved.

Wilmoth said Oakley is special because it’s beautiful, unique and full of passion.

“I’ve lived a lot of places in my life. … I’ve never lived anywhere like Oakley, never. I love it. I’m sure people just roll their eyes when I say that, but I truly do,” Wilmoth said.

Voters will elect either Wilmoth or Woolstenhulme in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

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