Tuesday’s preliminary primary election results are in, and it appears Heber City’s four city council candidates to advance are incumbent City Councilor Yvonne Barney, Morgan Murdock, Nick Lopez and Corey Noyes. 

There was a 33% voter turnout countywide. Barney received the most votes with 1,259 in her favor. Murdock received 940 votes, Lopez secured 921 votes and Noyes had 620 votes. Eight candidates ran for city council. Lori Rutland, Christen Thompson, Ken Davis and Jami Hewlett were all eliminated from the race. 

Barney, who received 23% of the vote with 1,259 ballots in her favor, is seeking another term after four years of sitting on the council. 

“Humbled. That’s probably the one word I can use right now,” Barney said.

Though voter turnout is lower than Barney was hoping for, she said she believes there will be a higher turnout with the general election in November. With this election, Barney said she is hoping the citizens actively express their concerns moving forward. 

“I’m encouraged that this kind of showed that there was a very strong push by citizens to say, wait, listen what I have to say. Listen to our concerns,” Barney said. “I’m encouraged, and I’m hoping that we will have more interaction with our community.”

Barney said she hopes community members will go to meetings and debates to be as involved and informed as possible in the election process. 

Lopez, feeling confident after securing 17% of the vote, said his priority is about listening to the residents and the business owners of Heber City.

“This campaign, this election is about and for the residents. Nothing more,” Lopez said. “I’ve served my country, I’ve served the citizens of Salt Lake City and now I want to continue my service to the people, the residents of Heber City.”

This is Lopez’s third time running for elected office in Wasatch County. This time, he feels it is his year to be voted in. 

“I feel very confident. I’m very, very humbled about the turnout and the support I got from the community. It has meant a great deal, a boost of motivation, and I’m ready to move on to the general election,” Lopez said. 

A former teacher, Murdock said he is running to ensure positive and responsible growth. He has said that growth comes up in “every single conversation” when he talks about Heber City, and he hopes to shape development with careful planning. Murdock received 17% of the vote.

Noyes’ big three sticking points include the Utah Department of Transportation bypass route, downtown revitalization and affordable housing. He said before the primary that Heber City needs someone that’s willing to listen. Noyes also received 17% of the vote.

Formal primary election results are pending certification and will be discussed and accepted in a special session with the Heber City Council on Aug. 26. 

The post Heber City Council candidates narrowed to four in primary elections appeared first on Park Record.

Four Coalville City Council candidates will advance to the general election after Tuesday’s primary. Three hold commanding leads, while the last spot remains a close contest.

Voters narrowed down the field of six to the four who will advance to the November ballot. Then, only two candidates will be chosen for the seats opening in 2026.

Candidates Matthew Boyer, Jeff Peterson and Colleen Goodman emerged as the top vote-getters as of Wednesday afternoon, according to preliminary results from the Summit County Clerk’s Office.

Sixth-generation resident Boyer, a planning commissioner, appeared to be a favorite among voters. He earned 223 votes, or 30%.

“I was deeply moved when I saw the election results last night. In the lead-up to election day, I felt that I had a solid base of support judging by feedback I had gotten from diverse members of the community, but it was humbling to realize just how many of those friends and neighbors trust me to represent the best interests of Coalville,” Boyer said in an interview.

He said his experience growing up in Coalville, coupled with his employment and educational background, makes him the ideal choice to help the community navigate the challenges “we are facing now and will face in the near future.” Boyer plans to speak with as many voters as possible leading up to the general election and is working to organize a Meet the Candidate forum-style event.

Not far behind Boyer was business owner Jeff Peterson, who also spent time on the Coalville Planning Commission. Peterson received 196 votes, or 26%.

Goodman, a 23-year resident, seems to have claimed third place with 123 votes, or about 17%. Goodman said in an interview that she was surprised by the preliminary results and wasn’t sure how she would do in the election, as she’s never run for office before. Goodman previously served eight years on the Summit County Library Board and helped secure the Coalville branch.

The wife, mother of six and grandmother of 22, said her top priorities are creating a long-term infrastructure improvement plan in Coalville, prioritizing the community when considering growth and development opportunities, and improving public engagement.

Newcomer Andrew Nelson appears to be the likely winner of the final ballot slot. He earned 85 votes, or around 11%. Former Coalville City Councilor Steve Richins trailed behind with 71 votes, or just under 10%. The candidates are separated by 14 votes, or 1.88%.

A close finish between the candidates could trigger a recount that would extend the primary election, under the right circumstances. State election law says a losing candidate may request a recount if the difference is 0.25% or less of the vote total across the candidate field. Richins did not meet that threshold as of midweek.

The totals won’t be certified until the Aug. 26 canvass finalizes the results soon after the election. The losing candidate would then need to seek a recount within days after the verification.

Clerk Eve Furse said staff have counted everything in their possession that qualifies for counting as of Wednesday afternoon. There were 22 ballots that couldn’t be counted because the person didn’t provide the necessary information or there was some other defect with the ballot that could be resolved between now and noon the day before the canvass. Each municipality that participated in a primary election will hold a canvass.

Chris Tomczyk, a retired project manager, was also in the running for Coalville City Council. He will not advance after coming in at the bottom with 45 votes, or 6%. 

Peterson could not be reached for comment by the time of publication. 

Countywide voter turnout was 45%.

The election results are still preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

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Coalville will elect a new mayor in the fall, and voters appear to have decided which two contenders will face off in the final race.

Candidates Rory Swensen and Lynn Wood decisively outpaced their competition in Tuesday’s primary election, according to preliminary results from the Summit County Clerk’s Office. Voters narrowed the field of four down to two who will appear on the Election Day ballot.

Swensen led the field with 172 votes, or about 44%. Wood wasn’t too far behind with 132 votes, or about 34%. The total numbers are current as of Wednesday afternoon and are expected to change — though it would be difficult for the other mayoral candidates to catch up.

Former Coalville Planning Commissioner Walter Brock earned 45 votes, or 12%, while former Coalville City Councilor Tyler Rowser received 39 votes, or 10%.

Swensen, the clinic director at Peak Medical in Park City and the chair of the Summit County Democratic Party, is a lifelong resident of Coalville. His campaign platform is centered around fostering unity and achieving smart, managed growth during what he described as a “turning point” for the community. He advocated for creating a comprehensive, long-term development plan that balances the charm of Coalville with opportunities that support young families and protect open space. 

If elected, Swensen strives to be a consensus-building mayor. He said in an interview on Wednesday that he is excited and humbled to appear on the November ballot, and he emphasized that he’s committed to delivering results for Coalville. He thanked Brock and Rowser for stepping forward to serve.

“You never take anything for granted, but I’m encouraged. Finishing first tells me our message is resonating, and it motivates me to keep building on that momentum,” Swensen said.

Swensen said voters will have a clear choice, and he emphasized that his focus will be on solutions that move Coalville forward, not prolong gridlock. He welcomed the opportunity for a respectful, issues-focused race and said he plans to meet with voters face-to-face heading into the general election.

“The biggest difference between us is that I believe we must be proactive and make timely decisions that benefit Coalville residents,” Swensen said. “Our town cannot afford to continue delaying decisions, dragging our feet and treating developers as adversaries. We have the ability to negotiate from a position of strength and accomplish more for Coalville, but continued stalling risks losing our ability to shape our own future.”  

Coalville City Councilor Wood has been a full-time resident in town for about five years, but her connection to the community goes back decades. Wood ran for City Council in 2023 and is now halfway through her first term. Her mayoral campaign centers on enhancing collaboration and citizen engagement at the local level. She wants to foster administrative involvement and envisions the mayor as a “sixth member” of the City Council. Wood brings financial expertise to the role through her work as a certified public accountant as well as volunteer experience.

Her priorities include revitalizing Main Street, restoring historic structures, supporting local businesses and, eventually, establishing a Chamber of Commerce. 

“I’m confident that by November, voters will see that my leadership style, thoughtful decision-making, and commitment to community involvement are the best fit to move Coalville forward — in a way that honors our past while creating new opportunities for the future,” Wood said.

The city councilor also appreciated the time Rowser and Brock dedicated to the primary campaign and was hopeful that citizens with expertise and experience would continue sharing it with local leaders. Wood plans to focus on in-person connections heading into the general election, including neighborhood gatherings, meet-and-greet events and everyday conversations around town.

“To me, being proactive means making smart decisions, not just for the sake of speed or to avoid difficult conversations with developers. As a council member, I’ve done my homework, sought public input, asked tough questions, and reviewed the data to ensure every choice benefits Coalville long-term,” Wood said. “While I strongly believe in seeking mutually beneficial opportunities with developers, my first responsibility is to safeguard our resources, protect our small-town character, and act on a timeline that works for Coalville and its residents.”

Coalville Mayor Mark Marsh did not run for reelection.

Countywide voter turnout so far was 45%.

Clerk Eve Furse said staff have counted everything in their possession that qualifies for counting as of Wednesday afternoon. There were 22 ballots that couldn’t be counted because the person didn’t provide the necessary information or there was some other defect with the ballot that could be resolved between now and noon the day before the canvass. Each municipality that participated in a primary election will hold a canvass on Aug. 26.

The election results are still preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

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Francis voters narrowed the playing field for the Francis City Council race in November, selecting four candidates who will progress to the general election and compete for two available council seats on Election Day.

The four candidates advancing to the November ballot based on preliminary results from the Summit County Clerk’s Office are Riley Atkinson and Lynsi Stone, as well as incumbents Clayton Querry and Shana Fryer.

Atkinson, a full-time firefighter with the South Summit Fire District, was the top vote-getter with 176 votes, or 29%. During the primary campaign, Atkinson stressed his family values and commitment to retaining the city’s “small-town, rural feel” as it faces growing pressure from developers interested in capitalizing on Summit County and Park City’s tourism economies.

“I’m excited for the opportunity and the trust that the people of Francis seem to have in me,” Atkinson said about the preliminary results. “My family has been here for generations and has always been involved in some way or another, and I feel like with the desires and the wants of the Francis citizens, where they want to keep it local with a small town and agriculture, a vote for me is definitely in that direction because that’s what I want.”

Stone and Querry closely followed Atkinson. Stone had 122 votes, or 20%, as of Wednesday afternoon while Querry had 121 votes, or almost 20%.

Querry is also a full-time firefighter for the South Summit Fire District who said he wants to keep the rural charm of Francis alive while recognizing some commercial developments are necessary to help the city stay afloat financially.

Stone, meanwhile, is a single mother raising four boys who says she knows what it takes to juggle work, family and community on the East Side. She previously told The Park Record she was running for the opportunity to provide the City Council with her perspective as a hardworking, lifelong resident in the area. Stone works full-time as an administrative assistant for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, and she agreed that growth and development will be the biggest challenges facing the City Council over the next four years.

Neither Querry nor Stone responded to a request for comment on the preliminary primary election results as of Wednesday afternoon.

Fryer is the fourth candidate heading to the general election ballot in November with 97 votes, or just about 16%. The incumbent has already served two terms on the Francis City Council. During the primary elections, she touted her almost 10 years of experience as a city official and her understanding of the fine line the municipality needs to tread legally when it comes to denying developments.

“I honestly didn’t think I would make it past the primaries, but I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t have put my name in if I didn’t want to run, so let’s just see how the real election goes,” Fryer said.

Justin Ciampi and Scott Buchanan, both of whom sit on the Francis City Planning Commission, were eliminated from the race. Ciampi earned 59 votes, or around 10%, while Buchanan won 32 votes, or 5%.

The election results so far are still preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. Election Day to determine the winners of each race is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The post Voters narrow the candidate field in the race for Francis City Council appeared first on Park Record.

Early primary election ballots are counted and incumbent mayor Heidi Franco has secured almost 50% of the vote so far, with 1,468 tallied in her favor. 

Three vying for the mayoral seat were whittled to two in the primary election Tuesday. Franco and current City Councilor Scott Phillips will move forward and appear on the ballot in November’s general election. Phillips earned 1,271 votes in his favor, or about 43%, according to the preliminary count.

Mike Hewlett, who secured 206 votes, or about 7%, as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, will almost certainly be eliminated from the race. Votes will be accepted by the Heber City Council on Aug. 26. 

For Franco, the choice to run for another mayoral term was obvious. Having served in city government for 12 years and counting, Franco said she is excited to continue her work with air quality, water quality, traffic and affordable housing if given the chance.

“I think the primary results clearly show that the citizens want a leader who will protect their quality of life,” Franco said. “I think the primary results show that the citizens know I keep my promises to them, and I do show respect to all.” 

When it comes to her leadership style, Franco said she is a candidate who is collaborative and will “bring all stakeholders to the table.” 

“We’re not looking to short-change our neighbors or, you know, take advantage or affect people in negative ways in the city,” Franco said. “No, we’re here to bring about positive results that protect the quality of life for as many people as possible.”

For Phillips, it’s about giving Heber City citizens another option.

A self-described candidate for communication and collaboration, Phillips said he hopes to bring a new perspective to the city as mayor. Moving on to November’s general election, Phillips said he is hopeful.

“We haven’t had any debates. We haven’t had any combined town hall meetings or anything like that, so I’m looking forward to those coming up now in the general election,” Phillips said, adding later, “I do feel that voters need more time to really make a decision on who they want to choose as mayor and I look forward to the process in the next few months.”

Phillips said that, in the coming months, he hopes to stay away from any arguments on social media, but rather discuss any issues with candidates and citizens one-on-one. He also said that he is looking forward to keeping “a positive message going.”

“I appreciate Heidi Franco and all the years that she served. She’s been in public service now for 12 years, and that’s to be commended. It’s not an easy thing to do,” Phillips said. “I’m trying to just keep the focus on what I hope for Heber in the future.”

The results are preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. There are several tight races anticipated countywide, and additional updates on who will advance to the general election will be provided later this week.

Primary election results will be discussed and accepted in a special session with the Heber City Council on Aug. 26.

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Henefer Mayor Kay Richins and challenger James Rees seem to be heading to the general election in November to compete for the town’s top seat.

Preliminary results from the Summit County Clerk’s Office on Tuesday night indicate Richins, who has served Henefer as mayor for multiple terms, is the first-place finisher with 131 votes, or 53%. Rees, who held the town’s mayoral position in the early 2000s, finished second with 103 votes, or just about 42%.

Dawn Langston, the third contender for the mayor’s seat, appears to have been eliminated from the race with a total of 13 votes, or 5%, according to the preliminary count.

Richins said he was “pleased with the results” and told The Park Record he would be sharing more information about his platform with voters and local media outlets closer to Election Day, including the town’s achievements under his leadership so far.

In a profile of Richins on the state’s candidate website, Richins touted the construction of the new town hall, the upcoming groundbreaking of a recreation and civic center and updated infrastructure as some of the key projects he’s been involved in since taking office.

Richins is also a rancher and owns a trucking company.

Rees, in his profile on the state’s website, emphasized his commitment to transparency and fair government.

“This is my home, and I believe every resident deserves a fair and equal shot when it comes to how city government works for them,” he wrote. “No favoritism, no backroom deals — just clear priorities, honest leadership and equal treatment for everyone, no matter what part of town they’re from or how long they’ve lived here. I’m happy to step up and keep things fair, focused and moving forward.”

Rees has not responded to a request for comment as of Wednesday afternoon.

The post Henefer’s current and former mayor set to battle for municipality’s highest seat in November appeared first on Park Record.

Wasatch County primary election results are rolling in with voters in Heber City, Midway and Charleston narrowing the playing field for mayoral and city council seats. 

In Heber City and Charleston, candidate pools are reduced to four contenders for city council and two for mayor. Midway voters chose between candidates for town council. Heber City had the largest candidate pool with eight vying for city council and three for the mayoral seat. 

Those who advance in the primary will appear again on the general election ballot in November. 

Heber City

Incumbent Mayor Heidi Franco finished first in the Heber City mayoral election with 1,468 votes, according to preliminary results released around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Scott Phillips secured 1,271 votes and also appears most likely to advance to the November ballot. 

Voters eliminated Mike Hewlett, who earned 206 votes. 

The Heber City primary election also laid out the candidate field heading into November’s general election.

Incumbent City Councilor Yvonne Barney secured the most votes for Heber City Council. The other candidates to advance were:

• Morgan Murdock, with 940 votes
• Nick Lopez, with 921 votes
• Corey Noyes, with 620 votes

Unofficial results indicate Lori Wikert Rutland, Christen Thompson, Ken Davis and Jami Hewlett appear to have been eliminated:

• Ken Davis, with 583 votes
• Christen Thompson, with 550 votes
• Lori Wikert Rutland, with 388 votes
• Jami Hewlett, with 152 votes

Midway

Midway voters appear to have chosen Starr Stratford, Andy Garland, Jared (JC) Simonsen and Genene Probst-Miles as the top four candidates for town council. Stratford was the first-place finisher with 648 votes. 

Randy Lundin with 250 votes and Craig Knight with 158 votes appear to have been eliminated.

Charleston

Charleston voters appear to have chosen Jan Wilson and Shawn Taylor as the top two candidates for town mayor. Wilson was the first-place finisher with 100 votes. Taylor received 68 votes.

Brenda Christensen appears to have been eliminated with 29 votes.

The four apparent Charleston City Council candidates to advance on the November ballot are:

• Scott Todd Solum, with 132 votes
• Michael Bauer, with 80 votes
• Marc L. Mair, with 64 votes
• Brenda Angela Gemmell, with 60 votes

Countywide voter turnout so far was 33%.

The results are preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. There are several tight races anticipated countywide, and additional updates on who will advance to the general election will be provided later this week.

The post Early primary election results are in for Wasatch County appeared first on Park Record.

The final ballot counts from Tuesday’s primary election are still trickling in, with Summit County voters choosing their preferred candidates in several municipal elections.

Summit County voters, based on their municipality, scrubbed the playing field for Coalville City Council and mayoral candidates, as well as candidates for Henefer Town mayor and Francis City Council.

Coalville

Summit County Democratic Party Chair Rory Swensen was the first-place finisher in Coalville’s mayoral election, according to preliminary results released around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Swensen received 143 votes and appears almost certain to advance to the November ballot.

Coalville City Councilor Lynn Wood, with 111 votes, appears likely to have beaten out the other candidates for a shot at the mayor’s office.

Voters eliminated Walter Brock, who earned 39 votes, and Tyler Rowser, who received 34 votes.

The primary election for the Coalville City Council also laid out the candidate field heading into November.

Matthew Boyer earned the most votes in Coalville with 188 votes. The other candidates to advance were:

• Jeff Peterson, with 166 votes.
• Colleen Goodman, with 104 votes.
• Andrew Nelson, with 72 votes.

Unofficial results indicate Steven Richins and Chris Tomczyk have been eliminated. Richins received 61 votes while Tomczyk received 33 votes.

Henefer

Henefer voters appear to have selected incumbent Kay Richins and challenger James Rees as the top two candidates for town mayor. Richins was the first-place finisher with 119 votes, and Rees received 95 votes.

According to preliminary election results, Dawn Langston was eliminated. She earned 9 votes.

Francis

The four Francis City Council candidates advancing to the November ballot are Riley Atkinson, Lynsi Stone, Clayton Querry and Shana Fryer. Querry and Fryer are both incumbents.

The top vote-getter appears to be Atkinson with 149 votes. Stone and Querry tied with 98 votes, followed by Fryer with 83 votes.

Voters appear to have eliminated Francis City Planning Commissioners Justin Ciampi and Scott Buchanan. They earned 47 votes and 26 votes, respectively.

Countywide voter turnout so far was 38.21%.

The results are preliminary. Formal results remain pending certification. There are several tight races anticipated countywide, and additional updates on who will advance to the general election will be provided later this week.

The post Summit County’s preliminary election results are in appeared first on Park Record.

The vote-by-mail primary election is Tuesday, and ballots must be received by Summit County and Wasatch County election officials by 8 p.m. that evening.

Many candidates are campaigning for the Park City Council, Francis City Council, Henefer mayor and Midway City Council, as well as the city council and mayoral elections in Coalville, Heber City and Charleston.

City council elections allow voters to choose up to two candidates — the number of open seats — while only one pick is allowed for mayor. The top vote-getters will appear on the general election ballot. Four candidates will advance for the city council seats, and two will continue in the race for the mayor’s office. 

Ballots must be returned to the Clerk’s Office or returned to a drop box before polls close. There are drop boxes throughout Summit County. Ballots filled out by Park City-area voters can be deposited in any of the Summit County drop boxes. The locations of the drop boxes:

• The Park City Library
• The Market at Park City
• The Summit County Health Department on Round Valley Drive
• Francis City Hall
• Henefer Town Hall
• The Kamas branch of the Summit County Library
• The Coalville branch of the Summit County Library
• The Summit County Courthouse in Coalville

Wasatch County voters can use the following drop box locations:

• Charleston Town Hall
• Midway City offices
• Wasatch County Library
• The back parking lot of the Wasatch County Administration Building
• Wasatch County Clerk’s Office

Early in-person voting started during the week leading up to the primary election. It will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Summit County Clerk’s Office and the Marsac Building. Early voting in Wasatch County closed at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Election Day voting locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 12 at Coalville City Hall, the Kamas branch of the Summit County Library and the Marsac Building.

The in-person vote centers are designed for people who must register to vote to cast a ballot starting in this primary, those who have lost ballots or those who did not receive a ballot in the mail.

The Park City Council candidates:

• Beth Armstrong
• Diego Zegarra
• Jeremy Rubell, incumbent
• Tana Toly, incumbent
• Ian Hartley
• John Kenworthy
• Molly Miller
• Danny Glasser

The Francis City Council candidates:

• Scott Ian Buchanan
• Justin Ciampi
• Riley J. Atkinson
• Lynsi Stone
• Shana Jai Fryer, incumbent
• Clayton Wilson Querry, incumbent

The Henefer Town Mayor candidates:

• James Alfred Rees
• Kay H. Richins, incumbent
• Dawn M. Langston

The Coalville candidates:

• Walter William Brock, mayor
• Lynn Wood, mayor
• Tyler J. Rowser, mayor
• Rory Thomas Swensen, mayor
• Matthew Boyer, city council
• Steven Bingham Richins, city council
• Andrew Edward Nelson, city council
• Colleen C. Goodman, city council
• Chris Tomczyk, city council
• Jeff M. Peterson, city council

The Heber City candidates:

• Heidi Franco, incumbent mayor
• D. Scott Phillips, mayor
• Mike Hewlett, mayor
• Yvonne M Barney, incumbent city councilor
• Lori Wikert Rutland, city council
• Gregory D Royall, city council, withdrew
• Corey Noyes, city council
• Morgan Murdock, city council
• Nick Lopez, city council
• Christen Thompson, city council
• Jami Hewlett, city council
• Ken Davis, city council

The Midway City Council candidates:

• Craig Knight
• Starr Stratford
• Jared (JC) Simonsen, incumbent
• Andy Garland
• Randy Lundin
• Genene Probst-Miles

The Charleston candidates:

• Brenda Christensen, incumbent mayor
• Jan Wilson, mayor
• Shawn Taylor, mayor
• Michael Bauer, town council
• Marc L. Mair, incumbent town councilor
• John Robert “Bob” Kowallis, town council
• Scott Todd Solum, incumbent town councilor
• Brenda Angela Gemmell, town council
• Lynn Fautin, town council, withdrew

The mayoral and city council winners in November will be sworn into office in early January for terms ending in early 2030.

The Park City Council campaign has been the focus this summer, with the requirement of a primary leading to the urgency. Tension erupted between some of the City Council candidates at an election forum in early August after weeks of politics that were largely mild-mannered.

More information about the mechanics of the primary election on Tuesday is available on the municipal website, parkcity.org. The direct link is: https://parkcity.gov/government/election-information.

There is also information available from Summit County. The direct link is: https://www.summitcountyutah.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=605.

A voter guide presented by The Park Record and KPCW, which covers candidates competing in the Park City primary election and other primary contests in Summit County and Wasatch County, is available online at swiftcharge.net. Select the “Primary Voting Guide” link on the front page of the website.

An earlier version of this article stated ballots could be postmarked by Monday, Aug. 11, to be counted. A new state law removed the postmark deadline, and the only standard is that ballots are returned to the Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m. on election day. The article has been updated.

The post Wasatch Back voters still have chance to cast ballot in primary election appeared first on Park Record.

The Park City Council candidates on Monday evening participated in a forum that was marked by brief moments of tension after mild-mannered politics prevailed for weeks, providing a potential preview of a more robust fall campaign once the field is whittled down in the upcoming primary election.

There are eight candidates seeking one of the two seats on the ballot in November. Four of the candidates will advance out of the primary election on Tuesday. The candidates bring diverse professional backgrounds to the campaign and live in disparate neighborhoods.

The two incumbent members of the City Council whose seats are on the ballot — Tana Toly and Jeremy Rubell — are seeking reelection. The other candidates are: Ian Hartley, Danny Glasser, John Kenworthy, Molly Miller, Beth Armstrong and Diego Zegarra.

The event on Monday, organized by the Wasatch Back chapter of the League of Women Voters and a Park City organization called the Pro-Active Alliance, filled the community room at the Park City Library. It was held as Parkites continue making their selections in the vote-by-mail election. Ballots have been arriving in mailboxes.

Armstrong and Rubell engaged in one of the notable exchanges, prompted by comments from the challenger. Armstrong mentioned the Sundance Film Festival’s decision to move the event after decades in Park City, as well as the Kimball Art Center’s announcement that it would relocate from Park City to the Kimball Junction area.

Armstrong identified Rubell as the City Council liaison to the two, prompting Rubell to tell the crowd that statement was false. He told Armstrong she could not lie.

Rubell, in an interview at the event, explained he was not the liaison to the Sundance discussions. He said he was a liaison to the talks about the future of City Hall land off the intersection of Bonanza Drive and Kearns Boulevard, where the Kimball Art Center previously intended to develop a permanent building. He was not the liaison to the Kimball Art Center itself, though, according to Rubell.

Armstrong apologized afterward, acknowledging she had misspoken about the liaison roles of Rubell.

There was also uneasiness between Toly and Kenworthy, though not as direct as the exchange between Armstrong and Rubell. In a Park Record letter to the editor last weekend, a list of current and former women leaders in the Park City area criticized what they considered to be patronizing and misogynistic statements by Kenworthy.

The group that hosted the discussion with Kenworthy that is in question in a subsequent Park Record letter to the editor refuted the one written by the current and former women leaders, saying the transcript did not include what they attributed to him saying beyond “she’s got an older brother. … But the bigger brother needs to teach her how to fight,” according to a copy of the transcript.

Toly at the event said women at City Hall have been amazing employees. She said she could not believe a woman’s decision-making ability is being questioned nowadays. Kenworthy, shortly after Toly’s statements, though, countered with comments that he was the target of what he called an organized hit and said that truths would be revealed.

The involvement of the four candidates was of consequence on Monday since they are seen as some of the top contenders in the primary election, with Toly and Rubell having name recognition as incumbents and Armstrong and Kenworthy having held visible roles in the community for years. Armstrong has been a not-for-profit executive and Kenworthy is a Main Street business owner and former member of the Park City Planning Commission.

Some of the other highlights of the event included:

• Zegarra highlighting his background as an immigrant from Peru who later became a U.S. citizen. He spoke about his background in the nonprofit sector and his role in bringing differing segments of the community together to address challenges like pandemic relief and sustainability. He said he wants to address workforce housing, transit and sustainability.
• Rubell describing his background as a consultant in the utility industry and talking about his work at the Marsac Building to date. Rubell described the park-and-ride efforts at Richardson Flat and spoke about work toward preventing wildfires. Rubell said he spends taxpayer monies like they are his own funds, meaning he sees himself as careful with the monies.
• Miller recalling what she considered poor treatment of a municipal committee she served on. She said the list of partners willing to work with the municipal government has been reduced in recent years. Miller also said action has stalled at the Marsac Building and progress has vanished.
• Toly saying the community must finish the work it has started. She identified a senior citizens center, the future of the municipal acreage off the intersection of Bonanza Drive and Kearns Boulevard and a park-and-ride lot as important.
• Hartley wanting the community to make progress on what he sees as common-ground issues. He noted open space, affordable housing and infrastructure as being among those issues. He told the crowd he promises progress but not perfection.
• Kenworthy outlining his experience at City Hall and on Main Street. He spoke about the difficulties of seasonal housing and described his own efforts to house employees in Wasatch County. He mentioned the importance of fiscal responsibility.
• Glasser discussing a role overseeing a National Ability Center construction project and claiming there has been a lack of progress that he sees as tangible within the municipal government. He wants City Hall to make timely, data-driven decisions. Glasser mentioned the 2034 Winter Olympics and the future of Bonanza Park as important municipal issues.
• Armstrong talking about her background with the People’s Health Clinic and Reef Capital Partners. She briefly spoke about her husband, Summit County Councilor Roger Armstrong, saying the relationship would not be a conflict of interest and instead would be a bridge between City Hall and the County Courthouse. Armstrong said the loss of Sundance will impact Main Street and described the importance of senior-citizen issues.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that the organizers of the meeting submitted a letter to the editor for Wednesday’s edition declaring that a transcript from the meeting did not show Kenworthy saying in direct quotes that Toly needed him to “supervise and help” her.

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