The Wasatch County Clerk-Auditor’s Office on Wednesday finalized the results of the county’s GOP primary election, which took place on June 23.

Rachel Kahler has secured the Republican nomination for Wasatch County Council Seat A in the tightest race of this election. She secured 2,722 votes, or 51%, as opposed to Brett Vance’s 2,584 votes, or 49%. The pair have maintained those percentages of the vote since the preliminary results were released, even as final ballots have been counted.

Kahler said she was initially thrown for a tailspin by the closeness of the preliminary results but that the experience has given her a greater appreciation for just how much every vote counts.

“I’m grateful that we now have a final result, so that I can really move forward and focus on part two. This is a long campaign season, almost a year, and I’m excited to look at next steps, work with Wasatch County GOP leadership and really step forward as the Republican nominee,” she said.

Kahler will go on to face Democratic candidate Patrick Saucier in November’s general election.

Wasatch County Council Seat A is currently occupied by Luke Searle, who is running for House District 59, which serves Wasatch and Summit counties. 

Searle secured the Republican nomination over Jeffrey Pierce and will go on to face Democratic candidate and former Midway Mayor Celeste Johnson in the general election.

Searle won over 3,136 votes, or 58%, of Wasatch County voters. Pierce collected 2,247 votes or 42%.

Pierce secured more Summit County votes than Searle, though, with 522 votes compared to Searle’s 256. The Summit County Clerk’s Office’s results are still preliminary, but factoring them in, Searle and Pierce garnered 55% and 45% of the vote, respectively. Summit County will finalize results on Tuesday.

Wasatch County Emergency Management Director Jeremy Hales is the Republican nominee for sheriff. He secured 3,473 votes, or 67%, while incumbent Jared Rigby secured 1,744, or 33%. Hales will go on to face unaffiliated candidate Paul Moore in November.

The clerk-auditor election is the only one with an outcome that’s officially decided before the general election.

Incumbent Joey Granger and Park City Recorder Michelle Kellogg both ran as Republicans, with no opponents from other parties. Kellogg received 2,804 votes, or 53%, and Granger received 2,477, or 47%.

Granger shared some other statistics about the election with the Wasatch County Council when she presented the results on Wednesday. 

Of the 5,632 ballots received, only 190 were cast in-person.

“I think that means that our voters are pretty confident in the mail-in process. The majority of those were put in drop boxes,” Granger said.

The GOP election saw a 47% turnout from Wasatch County’s active Republican voters. That’s 5,522 votes from 11,725 registered Republican voters, who make up nearly two-thirds of registered voters in the county.

“That’s a pretty good turnout,” Granger said.

The post Wasatch County GOP election results have been finalized appeared first on Park Record.

Rachel Kahler has maintained her lead as the Republican candidate for Wasatch County Council Seat A with narrow primary election results.

The former Heber City councilor secured just over 51% of the vote with 2,694 ballots cast in her favor as of Wednesday afternoon. Her opponent, William Brett Vance, garnered just under 49% of the vote with 2,566 ballots in his favor. 

That 128-vote lead appears to be enough for Kahler to secure her win in the primary election, though results will not be finalized until next Wednesday’s regular County Council meeting. Clerk-auditor Joey Granger estimated there were about 130 challenged ballots that needed to be rectified before they could be counted. Granger has contacted those voters.

Kahler, who ran for City Council in 2019, said she is vying for County Council Seat A to continue the fight for responsible growth and to foster communication with the public. 

Vance echoed Kahler’s concern of “undisciplined, uncontrolled growth.” He also touted an “America first” playbook and traditionally conservative values. 

In a prepared email statement, Vance said that, as a relative newcomer, getting nearly 50% of the vote signaled Republicans resonated with his campaign.

“Our voters told me loud and clear that they have had enough of too much, too soon development, big budget increases, out of control property taxes, encroachment on our open spaces and insufficient stewardship of our water,” Vance said.

He said it’s clear that for Seat A, “voters have decided to maintain the status quo, albeit by a very slim margin.”

Though it was a close race, Kahler said she is happy with the result. She said, however, that the narrow margin shows voters are “divided on every issue.”

“Whether it be growth or bypass or preservation of agricultural lands,” Kahler said. “It did surprise me how close that election was, given my opponent is new to the community and relatively unknown.”

Vance, a Hideout resident, worked to interface with the public throughout his campaign. Ahead of the primary election, he said that involved door knocking to talk with voters and “cut to the truth” of top issues. 

He was also the only Wasatch County Republican Party candidate at the nominating convention in April to secure 60% of the delegate vote. However, Kahler opted out of the convention process and chose the signature-gathering process, which triggered a primary election. 

Kahler said she wanted to meet with voters face-to-face throughout her campaign. She said it was a way to interact with Wasatch County residents she did not already know through her work on the City Council and with the Community Alliance for Main Street. 

It was also a way to explain some of the decisions made in Heber City while Kahler sat on the City Council. She said some of those decisions — surrounding Jordanelle Ridge development, community revitalization and the Heber Valley Airport — remain unpopular, even if Kahler was a “no” vote. 

“There’s a lot of people that are frustrated with the growth and decisions that were made on council,” Kahler said.

That followed Kahler throughout her campaign. 

“Even though people looked at my voting record and started kind of tearing down different elements of who I am, I think it was important that, during the campaign, I tried to stay positive,” Kahler said. 

If Kahler were to do one thing differently, she said, she would try to further connect with voters about why she made certain choices while sitting on the City Council. 

“Even though I didn’t want to dig all that back, I think it’s important now, seeing the results. I think it’s important that people understand (those decisions) in a little more depth,” Kahler said. 

Now, Kahler will move forward to campaign against Democrat Patrick Saucier for Seat A in the general election

Saucier said he is running for Seat A because he wants to see Wasatch County improve. He is the only Democrat seeking the seat, which is currently occupied by Luke Searle, whose term ends in January.

Searle, however, just earned the Republican candidacy for House District 59 in Tuesday’s primary election. Whether he wins or loses the seat against former Midway Mayor Celeste Johnson, a Democrat, in November.

Until then, Republican and Democratic candidates across the board will be campaigning, hopeful for a new role in 2027.  

The post Rachel Kahler leads Republican candidacy for Wasatch County Council Seat A appeared first on Park Record.

Tuesday’s primary election in Wasatch County showed Republican voters are ready for change, backing the challengers.

Wasatch County Emergency Management Director Jeremy Hales had a significant lead against incumbent Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby, and Park City Recorder Michelle Kellogg pushed ahead of incumbent County Clerk-Auditor Joey Granger, according to preliminary election results posted Wednesday.

Hales earned 66% of the vote for the Republican candidacy for Wasatch County sheriff with 3,442 ballots counted in his favor by Wednesday. Rigby earned 33% of the vote with 1,727 ballots. Hales is expected to face unaffiliated candidate Paul Moore for the sheriff’s post in the general election. 

Though results are not finalized, it is unlikely that Hales will lose his lead in the race. That’s because nearly every ballot in Wasatch County has been counted, according to Granger. 

Rigby, who will remain in office as sheriff until January, did not respond to requests for comment. 

For Hales, the remainder of his campaign is centered around being “completely transparent and honest with the public.”

“I told the public that if I’m elected and I’ve made it through the primary, that I’m going to be present. I’m going to be here for the people,” Hales said. 

Hales will continue supporting the Sheriff’s Office through his work as the emergency management director in the meantime. He said there is “a lot of work to do” before November to further his campaign. 

“Sheriff Rigby is still the sheriff,” Hales said. “Until January, we still will follow his command.”

Hales’ win is in contradiction to the results of the Wasatch County Republican Party’s nominating convention in April. Then, with a nearly 90% quorum, Rigby was the party’s top vote-getter after two delegate voting processes. 

Rigby, who was running for a third term in office, had 116 votes in his favor, while Hales had 89, and Summit County Detective Eric Mainord had 44 in the first round. A second vote did not consider Mainord and found Rigby with 115 ballots in his favor and Hales with 104. 

It was a tight margin at the nominating convention, compared to the 66% difference among Republican voters. A primary election was triggered after the nominating convention because no candidate earned 60% of the vote, and because Rigby and Hales opted for both the convention process and signature gathering. 

Hales said he is hearing that primary election voters want a sheriff who is “honest and transparent,” present and engaged with the community. He said that he is looking forward to earning the public’s trust in the coming months. 

“Right now we’re just going to keep working hard to build and maintain and increase our trust in every different aspect,” Hales said. “I want to earn the trust of the people.”

Hales said that includes building relationships with neighboring counties, municipalities and agencies. 

Increased communication is also part of Kellogg’s plan as she looks ahead to the general election for clerk-auditor in November. As a candidate for clerk-auditor, Kellogg said public trust is essential.

Kellogg secured 53% of the vote with 2,783 ballots in her favor by Wednesday, compared to Granger, who earned just under 47% of the vote with 2,452 ballots cast for her. Granger also had the unique position of working on the election while campaigning to remain in the role. 

Granger said that working the election while campaigning could be frustrating at times. 

“I didn’t feel like I was able to really put myself out there as much as I would have liked to,” Granger said. “But I did value my role as the clerk more than, I guess, being a politician, and took it seriously to make sure the election was fair.”

Kellogg said she is excited about the results and grateful to the voters who gave her “the confidence to run.”

“I’m thankful for the efforts that supporters made to get the word out, and just really grateful overall,” Kellogg said. “It’s just so exciting.”

Kellogg, who received 59% of the delegate vote at the Wasatch County Republican Party nominating convention in April, said she believes her campaign was successful because she had a message that resonated with voters. 

“It was very clear and direct,” Kellogg said. “I think a lot of people were wanting change, and I was offering that change and offering that vision of how the office could be improved.”

Both Granger and Kellogg opted for both the convention process and signature gathering, which triggered a primary election.

With only Republican candidates for the role, it is almost certain that Kellogg will become Wasatch County’s clerk-auditor after the general election. Knowing this, Kellogg said that she hopes to prepare as best as possible for the role. 

“I’m going to start putting a list together of best practices, and I’m sure that I’ll be meeting with some county officials and learning from them,” Kellogg said. 

While Kellogg likely won’t face a challenger come November, Hales will still face Moore in the sheriff’s election. Moore has echoed Hales’ desire for change in the Sheriff’s Office. 

Though recent primary election results were updated on Wednesday, those results have yet to be finalized. Voter turnout for Tuesday’s election was 31%. Granger said Tuesday afternoon that’s about average in Wasatch County for a primary. 

Final results will solidify a tight race for Wasatch County Council Seat A. 

Former Heber City Councilor Rachel Kahler earned 51% of the vote with 2,694 ballots in her favor. William Brett Vance earned just under 49% of the vote with 2,566 ballots in his favor. 

Kahler said she is generally pleased with the primary election results, even if she did not win in a landslide.

“(It was) a tighter race than I had anticipated. I think it really represents that our community is very divided on every issue,” Kahler said.

The winner of the Seat A primary election will go on to face Democrat Patrick Saucier in the November general election. 

Outside of county-level races, Wasatch County Councilor Luke Searle led the primary election for House District 59, which serves Summit and Wasatch County. Searle faced Jeffrey Pierce in the Republican primary for the seat. 

Searle won 228 votes in Summit County and 2,760 votes in Wasatch County. Pierce won 449 votes in Summit County and 1,959 votes in Wasatch County.

The County Councilor said he felt his message resonated with voters. 

“I think people knew that I called this place home and that we have something special here,” Searle said. “I think it resonated with them that I have had the experience locally and know that I can be the most effective person to win in this race and the most effective representative, if elected.”

Pierce said that, though he trailed Searle in the primary, he would not have done anything differently. He has one message for voters going forward into the general election.

“Just stay vigilant,” Pierce said. 

Searle will go on to face Democrat Celeste Johnson, a former mayor of Midway City, for the House District 59 seat. 

Primary election results will be finalized at the regular Wasatch County Council meeting on Wednesday.

The post Wasatch County voters oust incumbents in primary election appeared first on Park Record.

Republican voters cast their ballots for change in Tuesday’s primary election, shying away from a strong showing of incumbents and party favorites outlined at the Wasatch County Republican Party nominating convention in April. 

More than 250 party members, a 90% quorum, gathered at the nominating convention as Republican delegates cast and hand-counted ballots for candidates. By the end of that night, there was only one clear winner. 

William Brett Vance, a Republican Wasatch County Council Seat A candidate, was the only GOP nominee to secure 60% of the delegate vote. Vance competed against former Wasatch County Councilor Steve Farrell in the convention. 

Candidates have the option to choose the convention process, the signature-gathering process or both. Both Vance and Farrell opted only for the convention process. 

“My fighter pilot ethos jumped all over the convention process and rejected signature-gathering out of hand,” Vance said in a prepared email statement. “I chose the caucus/nominating convention path because I wanted the scrutiny of hundreds of delegates, precinct officials and party leaders.”

Candidates who choose the signature-gathering process must gather signatures from 3% of registered voters in their party who are residents of the relevant area, according to state code. That’s what Seat A candidate Rachel Kahler opted for. When she meet the requirements to appear on the ballot, a primary election was triggered between Kahler and the convention nominee. 

Kahler appeared to secure her Republican candidacy for Seat A in Tuesday’s primary election, earning over 51% of the vote and 2,694 ballots in her favor while Vance held just under 49% of the vote with 2,566 ballots cast for him. 

“The signature route really met my personal objective in running for County Council, and that was connecting with people,” Kahler said, adding that she met with more than 400 people. “It’s a legal pathway to putting your name on the ballot, and I still stand by that.”

Kahler is not the only upset in the primary race when it comes to Republican Party favorites.

After two rounds of voting at the nominating convention, Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby walked out as the top vote-getter, though he failed to secure the 60% needed to become the party nominee. 

The first count found Rigby with 116 votes in his favor while Wasatch County Emergency Management Director Jeremy Hales had 89 and Summit County Detective Eric Mainord had 44. A second vote without Mainord found Rigby with 115 ballots in his favor and Hales with 104. 

Because all the sheriff candidates chose the signature-gathering process as well as the convention process, and because no one earned 60% of the delegate vote, a primary election was required. Mainord eventually dropped out of the race ahead of the primary election. 

But on Tuesday, Rigby did not end the night with a win. According to preliminary election results, Hales earned 1,715 more votes than Rigby. Primary results show Hales leading with more than 66% of the vote or 3,442 ballots cast in his favor while Rigby held just over 33% of the vote with 1,727 ballots cast in his favor. 

Hales said that though he did not win at the nominating convention, the slim margin in April was enough to make him hopeful moving forward and he began to further his campaign. 

“It was really a lot of work, getting out there and meeting people,” Hales said. “I feel like the people saw that I was, my campaign was, who I exactly was. I was open, I was honest and I was transparent.”

Meanwhile, Rigby continued his work as Wasatch County sheriff. He also became ensnared in a criminal investigation by the Summit County Attorney’s Office for obstruction of justice. 

Rigby did not respond to numerous requests for comment by the time of publication.

Park City Recorder Michelle Kellogg was only GOP candidate who performed well at both the nominating convention and in the election. She is leading in the race for Wasatch County clerk-auditor.

In April, Kellogg succeeded at the nominating convention over incumbent Clerk-Auditor Joey Granger, who worked the election while campaigning to retain her seat. Kellogg walked away with 59% of the vote and 148 ballots in her favor — nearly making her the party nominee. 

“After I got that majority vote at the convention, it was very encouraging to me to keep going and keep getting my message out there,” Kellogg said. 

Wasatch County GOP Vice Chair Patty Sprunt said she is a great believer in the convention process. Before she became vice chair, Sprunt was a fellow delegate looking to represent her community at the caucus and nominating convention. 

Talking as “just Patty” and not as the Republican Party vice chair, Sprunt said she believes the convention process provides a way for the community to gather and work toward a common goal: electing the best candidates for their party. 

As a state delegate, Sprunt said she would walk from door to door to better understand the wants and needs of her community. 

“I try to not favor one candidate or another, I just give them my impressions from the candidate meetings I’ve gone to,” Sprunt said. “That’s what I love about convention, caucus … this is something that’s gone on in other states for decades, and it’s just a way to basically reach into neighborhoods and get people who represent their values and their concerns.”

Sprunt said, in a time where the Wasatch County community relies on the news for most information, gathering as a party removes bias and offers connection. 

“When you have just neighborhood human beings trying to do their best and care about our communities, I feel like the best results happen,” Sprunt said. 

Though Sprunt recognizes that some Republican Party favorites did not win the primary election, she said she has had a “front row seat” to the candidates’ campaigns. 

“I will just say this, I respect anyone who’s willing to get out there and run for office,” Sprunt said.

Results of the primary election will be finalized at the upcoming County Council meeting on Wednesday. Some winners of the primary election will go on to face challengers in the general election this November.

The post Primary election results diverge from Wasatch County Republican Party convention picks appeared first on Park Record.

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.

The post Rachel Kahler is ready to ‘get to work’ as a Wasatch County Council member  appeared first on Park Record.

William Brett Vance said he has observed that for voters, it’s “undisciplined, uncontrolled growth” that needs the most attention in Wasatch County.

If elected to Wasatch County Council Seat A, Vance said he would give the matter his full attention.

Vance, a Republican, will face Rachel Kahler in the primary election, on June 23. Vance was the only Wasatch County Republican Party candidate at the nominating convention in April to secure 60% of the delegate vote. However, Kahler chose the signature-gathering process, which triggered a primary election.

In November, the winner of the GOP primary election will face Democrat Patrick Saucier for the seat. 

Vance is a self-proclaimed “America-first” candidate with a nearly 31-year military career as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and test pilot. In February, Vance asserted that it’s time to bring “conservative values” back to the County Council. 

In a prepared email statement, Vance said he has gone door-to-door throughout his campaign to talk with voters and “cut to the truth” of top issues. After months of talking with the community, Vance said people’s priorities stayed the same. 

First, Vance said that there has been “poor planning and resource management” when it comes to development. He said the “skyrocketing rate” of development is not mirrored by the supporting number of population growth. 

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute in November estimated that Wasatch County is expected to be home to 84,126 residents by 2065. That’s double the county’s current population of just under 40,000. 

“My concern — and that of all the folks I’ve been talking to for months during the campaign — is that we are building and approving new development projects too much, too soon,” Vance said.

Vance also said that the County Council should be “rooting out and ending fraud, waste and abuse.” Though Vance did not provide examples of alleged fraud on the county level, he asserted that income tax could be eliminated “if the money went to where it was actually appropriated.”

Vance cited fraud investigations at the national level by Vice President JD Vance.

“I just want to ensure that we don’t have similar circumstances here,” Vance said. “That’s simply good stewardship.”

The Republican candidate also said he has heard qualms from the community in regard to property taxes. 

“I’ve been talking to people for months during the campaign, and this problem is always in the top three concerns,” Vance said. 

His plan is to work with other councilors, the county manager and assessor to seek different income sources and cap current property tax rates. 

“A great place to start the reductions would be properties belonging to seniors with paid-for homes,” Vance said. 

On the current council, Vance said he appreciates the volume of topics addressed and that each council member is able to offer their opinion on a given topic. 

“What I would change would be our budgeting process. Given the tripling of the budget in just a few years, it is time for a zero-based analysis and budget reset,” Vance said. 

Vance said he has made it clear that the voters’ priorities are his priorities, too. He plans to promote increased communication with the community and work toward more conservative values in Wasatch County.

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.

The post ‘Conservative values’ matter to Wasatch County Council candidate Brett Vance appeared first on Park Record.

Wasatch County sheriff candidate Jeremy Hales said he would enact positive change in the first six months on the job if he’s elected. 

Hales, who is the emergency management director for the Sheriff’s Office, said he hopes to strengthen the law enforcement agency, support employees and build trust with the citizens of Wasatch County. 

“My first priority will be increasing transparency and communication. I will be present, accessible and engaged with our deputies, staff, elected officials, community leaders and citizens,” Hales said. 

Hales is facing incumbent Sheriff Jared Rigby for the post. The two Republicans will be on the June 23 GOP primary election ballot. Summit County detective Eric Mainord will also appear on the ballot, though no votes cast for him will be counted after he withdrew from the race. 

In May, Hales and Rigby participated in a candidate forum to discuss their views on top issues in Wasatch County. Hales said he is running for sheriff because he wants to bring change. 

“I want to bring a new voice and a new opinion that people will understand,” Hales said at the forum. 

That includes building on relationships with the community and law enforcement agencies across the Wasatch Back so the Sheriff’s Office is better equipped to handle rapid growth facing Wasatch County, according to Hales. 

If elected sheriff, Hales said he would work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “the right way.” For him, that means standing up for the rights of citizens. 

“We will have a say in what happens. We need to work with them. We need to be open and transparent,” Hales said. 

On public trust, Hales said building relationships is already something he has been working toward as the emergency management director for the Sheriff’s Office. 

“I already have a lot of those relationships in place. … I work with them on a sometimes month, sometimes weekly basis, so I do not need to stand back and wait for that to happen,” Hales said in May. 

Monday, Hales added that maintaining and strengthening public trust is one of the top issues facing the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office. 

“My priorities as sheriff would be establishing greater transparency within the Sheriff’s Office, strengthening trust with the community and enhancing the training, development and capabilities of our deputies and staff,” Hales said. 

Hales said the citizens of Wasatch County “deserve a Sheriff’s Office that is open, accountable, responsive and engaged.”

As Wasatch County grows, Hales said building public trust will help the Sheriff’s Office be better prepared to meet the challenges of the future. 

“I believe trust, communication and collaboration are the foundation of effective law enforcement. I want to instill confidence in those we serve, in the deputies and staff who serve alongside us, and in the agencies and communities that support us,” Hales said. 

All primary election ballots 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. Early in-person voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 15, 16, 17 and 18 at the Wasatch County Administration building. Election Day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The winner of the primary election will face Paul Moore, who recently became an unaffiliated candidate for sheriff, in November. 

The post Jeremy Hales hopes to enact positive change as Wasatch County sheriff appeared first on Park Record.

Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby said he is vying for a third term because he wants to continue serving the community. That, he said, is the most important thing. 

“The employees and the team that we have together have more … we’d like to accomplish,” Rigby said. “We feel like we have a great thing going, and we’d like to continue to do that for the community.”

Rigby, a Republican, is facing Wasatch County Emergency Management Director Jeremy Hales for the sheriff’s post. The two will be on the June 23 GOP primary election ballot. Summit County detective Eric Mainord will also appear, though no votes cast for him will be counted after his withdrawal from the race. 

At the Wasatch County Republican Party nominating convention in April, Rigby was the top vote-getter over Hales and Mainord. However, Rigby did not earn 60% of the vote. Rigby and Hales also chose the signature-gathering process, which triggers a primary election. 

Both candidates discussed their views on the future of the department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, fiscal responsibility and investigations into the Sheriff’s Office at a candidate forum in May. 

On public trust — a heavily-covered issue in the sheriff’s race — Rigby said that he plans to promote quality relationships between the Sheriff’s Office and the public in the future, along with other law enforcement agencies across the Wasatch Back. 

Regarding growth in the Wasatch Back, Rigby said that there will be “growing pains” and that all neighborhoods in Wasatch County are unique. It’s important, he said, for the Sheriff’s Office to change alongside the county. 

And, in terms of ICE involvement in law enforcement, Rigby said that it is a “serious issue” in Wasatch County. Rigby said in the candidate forum that it has been challenging to work with the federal agency. Rigby said it is the sheriff’s job to ensure that ICE officers are following the law and not violating constitutional rights. 

If he is reelected, Rigby said he hopes to continue to work on a five-year plan that’s continually updated within the Sheriff’s Office. 

“We always challenge ourselves in the upcoming year with new things, and so some specifics have to do with community outreach,” Rigby said. 

Specifically, Rigby said he would like to start interlocal coordination with the Sheriff’s Office and Wasatch County municipalities. 

“The intent is to understand better what it is that in each of the cities or towns we can do to help them at the community level,” Rigby said. 

Rigby added that he would like to prompt more citizen engagement. And, he is looking forward to making further progress in training law enforcement officers. That includes firearm and defensive tactics training — what Rigby calls “core disciplines” in law enforcement. 

When asked what he would most look forward to if elected to a third term, Rigby said it’s making the community safer. That includes monitoring growth, reaching out to new developments and neighborhoods, which he said are all a constant process. 

He also said providing direct services and connecting community members with law enforcement is crucial. 

“We’re always trying to focus on the numbers and make improvements performance-wise. But, really, for a lot of residents, what matters is how they feel and so it’s an important part of having a partnership in the community,” Rigby said. 

Ballots for the primary election were mailed on June 2. The Republican primary election will be held on June 23. All ballots 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 a day since June 3 and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Early in-person voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 15, 16, 17 and 18 at the Wasatch County Administration building. Election Day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The winner of the primary election will face Paul Moore, who recently became an unaffiliated candidate for sheriff, in November.

The post Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby aims to continue serving the community with a third term  appeared first on Park Record.

With ballots sent on Tuesday, voters can submit their ballots by mail or vote in person on June 23. Six candidates will face a primary election this June. 

Primary elections are triggered when candidates are unable to secure the party nomination or if they opt for signature gathering, which can automatically trigger a primary. Candidates running for county office must gather signatures from 3% of registered voters in their party who are residents of the relevant area, according to state code. 

Wasatch County Sheriff

Two Republican candidates are vying for Wasatch County sheriff: Incumbent Sheriff Jared Rigby and Wasatch County Emergency Management Director Jeremy Hales. Rigby and Hales opted for signature gathering, which automatically puts them on the primary election ballot. 

Rigby and Hales participated in a candidate forum hosted by KPCW and The Wasatch Record on May 27. The candidates shared their views on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the department’s future, growth in the county and fiscal responsibility. 

Hales has worked in Wasatch County for nearly 25 years and now serves as the director of emergency management and 911 communications. Hales ensures everything from emergency calls to disaster planning runs smoothly.

Hales said his time as a school resource and D.A.R.E. officer made a big impact, saying that working with children and the school district was “really remarkable.”

As sheriff, Hales said he hopes to help the department grow alongside Wasatch County, which has seen and will continue to experience rapid growth. 

“I want to bring a new voice and a new opinion that people will understand,” Hales said, adding that he hopes to support people’s constitutional rights as sheriff. 

Rigby, who is running for a third term, began working as a Wasatch County corrections officer in 2001 before transitioning to patrol. He said he accomplished “many changes” in the Sheriff’s Office throughout his tenure. 

As sheriff, Rigby said he would continue to address the top issues in Wasatch County. Growth, to start. Then, fostering public trust and working with law enforcement agencies across the Wasatch Back. 

Rigby is currently under public scrutiny as an investigation by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office into Rigby’s actions is underway. That’s preceded by multiple investigations into the Sheriff’s Office over recent years. 

Rigby addressed these allegations and investigations at the candidate forum. 

“There have been five allegations and five investigations in the last year and a half, having to do with me or our office,” Rigby said. “Four out of five, there have been determinations, findings that there is no criminal conduct, there is no policy violations, there’s no wrongdoing, there’s no serious misconduct.”

Rigby said he is grateful to serve the Wasatch County community and hopes to continue to do so in the future. 

Clerk-auditor

Park City Recorder Michelle Kellogg and incumbent clerk-auditor Joey Granger, both Republicans, will appear on the primary ballot for the clerk-auditor position. 

The Clerk-Auditor’s Office maintains all countywide elections, prepares agendas, takes minutes during Wasatch County Council meetings and keeps all approved county ordinances and resolutions on file. The office is also responsible for the county’s financial functions, conducting reviews, internal audits and issuing financial statements and reports. 

Kellogg, a Heber City resident, worked for Heber City for nearly eight years before her 10-year tenure as Park City’s recorder. The Park City position is appointed by the city’s manager. 

Kellogg said she is looking to use her experience and skills to benefit the Wasatch County community. She is well-versed in Government Records Access Management Act requests and managing elections, which is a major part of the job. 

Though she thinks it is a “good office now,” Kellogg said she wants to bring it “from being a good office to being an excellent one.”

Granger said she does not feel she is finished with her work as clerk-auditor. She is proud to have “modernized” the office in the past five years and “clean up financials,” too. 

“I want to continue to implement new processes or improve existing services that will serve the public’s needs,” Granger said. 

County Council

Republicans seeking Wasatch County Council Seat A include Rachel Kahler and William (Brett) Vance.

Vance is Wasatch County’s self-proclaimed “America First” candidate. The former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and test pilot said it’s time to bring conservative values back to the County Council. 

“We have a very clear set of values in this party, and the voters elect us because they trust we will vote on their issues the way we said we would,” Vance said. 

At April’s GOP nominating convention, Vance was the only confirmed party nominee who earned more than 60% of the vote. 

Kahler, a former Heber City Council member, said she wants to run for Seat A to continue the fight for responsible growth. She chose signature gathering rather than the convention route and was not considered at the nominating convention. 

Kahler said she is most proud of her willingness to work with fellow councilors. She asserted that transportation is a major issue in Wasatch County, but so is public trust, communication and growth. 

“For me, the biggest thing is communicating to the public what is going on,” Kahler said. 

The winner of the June primary election will face Democrat Patrick Saucier in November’s general election. Saucier was the lone Democratic candidate to submit his candidacy for Seat A. 

How to vote

The primary election will determine who earns their party’s vote for office. Several of the candidates will go on to face Democrat or unaffiliated challengers, such as in the elections for county sheriff and Seat A on the County Council.

Other elections, such as the clerk-auditor race, will almost certainly be secured after the primary election, as no other candidates have emerged.

Ballots were mailed to registered Republicans on Tuesday. There is no county-level Democratic primary election this year. All ballots 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 are open 24 hours a day beginning June 3 and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Early in-person voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 15, 16, 17 and 18 at the Wasatch County Administration building. Election Day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the same location.

The post Here’s who is on the primary election ballot in Wasatch County appeared first on Park Record.

Summit County Sheriff’s Office detective Eric Mainord has ended his campaign for Wasatch County sheriff. 

Mainord, who was set to participate in a sheriff’s candidate forum Wednesday evening, announced his withdrawal the same day as the event.

Though Mainord firmly asserted that he is the best candidate for the job, he said his further participation in the race would “take votes away” from who he assumes to be the frontrunners — Wasatch County’s Emergency Management Director Jeremy Hales and Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby.

“I’ve never aspired for title and position. I legitimately entered this race to be a change agent, and I haven’t taken this lightly,” Mainord said. “I do believe that a real change is needed (at the Sheriff’s Office) and that, unfortunately, if both Jeremy and I stay in it, then we’re going to split the vote.”

Mainord said that he is not fully endorsing Hales — yet. He said that, despite his qualms with goings-on at the Sheriff’s Office, Hales will still have to work to get Mainord’s official stamp of approval. 

His main focus, Mainord said, is public safety. 

“The things that have gone on … they can’t keep happening,” Mainord said. “I care about public safety. I care about, first of all, preventing crime where possible but, more importantly, justice for victims.”

Mainord said he has not made it a secret that a “galvanizing event” for him was the 2024 road rage shooting at Ross Creek, which left Hideout resident Patrick Hayes shot and killed by Greg Kyle DeBoer. 

DeBoer is currently facing one count of obstruction of justice for burying the gun he used to shoot Hayes. 

“There needs to be some real cultural change at the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, and I feel like I understand what that looks like,” Mainord said. “Summit County is a high-functioning, fair and impartial agency and law enforcement, above any other kind of thing out there, has to be truth seekers.” 

Mainord’s assertion that he would “split the vote” is not entirely unexpected.

At the Wasatch County Republican Party nominating convention in April, more than 250 party members gathered to select their chosen nominees. The nearly 90% quorum found Rigby as the top vote-getter after two delegate voting processes. 

The two processes were necessary because no candidate secured 60% vote in favor of after the first round of voting. Rigby earned 115 ballots during the second vote, and Hales earned 104. Mainord was removed from consideration after the first round, though he still qualified for the primary election ballot. 

After announcing his withdrawal from the race, Mainord said he is not sure what the future holds.

“This is my first kind of dabble in politics, and I’ve learned a lot of lessons,” Mainord said. “I’m going to focus on doing the best job I can do at Summit County and see what opportunities present themselves here in Wasatch, to be a person that helps change things for the better.”

Both Rigby and Hales are campaigning for Wasatch County sheriff.

The two candidates are set to participate in a candidate forum on Wednesday evening to answer questions about their platforms, how they would operate as sheriff and about public safety in Wasatch County. 

The Wasatch Record and KPCW reporters will moderate the forum. Candidates will answer questions from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Wasatch County Senior Center.

Hales and Rigby will both appear on the primary election ballot on June 23. Ballots will be mailed to registered Republican voters on June 2. The primary election winner will face unaffiliated sheriff’s candidate Paul Moore in the general election this November. 

The post Eric Mainord withdraws from Wasatch County sheriff’s race appeared first on Park Record.