Fruit Heights holds public hearing on proposed switch from caucus to primary elections

Fruit Heights City Council opened a public hearing on Ordinance 2025-02, Title 2A, Chapter 3 (elections and qualifications), allowing residents to comment on a proposed change from the city’s caucus-based candidate-selection process to a primary election.

The proposal was prompted by staff research and a city survey: 72 residents responded and about 7% indicated they favored a change to a primary system, city staff said during the hearing. Council members and residents discussed trade-offs including turnout, cost and how candidates are vetted.

Why it matters: the change would alter how Fruit Heights residents nominate and select municipal candidates, shifting the deciding body from relatively small caucus meetings to a broader primary ballot that would be open to more voters. Supporters argued a primary would let more residents cast ballots; opponents said caucuses…