Emigration Canyon council adopts resolution canceling uncontested mayoral race

The Emigration Canyon City Council voted to adopt Resolution R2025-10 at a special meeting to cancel the city’s uncontested mayoral race after a county printing error removed the candidate’s name from ballots.

Council members and staff said the county had removed the name after misinterpreting earlier communications about whether the council intended to cancel the race. Cameron, legal counsel to the council, explained that ballots went to the printer on Sept. 12 without the candidate’s name and that the council had not passed a cancellation resolution at its Sept. 23 meeting. “If there’s only 1 candidate, that candidate is elected regardless of 1 person voting, a 100,000 people voting,” Cameron said, summarizing the relevant effect of Utah election law in uncontested races.

The council’s nut graf: because state law treats uncontested candidates as elected and the county had already printed ballots, the council faced two options — cancel the mayoral race and avoid additional county processing costs, or spend additional funds and staff time to reprint or otherwise complete the election process. Cameron told the council the county estimated the full cost for their election configuration could range from $2,500 to $11,000 depending on participation and whether a primary was required, and that canceling the single contested item could save roughly half that amount (about $2,500 to $5,000), though final figures would depend on post-election accounting.

During public comment, a resident identifying themselves as Emerson of Emigration Canyon Road urged the council to keep the candidate on the ballot as a matter of principle and respect for voters and the candidate. “We value this relationship… this is our right as citizens to vote,” Emerson said, adding that the Browns (family) had supported having the election on the ballot. Council member Tyler argued the opposite, saying the city should not spend limited funds on an election “that’s already a foregone conclusion” and described the cost savings as the deciding factor.

Council members discussed that the filing deadline had passed (Aug. 29) and that because only one person had filed, Utah election law would not produce a different outcome regardless of how many ballots were counted. Cameron also told the council that one option — canceling the contract with the county and running the election locally — was possible but not recommended because missed deadlines meant the city would likely still have to rely on the county for parts of the process and would incur additional costs and staff time.

A motion to adopt Resolution R2025-10, canceling the mayoral race in the 2025 municipal general election, was moved and seconded. The motion passed on a voice/roll-call sequence; council members Hawks and Harris were recorded as voting “aye,” and the meeting chair called the ayes to carry the motion. The resolution outcome is recorded as approved.

David Brown, identified earlier in the meeting as the single filed candidate, was not present at the special meeting; council members said he had indicated he preferred not to cancel the race at a prior meeting. Following the vote, the council adjourned. Staff and legal counsel will need to coordinate with the county to finalize the ballot status and any remaining administrative steps to implement the cancellation.

The discussion highlighted two recurring issues the council flagged for future attention: clearer, earlier communication with the county on election deadlines and more proactive outreach to recruit candidates for local offices, so uncontested races can be avoided where possible.