Bluff council asks county, lieutenant governor to cancel Nov. 2025 election after candidate withdraws

The Bluff Town Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt a resolution requesting San Juan County and the Utah lieutenant governor’s office cancel the town’s Nov. 20, 2025, general election after one council candidate withdrew, officials said.

Council leaders said the request was time-sensitive because San Juan County’s deadline to remove a withdrawn candidate from the ballot — and thus avoid printing costs — was the same day. If the resolution is accepted, the two remaining council candidates and the sole mayoral candidate would take office without a contested general election; the new council and mayor are scheduled to begin their terms on Jan. 6, 2026.

Mayor (name not specified) called the emergency meeting at 10:05 a.m. and conducted a roll call that included Linda Sosa, Jennifer Davila, Luanne (Lou Anne) Hook, Britt Hornsby and Anne Lepinen; Aaron Nelson attended as town manager. The mayor read a drafted resolution and explained that town staff had learned that Lou Anne Hook had provided written notice withdrawing her candidacy and had notified county and lieutenant governor’s offices.

The mayor cited Utah Code §52-4-202(5) as permitting an emergency meeting and told the council that San Juan County elections officials had said they needed a written resolution that morning to avoid printing costs. The mayor said the withdrawing candidate had conferred with county and lieutenant governor’s staff previously.

Council member Lou Anne Hook confirmed her withdrawal during the meeting and said she had made the decision so the remaining candidates would run unopposed. "I've made that decision. I'd like to have the next two people run unopposed and take the reins for the next stretch," Hook said. She added that she intends to remain involved in town work in an unofficial capacity, particularly on active transportation and road issues.

A council member moved to adopt the resolution "as presented," and another council member seconded. The council voted and the mayor announced the vote was unanimous. The meeting record did not name the mover, seconder, or record individual votes; the council described the outcome only as unanimous.

The mayor said staff would finalize the written resolution and deliver it to the San Juan County Clerk’s office and the lieutenant governor’s office within about 20 minutes of the meeting. The resolution requests cancellation of the Bluff general election; the transcript does not record whether the county or lieutenant governor’s office had, by the end of the meeting, accepted the request.

The council adjourned at about 10:11 a.m. and did not take other substantive action during the emergency session.

The town manager and council members present will be responsible for completing the written notice to the county and lieutenant governor as described in the meeting record.