Ivins council appoints Wayne Pennington to fill midterm vacancy after secret ballot

The Ivins City Council unanimously appointed Wayne Pennington to the open council seat during its Jan. 15 meeting, following public interviews and a secret written-ballot vote by the sitting quorum.

City Attorney Brian Pack summarized the vacancy procedure required by state law and said the council was following a resolution adopted in November that sets the steps for filling midterm vacancies. After a brief discussion the council ended debate and conducted a secret ballot; municipal staff collected and tallied folded ballots in public. The tally was announced as unanimous for Pennington, and the council then voted by roll call to adopt Resolution 2026-02R appointing him to the seat.

Mayor Kevin Smith swore in Pennington immediately after the vote. City staff said the appointee will take his seat on the dais and serve until the term or the next qualifying election, as dictated by state law. The council emphasized restraint in public discussion about the interview process to preserve applicants’ privacy and fairness.

The appointment followed interviews of three candidates — Lance Anderson, Shad Johnson and Wayne Pennington — and public discussion about ensuring a transparent, timely process under Utah Code. The council also confirmed procedures for handling any future ties and noted that the mayor votes only to break ties under the city’s rules.

The council moved on to regular business after the swearing-in; no litigation or challenge to the appointment was reported at the meeting’s close.