January 2020 | Vol. 20 Iss. 01
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A NEW FACE FOR WEST JORDAN By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com
D
irk Burton unseated Mayor Jim Riding with 589 votes. But, the face in the lead chair is not the only new thing for City Hall in 2020. Burton is the first strong mayor in West Jordan history. Until now, West Jordan had a city manager that implemented the decisions of the city council (manager/council form), while the mayor was the chair and collective voice of the city council. With the new strong mayor, the city will no longer have a city manager, and the mayor will no longer be part of the council. The mayor is no longer part of the legislative decision making. The city manager was previously responsible for implementing directions given by the council but also gave advice. Now that is the mayor’s job. The new mayor will have someone to assist him in the managing of the city, but this position will report directly to the mayor, not the council. This position is the chief administrative officer (CAO) and will be Korban Lee, pending council approval. Lee previously worked with David Brickey as AsThe outside is the same, but starting Jan 2020, the inside workings will never be the same. (Erin Dixon/City Journals) sistant City Manager. “Korban Lee will be working under the direction of the change in the day-to-day operation of the city — roadwork mayor, while Mr. Brickey was working under the direction of “Each system has its merits. I have seen the benefits of managerial longevity in city and infrastructure improvements will continue to be made, the city council,” Burton said. “He had seven bosses essentialgovernment. A lot can be done when there is a single, clear water will still be delivered to individual homes and public ly, while the CAO will have one boss.” vision carried over a long period of time. I look forward to safety operations will be in place,” said Tauni Barker, commuA NEW MAYOR ... AGAIN For almost 40 years, West Jordan has had an unspoken helping Mr. Burton carry out his vision and hope it results in nications officer for the city. Because the vote was so close, residents are split over tradition for residents to elect a new mayor each term. Some greater long-term stability for West Jordan.” whether the change will be positive or negative. Riding served as mayor for only two years because of neighboring cities have kept the same mayor for over a deResident Dennis Randal said, “A city manager is not the change of government that was voted for during the same cade. accountable to the citizens. He might be a professional, but election. A side effect of this decision is that Riding will still Sandy City has the mayor/council form of government. Tom Dolan served as mayor for 24 years, 1994 to 2017. Mid- be paid for the remaining two years that he didn’t serve. The his career depends on keeping three to four council members vale City has the manager/council form of government. JoAnn city council decided in 2017 that the mayoral candidates happy. The mayor is elected by and responsible to the voters. He were running for four years and still deserved four years pay, Seghini served as mayor for 19 years, 1998 to 2017. needs to keep a city happy. All cities hire professionals to supwhether they continued after the next election or not. West Jordan became a city in 1967 with Bruce G. Egbert Riding said, “I did say that [I wasn’t going to take it], but port the city government. But the top of the pyramid should be as the first mayor. Since then only one mayor, Junius Burton, I am going to take it. In fact, I’ve had so many people tell me there by the voice of the people.” has been elected for more than one term. Resident Kenneth Ivie views the same situation differBurton doesn’t know why the city does not keep mayors that it’s the right thing, I haven’t had anybody tell me not to.” WHAT BROUGHT THE CHANGE ently. “This form of government was voted down twice and for long. In 2017, the election proposal Proposition 10 read: “Shall almost didn’t make the cut last time,” he said. “Maybe if “Isn’t that amazing?” Burton said. “I don’t have any thoughts about that. The good parts would be that we get a the City of West Jordan, Utah, change its form of government somewhere along the way [the mayors] would have actually new face in there. The not good parts would be we’re not to the Council-Mayor Form, with a seven-member Council?” listened to the managers instead of forcing them out, things Voting results: 6,841 for, 6,778 against. Sixty-three votes could have worked. Now the city will be run by persons that keeping continuity.” Lee worked in Sandy City with Dolan and briefly for changed the government of West Jordan. The eligible voting may or may not have any experience.” population at the time was over 70,000. City leaders talked about the form change in the past. Bradburn. How will this change the day to day life for a resident? “The change in form of government has been a topic of “While I will miss the council-manager form of govIt won’t. discussion on and off since the city was formed,” Barker said. ernment I have grown accustomed to in West Jordan, I spent “Generally speaking, residents will likely not see a “While there have been several related initiatives, most failed many years working in a city with a strong mayor,” Lee said. Continued page 25
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