Park Record file photo
Mayor Andy Beerman on Friday said he intends to seek reelection later this year, a decision that had been expected but one that essentially launches the campaign season for Park City’s highest office a little more than a month before the formal politicking begins.
Beerman, serving his first term as the mayor after holding a seat on the Park City Council, declined to discuss the details of the platform. He said a formal announcement of the reelection bid will be made shorty. More details are expected to be released at that time.
It had seemed highly likely for months that Beerman would seek reelection. In an interview early in the year, he indicated he was leaning strongly toward another mayoral campaign. He said at the time he had the “energy and enthusiasm for another term,” but he wanted to give a campaign “some deep consideration” before making a decision.
The Marsac Building.
There was a “candidate” in attendance during a City Hall-hosted online event on Tuesday that centered on the mechanics of the upcoming municipal election.
During a question-and-answer session, someone identifying themselves as only a “candidate” inquired about balancing serving in elected office with a personal life.
The person’s identify is not known. It is also unclear whether the person has actually committed to a campaign and, if so, whether they are seeking the mayor’s office or a spot on the Park City Council.
Lynn Ware Peek, the community liaison for City Hall and one of the staffers who managed the event, said afterward she has no knowledge of the person’s identity. She said the word “candidate” was the person’s identification on Zoom.
The Park City Council primary election in 2019 was close enough to force a recount, conducted at the Summit County Clerk’s Office in Coalville, shown. The City Hall campaign this year is approaching and the municipal government on Tuesday hosted an online event that was organized to outline the mechanics of the election.
Park Record file photo
A candidate in the City Hall election this year must pay a filing fee or collect enough signatures before they are entered into the contest, a tightening of ballot access approved in 2020 that is designed to ensure political hopefuls are committed to a campaign.
Park City’s elected officials are slated to discuss this year’s Fourth of July celebration at a meeting Thursday. One option under consideration involves holding the Main Street parade and fireworks on days other than the holiday itself in an effort to reduce crowd sizes.
Park Record file photo
Park City will celebrate Independence Day in some fashion this year, but the community might pick a day other than July 4 to mark the nation’s birth.
Leaders are continuing to discuss plans for the Fourth of July, typically one of the busiest days of the year in the community, amid the continued spread of the novel coronavirus.
Election Day in Park City is months away, but the election itself starts soon.
The mayor’s office and two seats on the Park City Council are on the ballot in November. There has been little political chatter as the window when candidates must file campaign paperwork nears, but City Hall next week is scheduled to host an event designed for people who are considering a campaign.
The workshop, similar to those held in previous City Hall election years, is not designed to be an unofficial start of the campaign season. In the past, though, the event has drawn people who were preparing to make decisions regarding a campaign.